Strong Foundations program evaluation

COORDINARE, in partnership with South Coast Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation (SCMSAC), is seeking proposals to evaluate the Strong Foundations program.

Strong Foundations is a culturally grounded early-intervention social and emotional wellbeing program that supports Aboriginal children and their families. This evaluation will build on the 2018 exploratory evaluation (Appendix 3) and help strengthen the evidence base for future commissioning and evaluation of culturally grounded programs for Aboriginal children.

Delivered in South Eastern NSW since 2007, Strong Foundations is grounded in Aboriginal ways of knowing, being and doing, with a focus on strengthening emotional regulation, cultural identity, coping skills and connections to family and community.

This evaluation provides an opportunity to build on previous findings, strengthen understanding of long-term outcomes, and contribute to the evidence base for effective early-intervention approaches that support Aboriginal children and communities.

Respondents must demonstrate Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander leadership within the evaluation team, supported by appropriate cultural governance and oversight throughout the evaluation.

Highly regarded experience includes:

• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander-led evaluation and research

• culturally safe and culturally grounded evaluation methodologies

• working in partnership with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) and communities

• using mixed-methods approaches to understand and measure outcomes that are meaningful to Aboriginal children, families and communities.

Suitably qualified organisations, researchers, PhD candidates and early career researchers are encouraged to apply, provided appropriate supervision, mentoring and support arrangements are in place.

For more information about RFQ eligibility refer to section three of the guidelines.

• RFQ Guidelines - Strong Foundations program evaluation
• Appendix 1 - Application Form Strong Foundations Evaluation
• Appendix 2 - Child Safety Credential Declaration
• Appendix 3 - Strong Foundations Program Evaluation Report 2018

Applications close 5pm AEST 13 November 2026

Applications must include: 

• completed Appendix 1 - Application form
• itemised service quote/budget ex GST and aligned with the methodology, milestones and deliverables, including all costs associated with project delivery
• CVs of proposed personnel
• ABN and Certificates of currency for required insurances
• completed Appendix 2 – Child Safety Credential Declaration
• relevant referee information and/or testimonials for respondents who have not previously worked with COORDINARE.

Responses to this RFQ must be submitted to the Commissioning Business Team via

 commissioning@coordinare.org.au 

Late or incomplete submissions will not be accepted.