Panyappi Indigenous Youth Mentoring Project : external evaluation report 2004

Description

This report presents the findings of an external evaluation of the Panyappi Indigenous Youth Mentoring Project, which is a mentoring service for young Indigenous people who experience multiple problems that lead them to frequent inner city Adelaide or other suburban hangouts, placing them at risk of being a victim of crime or engaging in offending behaviour. Panyappi was evaluated through a series of personal interviews and focus groups with all key stakeholders, including young people, family members and program staff, and through analysis of program statistics, client demographics and program documentation. The evaluation finds that Panyappi has made substantial progress toward the desired program outcomes, and identifies important features in Panyappi?s model of practice, which include having a formal rather than naturalistic mentoring process and the use of paid, trained mentors, which have supported its aims. Panyappi has successfully addressed the intended target group, while also expanding the inner city focus in response to the location shifts of this group of young people. There was strong evidence that young people valued their relationships with mentors and grew to trust them, often in ways their family members or program collaborators had not previously witnessed. Panyappi has developed strong relationships with schools in providing everyday support for young people, and with family support services. Both young people and family members reported a marked positive change in young people?s offending behaviour, which was supported by the justice system?s database that tracks and reports young people?s offending activity. Whether this decreased contact is maintained will depend on the capacity to track these young people?s progress over a longer period of time, which will require ongoing program and evaluation funding. There were also consistent reports from a range of stakeholders that young people developed in their self-belief, and personal and cultural identity during their involvement with Panyappi. The evaluation makes a number of recommendations, including recommendations for long term funding and expansion of Panyappi, and that Panyappi maintain a family-inclusive approach in line with culturally appropriate practice.

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