Research and Evaluation

2011

Broadening Horizons Survey Report

This report aims to inform corporate volunteers and their employers of the thinking that guides Ardoch and our partner schools in developing activities for their students and the role that the volunteers play.

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ACER Evaluation

Ardoch Youth Foundation's Western Linking Communities and Schools (WLinCS) Project, with the visionary support of the Besen Family Foundation, has supported students and families, early childhood centres, schools and communities in Melbourne's West since 2007. The WLinCS Project delivers targeted and holistic education support to students and schools, and uses community partnerships and corporate support to break down education barriers and help improve student educational attainment.

In 2010, again with the support of the Besen Family Foundation, Ardoch set out to formally measure the WLinCS Project's effectiveness in achieving student, school and community outcomes.

Ardoch WLinCS Project: benefits to students

The evaluation shows that Ardoch's support adds value to:

Student learning - particularly improvements in literacy;
Student engagement;
Student wellbeing.

Ardoch WLinCS Project: benefits to schools

Schools identify the main benefits as:
Support from Ardoch's screened and trained community volunteers;
Real life learning through Ardoch's Literacy Buddies™ program;
Ardoch's coordinators on the ground - supporting schools, businesses and local community to work together to support education.

Ardoch WLinCS Project: benefits to community

The Project provides a range of community benefits including:
Linking diverse community and corporate supporters expands learning for students, schools, the supporters themselves and the entire community;
Parents more readily see that they are welcome in schools and can contribute their own skills and expertise.

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Literacy Buddies™ Evaluation

The Evaluation of the Ardoch - St Kilda Primary School Integrated Welfare Program

The Evaluation of the Ardoch - St Kilda Primary School Integrated Welfare Program was conducted by Evelyn Jackson, an independent education consultant who has gathered and analysed feedback and information from all stakeholders (students, parents, teachers, school leadership, corporate and community volunteers and Ardoch workers) involved in the program.

This evaluation shows a clear link between facilitating community support for student wellbeing and improved student learning.

The Ardoch-St Kilda Integrated Welfare Program:

Identifies and meets welfare needs in the school community
Supports student engagement and participation
Supports improved student learning outcomes
Has a positive impact on the school - community culture.

This evaluation is important. It describes a sound demonstration model that enables schools and communities to work together strategically to ensure all children benefit from an excellent education. It shows that many of the students 'supported by the Ardoch-St Kilda Primary School program would not be able to participate fully in school were it not for the contribution of Ardoch.' It shows that the Program and partnership between Ardoch and St Kilda Primary School ensures that no child at St Kilda Primary School is isolated or disconnected from the school because of barriers to education associated with poverty or disadvantage.

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The Impact and Effectiveness of Ardoch's Community Volunteers Program in Schools

In 2010, over 34,000 hours of community volunteering were contributed to Ardoch's 54 partner schools and early childhood sites. This is equivalent to around 2.5 days of extra 'person power' per school for each week of term.Volunteering has been the cornerstone of Ardoch's programs since Ardoch's work began in 1988. Anecdotally, the program has been seen as highly successful. The evaluation in 2010-2011 was about measuring success.

Over 90% of principals and teachers surveyed identified that volunteers contribute to student outcomes in the following areas:

Improved self confidence
Increased work output
Increased time spent 'on-task'
Improved literacy
Improved peer relationships
Improved numeracy.

The evaluation found that Ardoch's delivery of volunteer support to schools and early childhood centres is effective. The report shows that volunteers are able to make the above impacts because Ardoch has a strong quality-controlled selection process, training that cultivates our volunteers' potential and qualities, and management processes that deliberately and regularly engage, respect, skill and acknowledge volunteers.

Many comments from volunteers, principals and teachers, are quoted in the body of the report. They offer powerful insights and highlight the well-deserved reputation of Ardoch volunteers for being positive role models who make a real difference to the students they work with, the schools they work in and to their local communities.

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