Canberra Evaluation Forum

The Canberra Evaluation Forum (CEF) was established in 1990 through a Department of Finance initiative with the aim of promoting better practice in program and project evaluation.

In the late 1990s the CEF became a not for profit, unincorporated networking Association that facilitates people to  gather for the purposes of presenting and discussing issues of common interest concerning program and project evaluation. The Forum is a  network of Commonwealth and ACT Government departments and agencies, private sector companies and academics interested in evaluation and performance management issues in the public and private sectors.

Evaluation is an internationally recognised approach to public sector performance measurement. Indeed, Australia is seen by many countries throughout the world as being at the leading edge of evaluation and performance management techniques. The CEF was recognised by the World Bank for its work.

Changes to Australian Government requirements and form of evaluations, reinforce and confirm the need for managers at all levels to be accountable for performance and evaluation and achievement outcomes.

The CEF consists of:

• its subscriber organisations and a few individual people,
• the Facilitation Group/Board – a volunteer group of people drawn from subscribers to the CEF – which provides direction, session development, a yearly program, planning and governance oversight, and arranges guest presenters for the Forum.
• and an electronic mailing list of people who have specifically registered to receive session information each month, has been established by the CEF secretary.

To see 2012 program scroll to the bottom of this page:  

Charter

The Forum sessions are held on eight to ten occasions a year, usually on the third Thursday of each month between February and November.

The Facilitation Group is determined that the Forum remains relevant and contemporary. To achieve this, the yearly program pursues a topical theme and covers such subjects as:

• Government policy about management reform, performance management and evaluation,
• Techniques of performance management and evaluation, and
• Case studies of evaluation and performance information from across Government and private organisations.

The Forum seeks input from interested groups to ensure the program reflects the needs of participants, and to inform our assessment of trends in new developments.

The Facilitation Group records its monthly meetings, and appoints a CEF Convenor, Deputy Convenor by consensus, and engages an external Secretary to manage administration.

The subscription fees are set at a level to cover operating expenses, such as venue, administrative and secretariat costs. Secretariat and administrative support is currently provided under arrangements with the Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) ACT Division.

Why should you be involved?

The Forum is a cost-effective means of professional and personal development for people:

• currently involved to varying degrees in all aspects of evaluation and performance management in their organisation;
• with an interest in the session topic, but who are not actually involved in managing performance of programs, nor are they directly involved in their evaluation;
• involved in policy development and analysis;

The Forum represents very good value for money. A small subscription fee per calendar year provides a program of eight to ten professional development sessions.  Corporate subscribers to the CEF may nominate any number of people to attend any of the sessions subject only to limitations of the venue and this, at times, may result in registrations being closed earlier than scheduled. Typically, the attendance ranges from a low of 80 to a high of 160 people. Each session provides opportunities to meet and discuss aspects of performance management and evaluation with others.

Each monthly session is advertised in a Flier distributed via email to people specially registered to receive session information. Bookings to attend the monthly sessions are essential to assist with planning and costs. Bookings should be made on the telephone  booking service at 02 94321655. Further information can be obtained from:

The Convenor of the CEF, Noel Sutton,
telephone (02) 6230 5560; email  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; or

The Secretary of the CEF, Ian Giles 
telephone (02) 62413104; email     This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

To be listed on our mailing list for the monthly Flier, or pass on suggestions for improvement or new topics, please send your comments or ideas to the Secretary.

 CEF 2012 PROGRAM

16 February
The Secretary of the Attorney General's Department - Evidence-based Indigenous Justice Policy.

15 March
Measuring Compliance Effectiveness in the ATO

19 April
Assessing Implementation of Australia's National Water reform agenda – what it means for Regional Australia.

17 May
Does Evaluation really add value? (Professor Janet Clinton - Melbourne University)

21 June
Evaluation by the Department of Regional Australia - Framework Programs.

19 July
Evaluation of Indigenous issues to coincide with NAIDOC.

16 August
Productivity Commission – Evaluation about Aged Care in Australia.

20 September
ABS – 2011 National Census

18 October
Australian Government approach to M&E over last 20 years (World Bank)

15 November
Evaluation issues about Australian Farmland (Climate Change links)

6 December
Christmas Function for 2012 presenters/speakers to the CEF sessions.

Possible additional topics for 2012
• Presentation about the work of International communities.
• Evaluations by the ANZAC Centenary Advisory Board
• Biosecurity Reform in Australia
• ANAO Report (Sept 2011) Audits about Performance Indicators.
• Presentation by Defence about the Strategic Reform Program.
• APSC Evaluation of SES Training Program
• Evaluations of the disasters – EMA
• Performance Information across Agencies (Program Design).
• Risk management evaluations in Agencies.