Measure your success - AOD and Young Adults
Some example ‘measures of success’ and tools to measure them are provided on the next page.
You may find these a useful starting point for measuring the success of your program.
Table 1: Measuring success
| Process measures | Impact measures |
|---|---|
| • Engage with (xx) community organisations over the first three months of your activity to assist in establishing access to young adults to participate in your awareness raising activity/upskilling activity/participation and social connection activity. • Work with (xx) community organisations to deliver awareness raising activities/upskilling activity/participation and social connection activity targeting young adults. • (xx) young adults participating in (xx) awareness raising activities/upskilling activity/participation and social connection activity targeting young adults. • Post-awareness raising activity/upskilling activity/ participation and social connection activity on alcohol, other drugs and young people: (survey completed by target audience or participants pre/ post activity/training). | As a result of the awareness raising activity or completing the upskilling activity/participation and social connection activity: • (xx percent) young adults will be aware of the NHMRC Drinking Guidelines • (xx) young adults will demonstrate an increased awareness of the harmful effects of alcohol and other drugs • (xx) young adults will report an increase participation in community activities or increase in feelings of social connection within (insert name) community. Short-term impacts of awareness raising activity/ upskilling activity/participation and social connection activity on young adults (one month after): • as a result of completing the awareness raising activity, (xx) participants will continue to demonstrate an increase in knowledge of the harmful effects of alcohol and other drugs • as a result of completing the upskilling/ participation and/or social connection activity, (xx number) participants report ongoing engagement in the participation activity and stronger feelings of social connection within (xx name) community. Longer-term impacts of alcohol and younger people training or information session (six months after completing the activity): • as a result of completing the awareness raising activity, (xx number) participants will further develop their knowledge of the harmful effects of alcohol and other drugs • as a result of completing the upskilling/ participation and/or social connection activity, (xx number) participants report further engagement in the participation activities and stronger feelings of social connection within (xx name) community. |
Tools to measure success
- Feedback sheets or questionnaires (both pre- and post- is preferable)
- Interviews
- Surveys
- Verbal feedback from participants, facilitators
- Notes taken by a dedicated note taker
- Document analysis (e.g. tracking and monitoring the number of resources distributed)
- Focus groups (e.g. with healthcare and service providers)
- Partnerships analysis
- Local population health data (e.g. community survey data).
Next steps
Other things you can do to support young people in your community:
- Work with your community partners to further connect and strengthen your community: see Strong and Connected Communities toolkit
- Work with your community partners to deliver a volunteering or mentoring activity: see Involving Volunteers toolkit or Mentoring toolkit
- Participate in a community liquor licensing activity: see Community Participation in Liquor Licensing toolkit.
More information
- Alcohol and Drug Foundation
- The National Health and Medical Research Council’s Australian Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks from Drinking Alcohol
- Dovetail: Youth Alcohol & Drug Practice Guide 3: Practically Strategies and Interventions
- The youth arm of beyondblue
- Headspace
- Drug Aware
- Alcohol. Think Again
- Think Mental Health
- Australian Government, Department of Social Services
- Australian Government, Department of Health’s Quality Use of Medicines