aes19 International Evaluation Conference

Rossingh, B., Puruntatameri, E., Tipuamantumirri, S., Perry, M., Nasir, T  (Tiwi Islands Training and Employment Board)

The Women's Centre in the Tiwi Islands is introducing a program for young Tiwi women to 'find themselves' so they may commence their own unique journey of aspirational development and self-belief to build foundation life-skills. Evaluation of this program requires a balance of logic and creativity. Logic to give structure and creativity to measure the almost unmeasurable - progressions in one's thinking and the realisation of possibility and opportunity to achieve.

These young women need support to grow and develop as leaders of change and potentially follow in the footsteps of their senior and strong cultural leaders. The issue is that being a community leader is not necessarily an aspiration for many young people. Changes relating to westernisation are coming at a fast rate and attitudes of young people are not as focused on retention of culture for future generations and the sustainability of one's community. We need to embrace this contemporary moment towards understanding what it is that young people want so they can develop as leaders of change and achieve in their own way. The 'Rise Up 2 Lead Program' is aimed at adding value to existing employment based programs for young Tiwi women to build knowledge, skills, values and confidence as well as strengthening relationships, trust and friendship. These program outcomes are geared towards young Tiwi women seeing themselves as leaders and change makers for their family and the community. The embedded evaluation framework for this program is premised on a mixed-methods approach that is structured in an informal way and more importantly inclusive of young women to share and grow and senior 'strong' women to guide and advise.