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The KidsMatter Evaluation Team

would like to acknowledge
the generous support of:

The Scanner Shop

 

Documents

KM Brochure (PDF)

KM Evaluation Booklet (PDF)

Parent Introduction Letter (PDF)

Parent Consent (PDF)

KidsMatter Butterfly (PDF)

Have a go at making this!

 

Useful Links

APAPDC KidsMatter

Beyondblue

APAPDC

APS

DOHA

 ARHRF

CAPER

DLIT Projects

 

Related Literature

Please enjoy a selection of readings underpinning the KidsMatter Evaluation.

 

Welcome to KidsMatter Evaluation, striving to measure the improved mental health of our children. 

 

This site is designed to keep schools informed about the progress of the evaluation of the KidsMatter Initiative and to provide a repository of useful information to access and download. 

News Flash!

Welcome back: I hope everyone had a restful Christmas Break, while we were busy preparing the Phase 1 and Phase 2 data ready for analysis. With a 70% response rate across schools and almost 5000 participating families from around Australia, this evaluation really is a landmark. Well done to everyone in achieving this monumental outcome todate.
Phase 3 Questionnaires are now being administered in schools and the first boxes have even been returned.  Teachers and parents will be asked to participate, but it will only involve those parents that participated in Phase 1. So we hope schools will administer and collect the questionnaire early in Term 2 to avoid the extra pressures that end-of-term presents.
2008 Planner and the Case-study project: A planner is now available to map the timelines of data collection events happening during 2008. It features school term start and end dates in each state, along with major public holidays, and will be updated as collection dates are confirmed.  

In addition to the last two rounds of questionnaires in Term 2 and Term 4 2008, another aspect of this landmark evaluation will commence in Term 3 2008. It will involve the selection of 10 case-study schools where interviews and focus group discussions will be conducted with students, parents and school leaders, to allow schools to tell their stories about the successes and challenges in implementing the KidsMatter Initiative. 

Access the KidsMatter 2008 Planner (last updated 27.02.08):
Excel version - to download and edit the planner

PDF version - to view the planner

Welcome Grace: We would like to welcome a new member on the Evaluation Team, Grace Skrzypiec. Her exceptional knowledge as a teacher, statistician and researcher brings the perfect mix of talents for undertaking the case-study component of the evaluation.
Meeting with the Project Officers during February 2008 in Adelaide.

The KidsMatter Evaluation Team

KidsMatter have appointed an evaluation team of representatives from Flinders University, the
University of South Australia
and the South Australian Department of Education and Children's Services.

 

Phillip Slee staff page

Professor Phillip Slee

phillip.slee@flinders.edu.au

Project Leader

 

Helen Askell-Williams staff page

Dr Helen Askell-Williams

helen.askell-williams@flinders.edu.au

Evaluation Manager

 

Katherine Dix staff page

Dr Katherine Dix

katherine.dix@flinders.edu.au

Senior Evaluation Officer

 

Alan Russell staff page

Professor Alan Russell

alan.russell@flinders.edu.au

Evaluation Team

 

Mike Lawson staff page

Professor Mike Lawson

mike.lawson@flinders.edu.au

Evaluation Team

 

Associate Professor Larry Owens

larry.owens@flinders.edu.au

 Evaluation Team

Barbara Spears staff page

Dr Barbara Spears

barbara.spears@unisa.edu.au

Evaluation Team

Kelvin Gregory staff page

Dr Kelvin Gregory

kelvin.gregory@flinders.edu.au

Evaluation Team

Grace's Email
Grace Skrzypiec
skrz0005@flinders.edu.au
Research Associate

Email Penny

Dr Penny van Deur

penny.vandeur@flinders.edu.au

Research Assistant

 
Email Carolyn

Carolyn Gregoric

carolyn.gregoric@flinders.edu.au

Research Assistant

 

 

The purpose of the evaluation

The KidsMatter Evaluation is gathering information about the initial trial of KidsMatter in schools across Australia. It will provide information about the implementation process and whether the initiative leads to improved mental health for students. The evaluation will inform the subsequent national roll-out of KidsMatter initiatives.

 

KidsMatter has been developed in collaboration with the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, beyondblue: the national depression initiative, the Australian Psychological Society, the Australian Principals Associations Professional Development Council and is supported by the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund.

The evaluation process

  • Information for the evaluation will be collected on four occasions commencing in April 2007, and continuing in November 2007, April 2008 and November 2008.
  • Most of the information will come from responses to a questionnaire to be completed by the parents and teachers of a randomly selected sample of 75 students in each school. The questionnaire will measure outcomes from the KidsMatter initiative for staff, students, and parents. The questionnaire will also focus on some aspects of the implementation of KidsMatter.
  • A small number of teachers and students from some schools will attend a focus group discussion or an interview.
  • A small amount of funding is available to assist schools with the cost of participating in the evaluation.

Brief timeline and Research Design

A brief time line is presented below.

Click on the link for details on the conceptual framework and the research design (may take a moment to load).

 

2006

Obtain ethics approvals from all jurisdictions

 

Obtain consents from all departments and schools

 

Establish Contact Person in each school

Feb 2007

Information packages sent to schools

Mar 2007

Obtain (de-identified) student enrolment lists for random selection of 76 students per school

 

Obtain school attendance and other relevant data

May 2007

Obtain teacher, parent and student consents

 

Questionnaire Phase 1: End of Term 2 2007

Oct 2007

Questionnaire Phase 2: Term 4 2007, does not involve parents/caregivers

May 2008

Questionnaire Phase 3: Term 2 2008

Oct 2008

Questionnaire Phase 4: Term 4 2008

Term 3 2008

Focus groups and interviews in a few selected schools

 

For further information contact:

The Senior Evaluation Officer

Phone: +61 8 8201 5878

Fax: +61 8 8201 3184
Email: kidsmatter@flinders.edu.au

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