Summary

CIRCA was engaged by The Psyche Foundation to undertake a small outcome evaluation of the National Empowerment Project Cultural, Social & Emotional Wellbeing Workshop. The project was implemented by the Langford Aboriginal Association (LAA) in Boronia Pre-release Centre for Women in Western Australia and is designed to empower Aboriginal peoples and communities, aiming to strengthen cultural identity, strengthen social and emotional wellbeing, increase resilience, and reduce psychological and community distress, and was delivered to 14 Aboriginal women.

CIRCA’s Research Approach

The evaluation consisted of five 45–60-minute interviews with the graduating participants of the project to gather their opinions about the project and better understand the outcomes achieved in terms of psychosocial social and emotional wellbeing. The evaluation also explored areas of strength or improvement within the project based on the participant’s feedback. The interviews were held face-to-face at Boronia Pre-release Centre for Women, with research materials designed for this mode of facilitation. All interviews were conducted by a CIRCA research consultant based in Western Australia. The consultant is a local Aboriginal woman, and all interviews were conducted in a culturally safe and appropriate manner

Research Findings and Outcomes

Overall, the feedback from the interviewed participants was overwhelmingly positive. The National Empowerment Project Cultural, Social & Emotional Wellbeing Workshop appears to be achieving many of the intended outcomes, as well as some positive unintended outcomes for the participating women at Boronia. The evaluation also found evidence of outcome pathways experienced by participants, illuminating the causal connections between program activities, immediate outcomes, and flow-on outcomes for participants. The only suggestions for improvement were for additional content and expanding it further among the Aboriginal community.