Rural Youth Information Services Evaluation

by Max Hardy

Through our strategic alliance with Purdon Associates of Canberra, we are now undertaking evaluations of National and State Government Programs. From December 1997 to May 1998, I worked with Christine Purdon and Patty Shaw of Purdons on an evaluation of the Rural Youth Information Service, which is funded through the Department of Employment Education Training and Youth Affairs (DEETYA).

The Service aims to assist young people in the remote regions of Australia to gain access to educational and training opportunities in order to increase their opportunities for employment. The evaluation involved extensive literature research, telephone interviews and site visits to eight remote locations. I visited Jabiru, in the Northern Territory, Cloncurry in Queensland and Nimbin and Glen Innes in New South Wales.

One of the features of the review process was the commitment and creativity of Rural Youth Information officers in drawing together the resources of their communities to support young people. One example of this was a study centre established in Jabiru. Attached to the local training centre, the study centre provided an alternative to young people wishing to pursue further studies in years 11 and 12. Previously such students would go away to a boarding school, study externally by themselves, or their whole family would move to a regional centre or city to keep the family together.

The Study Centre allows young people to study together with the support of the Rural Youth Officer and other members of the community with appropriate skills, knowledge and experience to support them with their studies. The Centre has proved to be very successful, evidenced by some outstanding results.

The Review undertaken by Twyford Consulting and Purdon Associates will assist DEETYA to make decisions in regard to the program's expansion and to maximise the effectiveness of each of the services through documented examples of best practice which may be applicable to other areas.

Currently I am working with Purdon Associates to map the Crisis Accommodation Program across Australia. The strategic alliance with Purdon Associates is providing a range of new and exciting opportunities for us.

Twyford Consulting Newsletter July 1998