Between 2020 and 2022, a Providence team member provided ongoing evaluation advisory support to Defence Mental Health and Joint Health Command leadership, helping embed evaluation as a practical decision‑making tool rather than a compliance activity. Working closely with senior leaders and embedded in Russell offices two days a week, they advised on evaluation design, data systems, reporting and interpretation of findings, with a focus on usability and real‑world application. This support helped leaders identify data limitations, respond to emerging issues, and integrate evaluation into everyday planning and delivery processes. The advisory role improved confidence in evaluation findings, strengthened reporting quality, and supported more informed decision‑making in a high‑stakes environment. Outcomes included clearer evaluation pathways, improved use of data for learning, and stronger alignment between evaluation, governance and strategy. This work played a key role in shaping the renewed Strategy and Continuous Improvement Framework for 2025 to 2030 and supporting long‑term continuous improvement.
A Providence team member provided system thinking, monitoring and evaluation advisory in support of the National Emergency Management Agency during the development of the Systemic Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning framework under the Second National Action Plan. Working alongside the lead delivery partner, they advised on how systems thinking, theory of change and evaluation practice could be applied within the realities of Australia’s emergency management environment. The role Drew extensively on their past experience as a senior public servant in emergency management within the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s department, and academic expertise in systems thinking, mapping and monitoring. Advisory support included sense‑checking emerging design decisions, testing assumptions against operational and network experience, and guiding alignment between policy intent and implementation. The advice strengthened confidence that the framework would be implementable, credible and sustainable over time.
A Providence team member provided evaluation advisory support to the Department of Home Affairs’ Office of Social Cohesion to strengthen evidence and learning around democratic resilience across the life‑course. The work focused on advising and facilitating around how existing research, data and engagement evidence could be brought together to better understand where research, policy and program interventions are most effective in building social cohesion and countering extremism. This included developing and testing the “civic journeys” concept, and facilitating structured discussions with Commonwealth departments and leading researchers to identify evidence gaps and opportunities. Advisory support helped translate complex research into practical insights for policy design, future research priorities and funding decisions. The outcome was to act as a catalyst to a set of credible conceptual resources and discussion papers that informed government thinking, supported cross‑agency alignment, and provided a practical foundation for ongoing evaluation, research and learning in an area of national priority.
Adash is Providence’s CEO and is responsible to the Providence Board and Providence’s clients for ensuring the timely delivery of outcomes through advice, guidance and mentoring to Providence’s staff.
