Ethics and Evaluative Consultations with Children in Small to Mid-Sized Australian Non-Government Organisations
| Author | Leanne Kelly |
| Published date | 01 March 2017 |
| Date | 01 March 2017 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/1035719X1701700102 |
| Subject Matter | Academic Article |
4
Evaluation Journal of Australasia Vol 17 | No 1 | 2017
ACADEMIC ARTICLE Evaluation Journal of Australasia Vol 17 | No 1 | 2017 | pp. 4–11
LEANNE KELLY
Ethics and evaluative consultations with
children in small to mid-sized Australian
non-government organisations
The value of listening to children’s voices is well
acknowledged. The vast body of literature surrounding
this topic discusses children’s voices in pedagogy, theory,
methodology, and through empirical research. While some
of this literature has focused on ethical considerations
surrounding evaluative consultations with children in
applied practice settings, there is a shortage of literature
specically relevant to small and medium-sized non-
government organisations (NGOs). These organisations
typically conduct consultations on a smaller scale and with
fewer resources than their larger counterparts. This paper
refers to Australian ethical guidelines using a practice
example from a mid-sized NGO to examine ethics in child
consultation from a practice-based program improvement
perspective. The paper examines whether consultations
with children always require formal ethics approval and
discusses terminology and considerations surrounding
ethical decision making processes.
The value of listening to children’s voices have been almost unanimously
supported in the literature and through policy; championing children’s
rights to have their say and be involved in decisions that aect them
(Bessell, 2013; Dockett & Perry, 1999; Dockett et al., 2009; Perry &
Dockett, 2011; Dockett, Einarsdóttir & Perry, 2012; Dockett, Perry
& Kearney, 2013; Kelly, 2013; Kelly & Smith, 2016; Mason & Danby,
2011; Mason & Hood, 2011; McNamara, 2013; Mortari & Harcourt,
2012). Increasing numbers of NGOs are embedding processes to include
children in program planning and feedback systems with useful results
that improve practice (Dockett & Perry, 1999; Leach-McGill, 2013;
Perry & Dockett, 2011). Alongside these successes, small and medium-
sized NGOs often struggle to increase their capacity to listen and hear
Leanne Kelly is Research and Development
Coordinator, Windermere Child and Family
Services, Victoria.
Email: leanne.kelly@windermere.org.au
To continue reading
Request your trial