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Top honour for The Smith Family's Learning for Life program

12 April 2016

The Smith Family has won a key award for its social impact measurement of Learning for Life, its long-term educational program for disadvantaged children in Australia.

The 2016 SIMNA Award for Excellence in Social Impact Measurement was awarded to The Smith Family at the Think Outcomes Conference, organised by SIMNA (Social Impact Measurement Network Australia) in association with the Centre for Social Impact and the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth.

The Smith Family’s CEO, Dr Lisa O’Brien said 34,000 disadvantaged young Australians across the nation were being supported in their education through Learning for Life, with ongoing social impact measurement embedded into every aspect of the program.

“This award is a wonderful accolade and a testament to the rigour of our approach in measuring the efficacy of our Learning for Life program,” Dr O’Brien said.

“Achieving positive change with highly disadvantaged young people requires careful and systematic work, with support needing to be targeted, flexible, responsive and long-term. 

“No other Australian organisation, government or non-government, is longitudinally tracking the educational outcomes of such a large number of disadvantaged young people.”

The Smith Family’s social impact measurement of Learning for Life has a strong focus on the quantitative measurement of three longer-term key outcomes for all participating students.

These measures – of school attendance, Year 12 completion and post school engagement in education and employment – have been chosen because research shows their importance for long-term social and economic wellbeing.

Analysis of the progress and outcomes being achieved by individual students, and different groups of students, such as those from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds is undertaken. This helps identify where additional student support or program refinements may be required. Analysis is at the aggregate level and also tracks year on year changes.

Dr O’Brien said in using this approach The Smith Family is able to assess the program’s efficacy, to more fully understand the factors contributing to its impact and to refine its approach as necessary.

“Social impact measurement supports our ability to be accountable for the results of our work, especially to our stakeholders groups, including families, volunteers and supporters,” Dr O’Brien said.

“This is vital in an organisation whose work is supported financially by a range of stakeholders, including the Australian public, corporates, trusts and foundations and universities. 

 

“The results of our social impact measurement confirm the effectiveness of our work and that disadvantaged children in Australia are achieving better educational outcomes as a result.”