When to engage
When assessing community needs, facilities or service gaps, building an evidence base, or interpreting feedback and data you have already collected.
How the work is approached
The scope is tailored to your decision, timeframe, community and available evidence.
Social planning, community needs assessment, social infrastructure assessment, qualitative research, service mapping, survey analysis and reporting.
- Step 01
Set the research question
Clarify what needs to be understood and the decision it supports. Agree the scope and limits of the inquiry.
- Step 02
Gather appropriate evidence
Review research, policy and demographic information. Gather site observations, service mapping or qualitative conversations.
- Step 03
Interpret findings
Identify patterns, gaps and different perspectives. Distinguish supported findings from remaining uncertainty.
- Step 04
Communicate and discuss findings
Develop reports, briefings or presentations suited to the audience and decision. Present evidence clearly, facilitate discussion and connect findings with practical next steps.
Possible outputs
- Community profile, evidence review and research findings
- Analysis of survey responses, interviews and submissions
- Needs and service-gap analysis, clear findings and planning recommendations
- Research brief
- Evidence review
- Needs analysis or service map
- Qualitative findings and recommendations
- Research or decision report
- Presentation or briefing materials
- Research presentations and facilitated discussion
Scope, outputs, responsibilities, timing and fees are agreed before work begins.
Relevant experience
Examples include work from Alisha Abate’s previous Council roles and independent practice. Each account explains the contribution and context.
- Council planning with integrated health and wellbeing
Connected community wellbeing priorities with integrated Council planning.
- Applied research for policy, services and places
Brought research and evidence into policy, service and place questions.
- Housing and homelessness: from strategy to coordinated action
Connected housing evidence and community experience with strategy and coordinated action.