Editorial
| Date | 01 December 2021 |
| Published date | 01 December 2021 |
| DOI | 10.1177/1035719X211054140 |
| Author | Kylie L Kingston |
| Subject Matter | Editorial |
Editorial
Evaluation Journal of Australasia
2021, Vol. 21(4) 187–188
© The Author(s) 2021
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DOI: 10.1177/1035719X211054140
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Editorial
Kylie L Kingston
Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
I am delighted to present the fourth and final issue in Volume 21 of the Evaluation
Journal of Australasia (EJA). It has been a challenging year at the EJA with the
resignation of long-standing editor Dr Bronwyn Rossingh. Everyone in the EJA ed-
itorial team wishes Bronwyn all the best in her future endeavours. Additionally,
COVID-19 has continued to have a global impact, yet fortunately, this has not
hampered the ongoing submission of manuscripts to the EJA. In this regard, I am
privileged to present two new research articles, each offering unique contexts to
highlight the importance of inclusive evaluation practice.
The first article is titled Enhancing the inclusion of gender and sexually diverse
populations in evaluation: Reflections grounded in practice. Here, authors Adams and
Neville raise the concern that despite evaluators’commitment to high-quality practice,
gender and sexually diverse populations are not always adequately considered in
evaluation practice. Based upon their evaluation and research experience, Adams and
Neville offer three domains for consideration toward building more inclusive evalu-
ation practices. Rather than being a checklist, the three domains –terminology and
language, processes of research inclusion and implications of inclusion –provide
guidance towards more inclusive and reflexive practice. After all, without the inclusion
of gender and sexually diverse people and competence among evaluators to facilitate
this, it is likely the identities and values of these stakeholders will remain insufficiently
represented in evaluation (Adams & Neville, 2021).
The second article in this issue is titled COVID-19 concerns, health services uti-
lisation, and social support among Western Australians with diabetes during the
pandemic. Here, authors Olson, Mergelsberg, Jensen, Schofield and Watson sought to
understand the impact of COVID-19 on Western Australians with diabetes. In doing so,
they present findings in relation to their evaluation involving an online survey of
consumers of diabetes health services and an analysis of program data, during the
emerging public health crisis. Olson et al. (2021) emphasise the need for agile and
pragmatic evaluations during the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic in order to tailor
services to the needs of vulnerable consumers. Findings from this evaluation highlight
the importance of strategies to alleviate stress, support diabetes self-management via
both online and face-to-face delivery and build awareness of other forms of social
support.
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