Like the field of evaluation, the field of systems thinking shares the goal of describing and assessing programs or situations to recommend improvements and facilitate decision making. This article negotiates the boundaries of knowledge pertinent to have in program design and evaluation from a realist perspective.

This guide helps public officials institutionalise representative public deliberation through eight models that enhance collective decision-making and democracy. The guide provides examples of embedding deliberation into decision-making to make democracy more participatory and inclusive.

With an overall aim by the Victorian government to have the most efficient regulatory system in Australia, this SOE framework is designed to facilitate a dialogue between Ministers, departments and regulators to identify the government’s priorities and emerging risks and to establish a process for addressing these priorities through regulators’ business planning processes.

This framework was developed through a co-design process with a Reference Group that consisted of members of the Australian Evaluation Society (AES) Indigenous Culture and Diversity Committee and representatives from the other main AES Committees. The main aim of this paper is to outline the development of a culturally safe evaluation.

This guide has been prepared for anyone working towards the creation of positive social impact in Australia. It may assist those wanting to measure the change they are making for individuals, organisations and communities.