Evaluation of Changing Futures project

The Changing Futures program aimed to upskill community members and frontline workers on harmful sexual behaviour (HSB) to enhance prevention and early intervention efforts for better outcomes for children and young people. The SVRPU were commissioned to evaluate the program's effectiveness, which included webinars, workshops, and resources primarily targeting the children's education and care workforce.

The evaluation method for the Changing Futures program, conducted from 2020 to 2022, utilised a realist-action research approach, blending realist principles with traditional action research to refine webinars, workshops, and forums based on participant feedback. Both qualitative and quantitative measures were employed, with pre- and post-session surveys capturing shifts in knowledge and confidence, alongside qualitative insights to contextualise findings. Follow-up surveys at 12 and 24 months assessed participants' retention of key topics and the application of learned skills in practice.

Impact

The evaluation of the program demonstrates positive program outcomes; the Changing Futures program upskilled professionals on HSB. Doing so, contributes towards improved outcomes for children and young people. The findings suggest significant opportunities for enhancing program design for the Daniel Morcombe Foundation’s Bright Futures project and opportunities for outreach to maximise its impact within the public health prevention framework.