Research for Improved Outcome

Community Works has a strong commitment to and belief in the value of research for improving development practice and results. For us, research includes:

• Research to generate content for training programs on a range of subject including management for social development, community engagement and specific topics of interest to our partners and clients
• Literature reviews on particular topics, which we conduct for several organisations. A recent example was a review of mental health and wellbeing for VicHealth through the Young and Well CRC
• Surveys on behalf of organisations, focussing on the views of their clients or members. An example is a survey we conducted for the Eritrean Community in Australia (ECA)
• Evaluations of the work of organisations to provide them with feedback and advice on the impact they are achieving and ways to improve.

Maria Rodrigues is our Research Associate and Vanessa Angulo also plays a role in the work above as International Development Associate.

Much of the research we do is through our relationship with Ninti One, with which we have a formal partnership. Ninti One is a national not-for-profit company that builds opportunities for people in remote Australia through research, innovation and community development. We are pleased to contribute to Ninti One’s work through technical support to its research teams, quality assurance work, the development of new ideas and initiatives and work with its Aboriginal Community Researcher network. This work is carried out by Steve Fisher.