Side By Side Community Project Consulting » Social Research

Progress report on Jalaris Kids Garden 2010 Movie

admin — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 02:59:49 +0000

After 5 weeks of film-maker Brad Riley’s volunteer work up in Derby working on a movie documenting the Jalaris Kids Garden Project here is a short slide show Brad made about progress on the film:

Progress report on Jalaris Kids Garden 2010 Movie

For more about Brad’s project check out his film-making blog by clicking here.

2009 Jalaris Kid’s Futures Club Evaluation Report

admin — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 04:19:29 +0000

Click on the following link to download a high resolution version of the 2009 Jalaris Aboriginal Corporation’s Kid’s Futures Club Evaluation Report (8.3mb).

For more information on this project please contact Jalaris Aboriginal Corporation at jalaris@westnet.com.au or phone (Australia + 61) 08 9193 2200.

Singing Out Book Project

admin — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 13:45:56 +0000

Singing Out Book cover image

In June and July 2008, Side by Side Community Project Consulting and Jalaris Aboriginal Corporation partnered with The Neighborhood Story Project in running a book-making workshop for Aboriginal ladies from Derby. The project was to put together a book of stories about women’s experiences of education and learning using writing, interviewing and photography, and forms part of the community-based research on issues for Indigenous kids and families in Derby on which Jalaris and Side by Side are collaborating. The hope was that the stories would contribute to better understanding and knowledge of the diverse influences on Indigenous educational experiences in the Derby region today.

The project drew on the Neighborhood Story Projects model of community writing and interviewing, and the methods of participatory photography and story telling of Side by Side and Jalaris. Over an intensive month 7 women ranging in age from 21 to 60 years old wrote stories about themselves and their lives and took photographs to accompany their stories. The 7 writers selected, interviewed & photographed 7 other women in the Derby community who’s stories of education and learning they felt should be included in the book.

The final product was launched in November 2008 in Derby, Western Australia. Follow this link to hear a radio interview from local Derby station 6DBY about the Singing Out book launch, which includes readings from some of the writers. The book is not for sale, however limited copies are available through Jalaris Aboriginal Corporation, Side by Side Community Project Consulting & the Neighborhood Story Project.

You can see selected pages from Carlene Wises story below:

Jalaris Evaluation Report 2008

admin — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 12:42:12 +0000

Jalaris Aboriginal Corporation and Side by Side Community Project Consulting are undertaking a long term evaluation of Jalaris’ Kids Future Club program. 2008 was the first full year of the evaluation process. The 2008 evaluation report was completed in February 2009, and was put together in graphic format. The report was designed as a comic layout using photographs from the project (using Comic Life software) and has an accompanying DVD of video taken by the kids at the Club.

Jalaris Kids Future Club Evaluation 2008 - front cover

To download a PDF copy of the 2008 report click on the following link : Jalaris Kids Future Club Evaluation Report 2008 (PDF 9mb approx)

For more information on this project please contact Jalaris Aboriginal Corporation at jalaris@westnet.com.au or phone (Australia + 61) 08 9193 2200.

What is evaluation?

admin — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 15:19:16 +0000

Evaluation is an important process undertaken during and after a project to assess what happened and what has changed against the project objectives. Evaluation meets the critical need to know how and whether a project works or doesn’t work. It is how the project accounts to the community in which it occurs and to those who provide the funding. However accountability is not the only reason to undertake evaluation. There are three main reasons for doing evaluation in a community project.

1. To improve and develop a project.

2. To communicate about a project.

3. To account for a project by showing how it is working and what is happening as a result.

What is Participatory Action Research?

admin — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 15:16:44 +0000

Participatory Action Research has been defined as:

“…inquiry by ordinary people acting as researchers to explore questions in their lives, recognise their resources, and produce knowledge, and take action to overcome inequalities often in solidarity with external supporters”

(Dickson, G 2000. Aboriginal Mothers’ experience with health promotion and participatory action research, Qualitative Health Research, 10(2):1888-213)

Another definition of Action Research is:

“A way for people to participate in a reflective practice that allows change and understanding to occur at the same time. It aims to improve practice, address problems and promote ongoing learning. Action research moves through cycles of Planning, Acting, Observing and Reflecting. The aim is for understanding of the local situation to increase over time and for action to be improved and adapted through applying this learning. Action research is collaborative and participatory, usually including everybody who has a stake in the action.”

Social Research

admin — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 23:06:54 +0000

In the current evidence-based culture of academia and government policy, research is a vital part of community practice and program development. The ability of community organisations to undertake research on local issues, and communicate findings effectively is essential. It is a skill enabling them to gain support in addressing issues facing their community in effective and timely ways. Research skills, although crucial to effective community action in our time, are too often seen as elite skills, out of reach of the resources and skill base of community organisations.

Side by Side supports social research through:

Training and support in research methods and processes such as qualitative research, action research, participatory evaluation.
Undertaking collaborative social research on issues of significance to communities and organisations.
Undertaking evaluation with communities, projects and programs, including for government, NGO’s and philanthropic organisations.
Mentoring and supporting community workers and organisations to undertake their own research.
Collaborating with community organisations in the communication and dissemination of local research.

Side by Side has particular experience and expertise in Participatory Action Research, Participatory Evaluation and qualitative research methods.