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Kathryn Mandla (Department of Social Services), John Stoney (Department of Social Services), Tim Reddel (Department of Social Services)

Governments have a role to play in creating the environment in which people have access to the resources and opportunities people need to live a reasonable life. Australia like many other countries has had an ongoing interest in longer term place-based strategies to address geographically concentrated, entrenched social problems. There has been renewed activity within the Department of Social Services (DSS) to utilise and evaluate place-based initiatives more effectively. Places by nature are inherently complex and dynamic. Commissioning, implementing, supporting and evaluating place-based initiatives consequently presents a number of challenges and opportunities. 

DSS has co-developed a unique, yet practical approach to evaluation of place-based initiatives with the help of some of Australia's leadership thinkers in place-based interventions and their measurement.