Evaluation, Research & Conferences
Evaluation
The KIDS Foundation has an on-going evaluation process which involves both quantitative and qualitative performance measures and involves focus groups. All programs are reviewed annually or after each event to ensure we provide the best programs and services that meet the needs of participants and the young people we support.
Why continuous evaluation is timely and important.
- Evaluation is a tool for growing the KIDS Foundation, stimulating its development and conferring professional and community credibility and recognition. Rigorous evaluation can attract and influence sponsorships.
- It provides immediate feedback as to the relative success or failure of current practices, strategies, goals or targets achieved.
- It provides a basis for future planning of a particular event with regards to efficiency, effectiveness and appropriateness.
- It provides insight into the economic viability and sustainability of an event.
- It is a basis for quality control of an organisation and its associated events.
- Evaluation, where it is inclusive not exclusive, fosters staff morale, teamwork and collective creative thinking.
Since 2004, the KIDS Foundation has conducted continuous evaluation of the effectiveness of School Safety Clubs in Victorian primary schools. Presented below is a paper reporting the findings of teacher evaluations of School Safety Clubs 2008.
Teacher Evaluation of School Safety Clubs 2008
Research
In conjunction with Monash University, the KIDS Foundation has been successful in gaining an Australian Research Council Linkages Research Grant ‘Learning to be safe: Developing children’s perceptions of safety and risk’.
The aim of the research project is to investigate whether children of primary school age can develop ‘risk intelligence’ that allows them to make more informed choices about their own safety and risk management behaviours. The outcome of the project is to develop a cognitive model for children to develop knowledge, skills and attitudes about risk management.
The project will establish:
- Children’s perceptions of safety and risk and their views about their own roles and responsibilities in minimising risk and injury.
- The knowledge, skills and attitudes required for children to make their own decisions about risk management.
- The effectiveness of current education programs and strategies that aim to develop children’s responsibility for their safety and risk-taking behaviours, compared with conventional approaches to child safety education.
- The potential for child-centred safety and risk management programs to change children’s safety attitudes, behaviours and injury rates.
- A cognitive model for developing ‘risk intelligence’ in children through an awareness of risk management and safe behaviours.
Presentation of Conference Papers
KIDS Foundation staff have presented papers relating to both injury prevention and injury recovery at state, national and international conferences.
- Prosser, L., O`Neill, S. & McCartney, N. (2006) ‘National Burn Survivors' Support Survey’, Conference paper, Australian & New Zealand Burn Association Annual Scientific Meeting, September 2006, Hobart, Tasmania.
- Prosser, L., Stevens, M. (2006) ‘An Injury Prevention Strategy for Primary Schools’ Conference paper presented at the 8th Australian Injury Prevention Conference, University of NSW, September 27-29, Sydney, New South Wales.
- O`Neill, S. (2007) ‘Developing ‘risk intelligence’ in children through education at an early age to manage their own safety’. Conference paper presented at the 4th Asian Regional Conference on Safe Communities November 2007, Bangkok, Thailand.
- Prosser, L., Chakaodza, R., Stevens, M., & O`Neill, S (2007) ‘School Safety Clubs as an Injury Prevention Strategy for Primary Schools’. Conference paper, 4th Asian Regional Conference on Safe Communities, November 2007, Bangkok, Thailand.
- Prosser, L., Stevens, M. (2007) ‘Evaluation of Farmsafe Australia’s RIPPER II Program: Growing Kids on Farms’, Conference paper presented at the 6th National Farm Health & Safety Conference, 25 September 2007, Adelaide, South Australia.
- Chakaodza, R., Gillett, A., Prosser, L., Stevens, M. (2008) An evaluation of the safety club as an injury prevention model for primary schools, Conference paper presented at the 17th International Safe Communities Conference, Christchurch Convention Centre, October 20-23, Christchurch, New Zealand.
- O’Neill, S. (2008) Developing safety risk intelligence in children, Conference paper presented at the 17th International Safe Communities Conference, Christchurch Convention Centre, October 20-23, Christchurch, New Zealand.
- Carey, L.B., Doulis, C., Prosser, L., O’Neill, S., Stevens, M. (2008) From conceptual to empirical: Psycho-social and pastoral care rehabilitation for burns survivors and their families through the evolution of the Burn Survivors’ Network. Conference paper presented at the Australian and New Zealand Burn’s Association Conference, 16 – 19th of September, Sofitel Hotel, Melbourne, Victoria.
- Carey, L.B., Doulis, C., McCartney, N., Prosser, L, O’Neill, S., Stevens, M. (2008) Burn Survivors' Network - National Burn Survivors' Family Camp - Camp Phoenix, Poster Presentation (No. 32), Burns Prevention and Care Conference, Australia and New Zealand Burns Association, Sofitel Hotel, Melbourne,16-19 September, 2008.
- O’Neill, S. (2008) ‘Developing risk management skills in children through education’ at the MERC Conference, Monash University, Clayton Campus, June 2008.
- O’Neill, S. (2009) ‘Developing safety risk intelligence as a continuum of learning’ at the Safety Institute of Australia Conference 2009, Exhibition Centre Melbourne.
- O’Neill, S. (2009) ‘Developing safety risk intelligence as a continuum of learning’ at the Queensland Safety Conference 2009, Brisbane Exhibition Centre.
- O’Neill, S. (2009) ‘Developing effective safety education programs for children: SeeMore Safety, the Pilot Study’ at the 2009 Injury Prevention Conference in Melbourne.
- O`Neill, S. (2009) ‘Developing safety risk intelligence as a continuum of learning’ at the School Safety Conference 2009, Nudgee, Queensland.