Neighbourhood Centres Results Based Accountability™ Brian L Smith, Executive Officer, Local Community Services Association

 currentprojects/rba-for- our-queensland- colleagues/introduction

“what we measure shapes what we collectively strive to pursue – and what we pursue determines what we measure” Report by the Commission on the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress (Stiglitz–Sen-Fitoussi Report, Sept 2009)

Neighbourhood and Community Centres in NSW Approximately 270. Based in and managed by their local community. Mostly small organisations, some medium and some micro. Diverse – growth and development in response to identified local needs. This diversity makes uniform and aggregated measurement difficult which has become a huge problem for funding bodies.

93.6% provide information, referral, co- ordination of external services 83.2% undertake various community development activities 66.4% host external services on their premises 65.6% undertake community events 48.0% provide children’s services, e.g. supported playgroups, breakfast clubs and homework clubs, 41.6% provide emergency relief services

39.2% provide multicultural programs 39.2% provide family support programs 38.4 % provide youth development programs 36.8% provide prevocational education and adult learning programs 34.4% provide living skills programs 29.6% provide services for the aged 20.0% provide services specifically engaging Aboriginal communities.

“We don’t know what Neighbourhood Centres do!”

“We are using Results Based Accountability – get to know Mark Friedman’s work”

Performance Accountability about the well-being of CLIENT POPULATIONS For Programs – Agencies – and Service Systems Population Accountability about the well-being of WHOLE POPULATIONS For Communities – Cities – Counties – States - Nations

Results Based Accountability (RBA) Mark Friedman

Results Based Accountability RBA NSW T

Results Based Accountability RBA NSW T R B A NSW T DoCS

Results Based Accountability RBA NSW T R B A NSW T DoCS R B A NSW T DoCS NC

Results Based Accountability RBA NSW T R B A NSW T DoCS R B A NSW T DoCS NC R B A NC

Results Based Accountability RBA NSW T R B A NSW T DoCS R B A NSW T DoCS NC R B A NC

Results Based Accountability RBA NSW T R B A NSW T DoCS Results Logic

“Services, like life itself, don’t operate in neat causal sequences. Logic models pretend that they can reduce complex services and social interactions to logical sequences and it can’t be done. It’s a misrepresentation of reality”. Mark Friedman, LOCAL, Autumn 2008 p24

“Problems occur when governments and government departments take some of the ideas of Results Accountability but not all of the ideas, mix them with other models and create hybrids. Often these hybrids are worse than either parent model. If you mix up population and performance accountability and then mix that up with a logic model process you get a mess.” Mark Friedman, LOCAL, Autumn 2008 p26

Results Based Accountability RBA NSW T R B A NSW T DoCS R B A NC Results Logic Translate

Four - Way Conversation Fiscal Policy Studies Institute NSW Department of Human Services LCSA RBA Pilot Neighbourhood and Community Centres Adheres to RBA principles and learns from international practice Programs contribute to core results and data collected is hard, sound and useful Process is meaningful and useful to service delivery staff Community and “client” participants Activities are what the community needs and make a positive difference

Measurement stakeholders: 1. Community, customers, clients. How do your initiatives improve our lives? 2. Funding bodies. Is your service the best use of public money? Does it fulfil policy goals? 3. Neighbourhood Centre. How can we improve our services and make a positive difference in our community? 4. Mark Friedman. Are you using RBA™ properly?

Performance Accountability about the well-being of CLIENT POPULATIONS For Programs – Agencies – and Service Systems Population Accountability about the well-being of WHOLE POPULATIONS For Communities – Cities – Counties – States - Nations

For funded Programs with government imposed logic models – use program accountability measures: How much are we doing? How well are we doing it? Is anyone better off?

au/currentprojects/rba

Results Based Community Planning - The use of RBA™ Population Accountability as a community development tool.

Results Based Community Planning - Process 1. Introductions and Expectations 2. “Results” establish common understanding of what we mean 3. What results do you want for your community? (break into small groups & report back to larger group in 5 mins) 4. What are the most important results? (prioritise) 5. An exercise for the imagination What would your community look like and what would be different if we achieved these results? 6. What is an indicator? How can we measure? What can we measure? 7. Choose 1 result to work on together in small groups Pick 3-4 indicators a) Which is the most powerful indicator? b) How are we doing on this indicator? 8. Who are the partners to improve this indicator? 9. What works to improve this indicator (including low cost and no cost options)? 10. What actions are we going to take?

Coonamble Results 1. The Community is safe and supportive 2. People are healthy 3. Families are strong and stable 4. Elders live with dignity 5. People can access local jobs providing adequate income 6. The community understands, respects and celebrates different cultures traditions and abilities 7. Children achieve their individual potential Children ready for school Children succeed at school Children transition from school 8. The community is prosperous

Coonabarabran Results 1.The community is healthy, sustainable and prosperous 2. Families are strong 3. People are safe 4. The community is united and celebrates diversity

Gilgandra Results 1.The community is united and works together 2.The community understands respects and celebrates difference 3.Children have a sense of being, belonging and becoming: Are educated Are in school and engaged Are heard (have a voice) 4.Children are safe (from DV, drugs and alcohol) 5.The community is sustainable

Maitland Results 1.The Community Understands, Respects and Celebrates different Cultures, Traditions and Abilities 2.People Belong and are Connected to their Community 3.People are Safe 4.Children and Young People are Valued, Included and Reach their own Individual Potential 5.The Environment is Sustainable

For further information: Brian L Smith, Executive Officer Local Community Services Association Level 1, Old Bidura House 357 Glebe Point Road (PO Box 29) Glebe, NSW, 2037 Ph: Fax: Mobile: Toll free (NSW regional areas only) Web: