Evaluation of Bandmates Victoria Program
The Program matches people with disability and/or mental health issues with volunteers, with the aim of going to see live music in venues and or at festivals together.
The Centre for Program Evaluation in conjunction with the Melbourne Disability Institute in the Graduate School of Education at The University of Melbourne was asked by Maribyrnong City Council (MCC) to evaluate the Program.
MCC’s focus of the evaluation was on the value of the Program, in terms of both the effectiveness and the benefits seen by a number of stakeholders. The evaluation looked at program delivery, and as well as the effectiveness and impact of the experience for people with a disability and/or mental health issues. The results of the evaluation will feed into future program design, as well as providing some credible evidence for decision makers. The Program achieves its goal of providing people with disabilities and/or mental health issues the opportunity to go out to do what the majority of the population is able to, that is go to the live music venue and enjoy music. Based on the interviews with Bandmates, the Program has had positive outcomes of increasing well-being and feeling socially included. The results of the evaluation indicate it is a successful Program with a combination of high and acceptable scores.
Project Recommendations
The Program achieves its goal of providing people with disabilities and/or mental health issues the opportunity to go out to do what the majority of the population is able to, that is go to the live music venue and enjoy music. Based on the interviews with Bandmates, the Program has had positive outcomes of increasing well-being and feeling socially included.
Recommendations:
- Clarity the role of parents/carers and how to involve them in the next evaluation
- Missing link between the venues/festivals completing the training and bandmates/volunteers not being told about it (opportunity lost?)
- Having a baseline on which to measure any changes
- Speed up the matching process for volunteers/Bandmates
- Need to work on the sustainability of the Program including sustainable funding and a permanent home for the Program
Research Team
Anthea Rutter, Centre for Program Evaluation
Partner organisation
Maribyrnong City Council (MCC) in partnership with Arts Access Victoria