Evaluation of Child and Family Services Reforms

Contributing to the evidence base of 'what works'

The Department of Human Services, Children, Youth and Families Division has engaged KPMG to undertake an Evaluation of the Child and Family Service System Reforms. The overarching objectives of the reforms will provide the focus for the evaluation. These include:

• intervening earlier through family services when families have difficulty protecting their children from harm and promoting their development
• ensuring all services focus not just on safety - but also on stability and child development
• improving the planning, coordination, targeting, delivery, quality and effectiveness of family services, child protection and out-of-home care services
• improving service responses for Aboriginal children and families and improving the cultural competence of services.

The Evaluation Framework has been designed to guide how the various stages of the evaluation will operate in practice; and provide a shared understanding between the Department of Human Services (DHS) and the KPMG Evaluation Team, as to what the evaluation will achieve over the three year period August 2008 - August 2011.

Evaluation Survey

Child protection, out of home care and family service staff should have recently received a survey from KPMG in relation to the evaluation of the Child & Family Service System Reforms. If you have received this survey from KPMG but have not yet completed it please use this link to access the survey: http://www.asr5.com/cfssurvey The survey will take approximately 20 - 35 minutes to complete. If you have any difficulty accessing the survey or need support in responding you can contact the KPMG team at childfamilysurvey@kpmg.com.au or 1800 789 576. Alternatively you can also contact the DHS project manager John Prent at john.prent@dhs.vic.gov.au