National research and developments
The Costs and Pathways of Homelessness: Developing Policy-Relevant Economic Analyses of the Australian Homelessness Service System, 2006
The Costs and Pathways Project was one of several projects funded under the National Research Program of the National Co-ordination and Development Committee (CAD) which oversees the policy development and implementation of the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP).
The aim of this project is to help lay foundations for the development of robust economic evaluation and costing relevant to Australian homelessness policy and service delivery. The report tackles this in several ways. First, it explores a range of promising approaches to understanding and estimating the costs of homelessness and homelessness interventions, particularly those relevant to analysis at the broad policy level. The focus is on the range of ‘pathways’ approaches to costing, which were investigated with reference to recent research and methodological discussion from Australia, the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Strategic, practical and technical issues pertinent to the selection and implementation of these methods in the Australian context are discussed. The intention is to provide a map of possibilities, rather than a detailed instruction manual or a comprehensive review of relevant literature and data sources.
Second, available resources for costing work relevant to Australian homeless populations and services are looked at. Having identified the sorts of economic evaluation and costing studies that are likely to be most valuable over the longer term, gaps in existing costing data, homelessness research and research infrastructure that are currently limiting progress are identified.
Finally, suggestions are made about how to build capacity for economic evaluation and sketch some ideas for costing and research projects that could feasibly be implemented in the short-term. The report does not presume to set out a research agenda. Putting aside the question of available funding for economic evaluation and costing work, this would demand more formal consultation with relevant parties than has been possible here, and equally a more systematic consideration of Australian homelessness policy and program delivery. Different stakeholders will have different priorities and purposes.
This report can be found at: http://www.facsia.gov.au/internet/facsinternet.nsf/ or in PDF format at: http://www.facsia.gov.au/internet/facsinternet.nsf/vIA/homelessness_two/$file/costs_pathways_homelessness.pdf
How to compare the costs and benefits: evaluation of the economic evidence, 2001
This handbook explains the usefulness and relevance of economics in the function of clinical practice guidelines. It provides information on how to assess the cost-effectiveness and the proposed guidelines, and then discusses whether the chosen alternative is economically feasible.
This report can be found at: http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/publications/synopses/cp73syn.htm or in PDF format at: http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/publications/synopses/_files/cp73.pdf
Cost-Effectiveness Study – Victorian Drug Court Final Report, 2004
The Court Diversion Program Evaluation is an evaluation of three court-based diversionary programs aimed at a spectrum of criminal behaviours: the Drug Court pilot; the Court Referral and Evaluation for Drug Intervention and Treatment (CREDIT) program; and the Criminal Justice Diversion Program (CJDP). The evaluation has been undertaken by Turning Point Alcohol & Drug Centre and Health Outcomes International Pty Ltd. This report presents an analysis of the cost-effectiveness of the Drug Court.
The Victorian Drug Court pilot commenced operating in the Dandenong Magistrates’ Court in May 2002, for a period of three years. It represents a fundamental shift in the way courts address the issue of drug-related offending. The aim of the Drug Court is to protect the community by focusing on the rehabilitation of the participant’s drug or alcohol addiction with the aim of reducing the risk of further offending by stabilising their lifestyle and reintegrating them into society.
Cost-effectiveness analysis is an approach to measuring value for money in an intervention or program. It examines both the costs and the consequences (effectiveness) of alternative courses of action. Worldwide there have been few cost-effectiveness evaluations of Drug Courts, with the New South Wales Drug Court Evaluation: Cost Effectiveness (Lind et al 2002) being regarded as the Australian landmark in this field.
This study compares the costs and effectiveness of the Victorian Drug Court pilot with the costs and effectiveness of incarceration, and as required in the Terms of Reference for the study, has been based on the approach used in the NSW Drug Court evaluation.
This report can be found at: http://www.justice.vic.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/DOJ+Internet/Home/Courts/Research+and+Statistics/JUSTICE+-+Drug+Court+Cost+Effectiveness+Reports+%28PDF%29 or in PDF format at: http://www.justice.vic.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/DOJ+Internet/resources/file/eb02b94b4974076/Cost_Effectiveness_Study_Victorian_Drug_Court_Final_Report_699KB.pdf.download
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