Recent Projects
Action Focused Service Mapping Research – tamariki and rangatahi 0-18 years and their whānau in Hurunui and Waimakariri: Research for Community Wellbeing North Canterbury Trust funded by Oranga Tamariki Partnering for Outcomes 2021
Sarah led this project and drew in the quantitative skills of Nicola Morton. Utilising in-depth scoping and a collaborative approach, this newly completed project identified service gaps and recommended additional services and approaches best-placed to meet the wellbeing needs of whānau across communities with a wide geographic spread.
Covid-19 Welfare Recovery Research for Ashburton District: Caring for Communities Welfare Recovery Group, Safer Mid Canterbury, 2020
Ashburton’s Covid-19 Welfare Recovery Group wanted to take an evidence-based approach to developing their recovery plan for the district, and the research was executed over a tight timeframe to enable this to occur, gathering data from a wide range of informants to identify and prioritise community wellbeing needs.
South Island research Lead on the Ngā Haerenga research project – a three-year longitudinal qualitative research exploring experience of transition from Oranga Tamariki Care, for Oranga Tamariki and under sub-contract to The Collaborative Trust for Research and Training in Youth Health and Development, 2020-2022
This project involves engagement with young people as they age out of the care of Oranga Tamariki and transition towards independent adulthood and gathering their stories of transition, their goals, aspirations, strengths and challenges via a series of interviews.
Project Lead for major qualitative research regarding Young People and Pornography for Te Mana Whakaatu Classification Office, under subcontract to The Collaborative Trust for Research and Training in Youth Health and Development, 2019-2020
This project, the qualitative follow-up to a large-scale quantitative survey of 14-17-year-old New Zealanders, involved in-depth interviews with 52 14-17-year-olds from throughout the country, with interviews conducted by Sarah and by a team of young researchers trained and supported by Sarah and the Collaborative Trust’s research manager.
Dynata Supreme Award 2021 Winner: Social, Community and Not For Profit Category (Platinum) 2021.
The project has attained international acclaim, and underpinned a recent advertising campaign by the Department of Internal Affairs and work reviewing the health education curriculum and creating resources for parents. You can read the report here.
Project Lead – Development of Outcomes Framework for Cholmondeley Children’s Centre, under sub-contract to The Collaborative for Research and Training in Youth Health and Development 2018
A programme logic model was developed in strong collaboration with all Cholmondeley staff, and from this a full suite of data collection tools and approaches were developed for the Centre to evidence its practice. The emphasis was on meaningful data collection and useable, meaningful monitoring, evaluation and reporting.
Other projects undertaken over the past four years include:
- Research exploring wellbeing, resilience and recovery needs in Mackenzie District, MDC
- Family social wellbeing profile and response, Selwyn District, SDC
Research exploring needs and opportunities around the business community of Belfast, Northwood and Redwood, Belfast Community Network
Evaluation of Rowley Resource Centre
Feasibility study: Hoon Hay Community Centre
Research exploring Covid-19 response experiences and perceptions of societal value of older adults among socially isolated older adults in Christchurch and implications for community providers
Policy development – Selwyn District Council
Evaluation of the Youth Transition Project delivered by YCD
National evaluation of Youth Week for Ara Taiohi (sub-contracted by The Collaborative Trust for Research and Training in Youth Health and Development)
Development of community profiles for suburbs within Coastal Burwood Ward Areas, Christchurch City
Funding advisory support for Selwyn’s new library Te Ara Ātea
Play Insights research for the community of Belfast
Feasibility study into supported accommodation provision for young people post-release from Youth Unit, Christchurch Prison, St John of God Waipuna
Community needs analysis of Richmond, Christchurch City Council
Evaluation of The Loft
Older adults needs analysis for Greater Linwood community, Christchurch City Council
Capacity Building for Beneficiaries Advisory Service under sub-contract to NFP Works
Preparation of Safety Snapshot, Safer Ashburton
Evaluation of Primary Project, Cross Over Trust
Qualitative data collection to inform development of Economic Development Strategy for Selwyn District Council
Preparation of Community Wellbeing Strategy for Selwyn District Council, in collaboration with Matthew Pratt
Project Lead – Research exploring disclosure of mental health crisis via social media, for Zeal and under sub-contract to The Collaborative for Research and Training in Youth Health and Development
Feasibility study exploring future users of Pūkeko Centre community facility and Parklands Community Centre recreation space, Prepared jointly for Pūkeko Centre and Coastal-Burwood team, Christchurch City Council
Development of Theory of Change Model for Alternative Education in Canterbury, for Te Ora Hou under sub-contract to The Collaborative for Research and training in Youth Health and Development
Evaluation of a parent – child attachment intervention in a refuge setting, Home and Family Society
Older Persons’ Needs Analysis of the Papanui-Innes Ward Area of Christchurch. Christchurch City Council
Community Facilities Needs Analysis – Coastal-Burwood Community Board Area, Christchurch City Council
Research for Anamata Youth CAFÉ YOSS, Taupo, under contract to The Collaborative for Research and Training in Youth Health and Development
Project scoping research and subsequent funding application preparation: youth justice support for 10-13 and 16-18 year olds, Youth and Cultural Development (YCD)
Project scoping research and subsequent resource development: Business continuity planning for not-for-profits, New Zealand Red Cross
Time to Lead time use research for New Zealand Army, under contract to The Collaborative for Research and Training in Youth Health and Development