For many peer organisations, gathering the evidence they require has been a challenge. They have needed to be provided with additional resources that enable them to build their organisational capacity. This resource is a first step in addressing this need. Peer organisations will benefit from including information collection within their program design, as this will ensure they are in the best possible position for collecting the most valuable and important data. Such data will enable each peer organisation to illustrate the benefits their programs bring, illustrate outcomes, show effective/efficient use of funding and prove the importance of their user-led organisation within a changing NDIS marketplace. Without this evidence, user-led organisations are at risk of being squeezed out by large operators who have not spent years investing in learning the essential components of helpful peer support. Given this prospect, peer support organisations, neglecting to have a focus on evaluation, has the potential to constitute as a huge blow for the entire disability sector.
In the next Module, we jump right into the peer evidence-gathering journey. We start by asking you to contemplate your purpose. Where do you want your peer program to be? The aim is to enable you to consider the way that harvesting evidence can be used to guide your disability peer supports and help you to ‘stay on track’ on the road to where you want your program to be. Let us never forget; your peer program’s ‘track’ is likely to be distinctive; this means you should tailor how you gather its evidence. Your disability peer support programs can gain strategic advantage from this journey, as can the disability community. This package strives to encourage you throughout this process as each peer organisation travels on its journey toward success.
