Evaluator for Try, Test and Learn Fund

The University of Queensland will evaluate the success of the Government’s innovative approaches to addressing long-term welfare dependency.

The Try, Test and Learn Fund is generating evidence on how best to invest in people who may need additional help to move from welfare into long-term employment.

Nearly 400 ideas for projects were received last year in the first tranche of the $96.1 million Try, Test and Learn Fund.

Around $23 million has been invested in 14 projects that focus on the three priority groups: young parents, young carers and students at risk of long-term unemployment.

Evaluating the outcomes of the Try, Test and Learn Fund trials is a core component of judging the success of the program.

The University of Queensland, in association with the University of Melbourne, will receive $3.7 million to conduct quantitative and qualitative reviews, including stakeholder interviews, participant surveys, case studies, program data analysis and secondary data analysis. It will run up to mid-2020.

The Turnbull Government is focussed on getting people off welfare and into work with the economy creating 1,100 jobs a day.

Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course Professor Janeen Baxter said the University of Queensland was delighted to evaluate this important new policy initiative.

“It is exciting to see the Australian Government Department of Social Services developing and trialling innovative new ways to improve the lifetime outcomes of Australia’s most vulnerable people,” Professor Baxter said.

“We hope that this work will have real outcomes that reduce social disadvantage and creates opportunities for all Australians to prosper.”