Not always! Big hART projects are by necessity dealing with complex and emerging issues, requiring the development of new solutions. Our projects are always a learning experience, because we fully engage with participants to find the right way of working for each community.

However, most of our projects have been remarkably successful. All Big hART projects are evaluated by various independent sources. These evaluations have played an important part in the company’s ability to impact on the development of social policy.

Example:

At the conclusion of Big hART’s initial domestic violence prevention project on the North West Coast of Tasmania, the project received a very positive evaluation, which was used to help shape the Prime Minister’s Partnerships Against Domestic Violence – Youth Strategy, for implementation nationally. In 1998, a subsequent Big hART project on the isolated West Coast of Tasmania, funded under this new initiative, saw a remarkable improvement, with the local domestic violence agency reported a 600% rise in the numbers of young people seeking help with local agencies.

Independent Evaluations and Literature:

Big hART is well represented in literature, from publications by the World Health Organization and Australian government agencies, to conference papers and Australia Council publications.

Big hART places great emphasis on documenting and sharing the lessons learned through projects and is frequently asked to present the results of its projects at conferences and other national fora.

Big hART projects are always evaluated both independently and internally. Currently Big hART is working with Murdoch University to independently evaluate a number of its projects.

Excerpts of Independent evaluations:

The Northcott Narratives Project - Evaluation - Dr Peter Wright and Dr David Plamer, Murdoch University, 2007

• "Big hART meets, and in some cases exceeds international indicators of quality and has produced some of the best work we have ever seen".
• "Big hART is indeed exemplary in its ability to use culture to build a better life for a community".
• People know me for something positive: An evaluation of Big hART's work at the John Northcott Estate,

Radio Holiday 2005

"The benefits of the project include capacity building within communities to design and develop future projects that address relevant community issues, opportunities for young people to experiment with different modes of learning, the development of intergenerational understanding between older and younger Tasmanians, and mentoring this particular demographic of young people—who often come off a low skills base—to develop technical, personal and social skills that have a large impact on the individual’s future choices and role within their communities.

In short, Radio Holiday seeds creativity, develops reciprocity, and highlights the importance of the cultural journey as a way into mainstream participation. These opportunities for participation include young people in the development of the future through developing skills, knowledge and connectedness; and when we build inclusion we develop a nation."

- National Youth Affairs Research Scheme: Community building through intergenerational exchange programs. Dr Judith MacCallum, Murdoch University, 2006

Rip & Tear 1993

"Big hART has been systematically evaluated with both process and impact evaluations being done. Impact evaluations reveal that the program has reduced the likelihood of re-offending amongst the young people involved. For example, a 12-month follow up study of the pilot project found that only one of the 22 young people involved had re-offended."

-    Ian Latham. Youth Studies – University of Tasmania.

Domestic Violence Project in the Illawarra and Western Tasmania 1998

"The factors, which contributed to the success of this project included:

• Well articulated organisational and practice philosophy
• Experience, skill and understanding of work with disadvantaged young people
• Long term commitment to their philosophical approach
• Well developed media strategy
• Community Development approach
• Appreciation of requirements of rural and remote communities
• A constant search for creative and innovative ways to work with a community and its young people"

Partnership Against Domestic Violence, Evaluation Report - Dr T.Szirom, D.Chung and R.Jaffe