SAMANTHA ABBATO
IMPLEMENTATION
The focus on end-use of evaluation and research results promotes the application of findings for the direct and future benefit of organisations, communities and clients. Using a community-based participatory approach that continues beyond the evaluation or research report, I facilitate application of findings. I help ensure the relevance and appropriateness of interventions through continued engagement and consultation and building on established client and community relationships.
Findings have been applied to the development of resources for service providers and communities, organisational and program strategic planning and interventions.
Resources developed
Engaging and consulting with clients, stakeholders and communities, I apply research and evaluation findings to the development of community resources that are used locally, Nationally and internationally. Examples are shown below.
Your Shed and Dementia: A manual: A resource developed for Alzheimer's Australia NSW (2014-15) based on the evaluation of the "Every Bloke Needs a Shed" project in the Newcastle and Hunter region and continued collaboration with the AMSA and Men's Sheds in NSW and Queensland for use by the leadership teams and participants of Men's Sheds across Australia.
Community Profiles for Health Care Providers : A resource developed for Queensland Health based on research, literature review and community engagement and consultation with 18 culturally and linguistically diverse communities in Queensland. The purpose of the profiles is to assist health care and other service providers to deliver culturally appropriate care. The resource is used by providers across Australia and Internationally.
Living with Diabetes- Diabetes Patients Handbook: A resource developed for patients of the Victorian Aboriginal Medical Service. Ethnographic research on the social and cultural context of diabetes and the lived experience of diabetes and its risk factors in an urban Aboriginal community was the foundation of the manual.
Learning and Strategic Planning
Using project, program and organisational evaluation results and recommendations, I faciliate strategic planning processes with teams and organisations. This enables a direct connect between evaluation, team learning and strategic and operational planning.
Strategic planning workshops are facilitated for teams within organisations and partnerships across organisations. These are delivered through a variety of formats tailored to specific teams and organisations.
A variety of activities and mediums are used to actively engage participants in and document the strategic planning process. The activities are chosen based on appropriateness and optimising engagement with individuals, groups and organisations.
Strategic plans and operational plans are produced that fit the specific practicalities of organisations and partnerships. Staff are coached on how to keep these documents "alive"- how to use them to link to monitoring data, record and effectively report on progress.
List of useful resources- Implementation
Suggested publications
Abbato, S. Community Profiles for Health Care Providers. Division of the Chief Health Officer, Queensland Health.
Brisbane 2011.
McLaughlin, T A. Nonprofit strategic positioning: Decide where to be, plan what to do. John Wiley and Sons Inc,
Hoboken, NJ 2006.
Allison M and Kaye J. Strategic planning for nonprofit organizations: A practical guide and workbook,
Second Edition. John Wiley and Sons Inc, Hoboken, NJ 2005.
Stanfield, R B. The workshop book: From individual creativity to group action.
The Canadian Institute of Cultural Affairs. New Society Publishers, Gabriola Island BC, Canada 2002.
Kaner, S. Faciltator's Guide to Participatory Decision-Making. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco. 2007.
Templates
Abbato S. - Basic template for strategic and operational plan