The Evaluation Framework is designed to ensure that evaluation is high quality, ethical, inclusive and focused on improving outcomes for Indigenous Australians. This recognises that where evaluation is of high quality it is more likely to be used. It aims to pursue consistent standards of evaluation of Indigenous Advancement Strategy (IAS) programs but not impose a ‘one-size-fits-all’ model of evaluation.

The core values at the heart of this framework drive fundamental questions about how well IAS programs and activities build on strengths to make a positive contribution to the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and inform our policies and programs.

This framework guides the conduct and development of a stronger approach to evaluation. The goals of this Framework are to: 

• generate high quality evidence that is used to inform decision-making
• strengthen Indigenous leadership in evaluation
• build capability by fostering a collaborative culture of evaluative thinking and continuous learning
• emphasise collaboration and ethical ways of doing high quality evaluation at the forefront of evaluation practice in order to inform decision-making, and
• promote dialogue and deliberation to further develop the maturity of evaluation over time.

The framework sets out best practice principles that call for evaluations to be relevant, robust, appropriate and credible. High quality evaluation should be integrated into the cycles of policy and community decision-making. This should be collaborative, timely and culturally inclusive.