<p style="text-align:center"><em><span style="font-size:12px">Fielding questions from the floor during the STEPS presentation (left to right): Margaret Cargo, Lynley Cvitanovic, Lisa Warner,<br />
Gill Potaka Osborne and Jenni Judd.</span></em></p>

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<p>Aotearoa New Zealand colleagues Roberta (Bertz) Williams, Maaki Tuatini, Nancy Tuaine and Kiri Parata joined Gill Potaka Osborne and Lynley Cvitanovic at this year&rsquo;s Australasian Evaluation Society (AES) International Conference. Held in Launceston, Tasmania the conference theme was transformations - including urgently addressing the need for evaluations that make a positive difference for Indigenous communities. Participants came from throughout Australia as well as from Aotearoa New Zealand, the wider Pacific region and further afield.</p>

<p>On the first day of the conference, we presented a session with our long-time Australian colleagues Lisa Warner (Anangu Yankunytjatjara/Pitjantjatjara; YWCA, Adelaide), Associate Professor Margaret Cargo (University of Canberra) and Professor Jenni Judd (Central Queensland University). The results of the STEPS (Strengthening Evaluation Practices in Indigenous Settings in Australia and New Zealand) study were explored during the presentation. Those results included separate Australian and New Zealand concept maps developed following the analysis of data contributed by more than 300 evaluators, evaluation commissioners and evaluation participants. The STEPS research has been conducted by a team of Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners, on both sides of the Tasman, led by Dr Amohia Boulton and Margaret Cargo and including colleague, Sharon Clark (Wergaia, Gunditjmara; Women&rsquo;s and Children&rsquo;s Health Network Government of South Australia). The STEPS session attracted a capacity audience and saw a spirited exchange of ideas among participants.</p>

<p>The following day, Gill Potaka Osborne co-presented a session with Kiri Parata entitled, &lsquo;Sharing Research Results to Shape Future Services&rsquo;. The session explored the ways in which Whakauae has supported the development of three M&#257;ori evaluators using a pragmatic approach within a Kaupapa M&#257;ori paradigm. That development was illustrated through the work of these evaluators in conducting research and evaluation alongside three M&#257;ori health service provider communities in different parts of the country. In each instance distinct dissemination methods were developed to best reflect wh&#257;nau and provider voices. The three evaluators conclude that evaluators and health providers need to spend time considering the most appropriate and useful dissemination methods at early stages of any research. Early considerations better benefit&nbsp;interest groups ensuring methods that may be usefully applied enabling challenges in translation of research results to be effective and therefore appropriately managed. The findings from this study show that M&#257;ori, being diverse populations, often live simultaneously in a range of cultural worlds. Therefore, research that attempts to impact on future wellbeing needs to recognise, reflect and cater for diversity both within providers and wh&#257;nau.</p>

<p>A highlight of the Conference for Whakauae was the Gala Awards Dinner held at Launceston&rsquo;s Albert Hall. Together with partners Te Oranganui Trust and Raetihi Pah, Whakauae received one of three awards made on the night for excellence in evaluation. The Indigenous Evaluation Award for the evaluation of Te Puawai o Te Ahi Kaa Project was presented by Indigenous AES board member, Doyen Radcliff. The award judges noted the collaborative approach of the three partners to the evaluation of Te Puawai o Te Ahi Kaa and its privileging of an Indigenous world view throughout. The judges added that they regarded this kind of approach as being a model for the conduct of evaluations that can make a difference for Indigenous communities. It was fantastic that Nancy Tuaine (former CE of Te Oranganui Trust and a Raethi Pah Board member), Maaki Tuatini and Roberta Williams (Te Puawai o te Ahi Kaa Project) were able to be there to accept this joint award with Whakauae. <a href="https://www.aes.asn.au/about-us/awards-and-grants-62/aes-awards-for-excellence-in-evaluation.html" target="_blank">You can see further information on the awards here</a>.</p>

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<p style="text-align:center"><img alt="AES Awards Dinner" src="/uploads/images/AES-Excellance-Award-Group-Photo.jpg" style="height:370px; width:650px" /><br />
<span style="font-size:12px"><em>At the AES Awards Dinner (left to right): Nancy Tuaine, Lynley Cvitanovic, Gill Potaka Osborne, Roberta Williams, Maaki Tuatini, Lisa Warner and Margaret Cargo.</em></span></p>

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<p>During the Awards Dinner, Whakauae research and evaluation contractor Kiri Parata addressed the conference in her role as an AES board member. Kiri welcomed and introduced the recipients of this year&rsquo;s Conference Support Grants for Emerging Indigenous Evaluators.</p>

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