Centre for Human Services Research and Evaluation

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Centre for Human Services Research and Evaluation
Vision and research themes 2013
Department of Human Services
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Vision for the Centre
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Focused research themes for DHS

• The six research themes for DHS bring improved
  focus and rigour to the departments evidence
  activities.
• The themes highlight the evidence priorities of
  the department.
• The themes are an overarching framework that will
  align evidence activities to the DHS Strategic
  Directions.
• Under each theme, four high level questions have
  been developed to guide existing and new evidence
  initiatives for DHS.

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CHSRE six research themes
Build an evidence base to support human services
reform and improved client outcomes.
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1. Lead a detailed understanding of social and
economic disadvantage in Victoria

• What are the main contributors to social and
  economic disadvantage in Victoria?
• What are the barriers to reducing disadvantage?
• What levers can be used to address disadvantage
  at local, state and national levels?
• How can human services policy by the department
  directly alleviate disadvantage in Victoria,
  across the State's diverse cultural, regional and
  local contexts?

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2. Develop best practice demand and forecasting
models for Victorians requiring DHS services

• What are the emerging socio-economic trends that
  will affect short, medium and long term demand on
  human services?
• How will these trends drive change in DHS service
  delivery models, programs and our ability to
  respond to demand in the next 3, 10 and 20 years?
  
• What particular population groups require these
  services and how might their needs change?
• What are the best ways to forecast expected
  demands spatially?

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3. Drive cutting edge research to inform best
practice in human services policy development

• What does the best research tell us about how to
  design policy interventions for joined up human
  services that aim to reduce disadvantage?
• Which jurisdictions both nationally and
  internationally are leading models?
• What do we need to know to become a policy
  leader?
• What is current best practice policy in joined up
  disability, housing and community programs?

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4. Direct critical research to inform best
practice in human services delivery

• How do we design services and programs that
  effectively support Victorians to build better
  lives and achieve their potential?
• How do we re-engineer service delivery to better
  meet people's needs?
• How can we transform the way people access,
  interact with, and exit our services?
• What can we do to drive service delivery
  efficiency and effectiveness for government?

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5. Design, undertake and commission evaluations
to improve DHS services

• Has a policy, program or project met its outcomes
  and goals?
• What has worked and what hasn't worked in the way
  we expected?
• What does this tell us about what we should keep
  doing, change or stop doing?
• What is the consequence of evaluations of
  existing programs on policy and service delivery?

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6. Build an evidence base to support human
services reforms and improved client outcomes

• What are the success factors that can help people
  build their potential?
• How do we re-engineer service delivery to better
  meet people's needs?
• What are the policy, program and service gaps
  that limit the department's capacity to meet its
  strategic objectives?
• What are the cost savings for government that can
  be realised through new approaches?

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Contact us at chsre_at_dhs.vic.gov.aufor more
information.
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