Evaluation of suicide prevention activities

Appendix B – Key Evaluation Questions

Page last updated: January 2014

Appropriateness of suicide prevention activities
Effectiveness of suicide prevention activities
Efficiency of suicide prevention activities

Appropriateness of suicide prevention activities

Current government priorities1

Key evaluation questions:
  • Are the suicide prevention activities consistent with current government priorities?

Key program objectives

Key evaluation questions:
  • Is there an optimal mix of individual projects that could meet overall objectives?
  • Is there a more nationally consistent approach that could be practically adopted?
  • Are there any clear gaps in the suicide prevention activities that might be filled by one or more additional projects?

Continuing need

Key evaluation questions:
  • Are individual projects meeting current need? Are the individual projects appropriate?

Consequences of not continuing

Key evaluation questions:
  • What might be the consequences of not continuing the individual projects and/or the overarching NSPP?

Australian Government funding

Key evaluation questions:
  • Are the individual projects likely to continue in the absence of Australian Government funding?

Possible improvements

Key evaluation questions:
  • What are some possible improvements that might be considered to increase the appropriateness and/or sustainability of the NSPP, including consideration of the costs and benefits of these improvements? Top of page

Effectiveness of suicide prevention activities

Goals and objectives

Key evaluation questions:
  • To what extent have suicide prevention activities, and individual funded projects, been successful in achieving agreed objectives?
  • Does the geospatial coverage of suicide prevention activities and funded projects adequately support nationally significant outcomes?

Outcomes

Key evaluation questions:
  • What are the key outcomes, outputs and impacts achieved as a result of funding suicide prevention activities and individual funded projects?
  • Are projects achieving holistic and coordinated outcomes and flexible service delivery for consumers?

Integration

Key evaluation questions:
  • To what extent have suicide prevention activities functioned effectively as part of the broader policy environment, including the NSPS?

Possible improvements

Key evaluation questions:
  • What are possible improvements that might be considered to increase program effectiveness, including nationally significant approaches to service delivery and the expansion of reach and availability, and consideration of the costs and benefits of these improvements? Top of page

Efficiency of suicide prevention activities

Duplication

Key evaluation questions:
  • Is there any duplication in suicide prevention activities projects that might be reduced to improve efficiency?

Administration

Key evaluation questions:
  • Could the processes, outputs and the administration of the suicide prevention programs and their projects be improved?
  • Is the model utilised to administer these suicide prevention programs consistent with the Department’s own national alignment processes and the Australian Government's mental health reform agenda?2

Economic

Key evaluation questions:
  • Are the suicide prevention activities demonstrating value of investment in terms of client outcomes?

Possible improvements

Key evaluation questions:
  • What are possible improvements that might be considered to increase the efficiency and national consistency of suicide prevention activities, including consideration of the costs and benefits of these improvements?

1 This refers to the government at the time that the evaluation commenced. In September 2013 a change of government occurred.
2 This refers to the mental health reform agenda that applied at the time that the evaluation commenced. In September 2013 a change of government occurred.