Invitation

The Australasian Evaluation Society invites you to its 2008 International Conference to be held from Monday 8th to Friday 12th September in Perth, Western Australia. The theme of the Conference is Evaluation: Adding Value . The Organising Committee selected this theme as reflecting the essence of evaluation, and as presenting a challenge to search for ways and means by which evaluation can enhance the value of programs, policies and services in public, independent and private organisations.

The Keynote Speakers will address various aspects of the Conference theme and discuss specific evaluation issues related to the Conference sub-themes, as well as provide an international perspective. Conference participants are invited to contribute to this interchange through making a presentation and actively engaging in the discussion and deliberations of the Conference.

A special feature of the Conference will be an Industry Focus each day. Issues of evaluation in health, education, Indigenous affairs, performance monitoring, community services and environmental and natural resource management will all be highlighted during the Conference through focussed presentations. A number of specialised workshops, specifically designed to develop participants' knowledge and competencies relevant to evaluation and its practice, will also be available.

Three main sub-themes have been identified by the Organising Committee to give specific focus to how evaluation can 'add value' while still respecting the diversity of interests involved. These sub-themes are: Value for Whom?, Whose Values? and Optimising Value.

Proposals for conference presentations and workshops should address issues of theory, method or practice in evaluation related to one or more of these sub-themes. To encourage diversity and enhance relevance, proposals on other aspects of evaluation will also be accepted.

I hope that you will take this opportunity to attend the AES 2008 International Conference to update your evaluation knowledge and competencies, and participate in the discussion of major issues and controversies in the field of evaluation.

Gaye Mackenzie
Conference Convenor


Focus of the Conference

The changing landscape of evaluation in Australasia, and in the world more generally, requires us to ‘add value' to decision making about programs, policies and services through developing and assessing new and alternative procedures for evaluation. There are also particular evaluation knowledge and competencies which enhance the understanding and effectiveness of those involved with evaluation. It is this orientation to innovation and training which underpins the AES 2008 Perth Conference.

The three sub-themes are designed to sharpen the focus of the Conference:

Value for Whom? provides a reminder that effective evaluation is ‘audience driven' and invites us to consider whose interests an evaluation might serve, will serve and should serve;

Whose Values? questions the value basis upon which recommendations and program decisions will be made, and indicates that this should be a carefully considered decision in evaluation; and

Optimising Value emphasises that evaluation inevitably involves ‘trade-offs', in both the conduct of an evaluation and the utilization of the information obtained, and invites consideration of how the needs of the various program stakeholders might best be served.

The resolution of these issues has significant implications for the conduct and utility of every evaluation. Presentations which address one or more of them, either directly or indirectly, will be welcome.

 

KEY DATES

Abstract Submission Deadline
14 April 2008
Early Bird Registration
31 July 2008
Pre-conference workshops
8 - 9 September 2008
Conference
10 - 12 September 2008

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