Evaluation

About the KidsMatter trial and evaluation

KidsMatter is being trialled in 101 schools across Australia. During this trial phase, it is important that KidsMatter is extensively and rigorously evaluated to learn what worked, what did not, and how KidsMatter can be improved for schools in the future.

The schools participating in the trial were selected from applications submitted in July 2006. The selected schools represent a cross-section of public sector, Catholic and independent schools from across the states and territories. Representatives from fifty-one of the selected schools were then involved in a two-day briefing in September 2006 and began their implementation of KidsMatter from that point on. The remaining fifty pilot schools began their KidsMatter implementation after a briefing in September 2007.

A team based at Flinders University has been engaged to undertake evaluation of the KidsMatter trial. The evaluation will provide information about the implementation process and whether the initiative leads to improved mental health for students. The findings will inform the subsequent national roll-out of KidsMatter initiatives.

The particular areas of interest to be looked at in the evaluation include:

  • Student mental health outcomes
  • School engagement
  • School staff knowledge, competence and confidence in working towards improved student mental health
  • Parents, caregivers and family engagement with the initiative
  • Parents’ and caregivers’ knowledge, competence and confidence in supporting the mental health needs of their children
  • Protective factors targeted by the initiative
  • Educational outcomes.

The evaluation process

Information for the evaluation has been collected in February 2007, November 2007 and March 2008.  It will also be collected for the fourth and final time in November 2008. Most of the information comes from responses to a questionnaire 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.

In addition a small number of teachers and students from some schools have been invited to participate in focus group discussions or interviews. This part of the evaluation will provide more detailed information on what students and teachers themselves have to say of their experience of the KidsMatter trial, of what they have benefited from and how it might better meet their needs.

Further information on the evaluation of KidsMatter is available at the KidsMatter evaluation website.