TNQ Drought Hub
James Cook University Australia
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Better Evaluation = Bigger Impact. Reflecting, Learning and Improving at the Australian Evaluation Society Conference

Key takeaway

  • Evaluation drives real impact. Monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) are essential for ensuring that TNQ Drought Hub programs remain effective, relevant, and able to create meaningful change for the communities they serve.
  • Stories matter as much as data. Good evaluation goes beyond collecting numbers. It captures values, experiences, and lessons learned, helping to communicate outcomes in ways that inspire action and improvement.
  • Collaboration strengthens outcomes. National events like the AES Conference foster knowledge-sharing and cross-hub connections, bringing fresh ideas and methods that improve program delivery and collective climate resilience efforts.

 For the TNQ Drought Hub, attending national events isn’t just about networking, it’s about making sure every activity we deliver is as effective, relevant and impactful as possible. Reflecting on what works, learning from others, and sharpening the way we measure and communicate outcomes ensures that our activities don’t just meet expectations, they create real change for the communities we serve.

This focus was front and centre when Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Program Manager Sophie Walker and Knowledge Broker Karen George attended the Australian Evaluation Society (AES) Conference in Canberra from 17–19 September. With more than 600 participants from government agencies, evaluation firms and organisations across health, agriculture, and social sectors, the conference was the perfect opportunity to strengthen the Hub’s approach to evaluation and learning.

Across three days, presenters explored innovative methodologies such as the most significant change technique, co-design approaches, and ethical evaluation practices designed to bring real benefits to the communities being evaluated. 

The Australian Evaluation Society Conference

The conference reinforced the idea that good evaluation is more than extracting data—it’s about telling meaningful stories, understanding values and biases, and ensuring that findings are shared with the right people, at the right time, in the right way.

For Sophie, the event was an opportunity to bring fresh ideas back to the Hub and strengthen cross-Hub collaboration.

“Attending the conference expanded my knowledge in evaluation and provided me with many ideas to bring home and apply to the Hub,” Sophie said.

“Effective evaluation is key, not only to communicate the value of programs to funders but also to ensure that communities are getting the best possible programs to build their resilience.

“It was a wonderful chance to meet with other Hub and Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Monitoring, Evaluating and Learning staff members in person. These connections can help build cross-hub collaboration and ensure that the collective impact of all the hubs can be communicated well.”

The conference reinforced that monitoring, evaluation and learning are not just about measuring outcomes, they’re about telling the story behind the numbers. Data provides the evidence, but qualitative insights add the context and meaning that help communities and partners see the bigger picture.

Reflecting on lessons learned is not simply a check-box exercise; it is how programs stay relevant and effective in the face of changing climate challenges. By sharing successes and the lessons that come from challenges, the TNQ Drought Hub can adapt, improve and ultimately deliver greater value to the communities it serves.

As the Hub continues to support drought preparedness across Northern Queensland, these insights will help ensure that every project is not only well-delivered but also continually refined to meet the evolving needs of the people and landscapes it supports.