Working out what works for families

This article discusses how Australia’s child and family service system can make better use of evidence and data to improve outcomes for children and families. Rather than treating evaluation as a one-off exercise, the author argues for an ongoing cycle of learning, where services draw on research evidence, program logic and client feedback to refine what they do. The article highlights the diversity of evidence available, including rigorous trials, practice wisdom and lived experience, and stresses the importance of matching evidence to local context rather than copying models wholesale.