Evaluation of SETS
Deloitte Access Economics evaluated the effectiveness, cost, funding and design of the SETS grants program over the funding period 2018-19 to 2023-24. The scope of the evaluation included each of the SETS Client Services (CS), Community Capacity Building (CCB), and Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) components.
The evaluation undertook an extensive consultation program with SETS providers. This involved in-person and virtual interviews and surveys. Providers, represented by the perspectives of both management and frontline staff, were asked to discuss:
- SETS client needs
- activities and outcomes
- barriers and enablers and
- future considerations for funding and design.
Deloitte Access Economics also consulted with settlement sector representative organisations. This included the Settlement Council of Australia, The Social Policy Group, Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network and Refugee Council of Australia.
Performance and outcomes data extracted from the Data Exchange (DEX), administered by Department of Social Services, gave the quantitative evidence base for the evaluation.
Evaluation findings
The evaluation found:
- SETS is meeting its objectives as an effective early intervention program which helps to reduce longer-term economic and social costs by supporting the early attainment of settlement outcomes. SETS also bridges gaps in the capability of mainstream services that are not delivered in a way that is culturally appropriate and accessible to migrant communities
- at the time of evaluation insufficient funding had been an ongoing challenge, with inflationary cost and wage pressures acting as a barrier to effective service delivery. This has been exacerbated for certain providers. This is due to changes to the settlement profiles of their local communities, such as increases in client intakes and/or new cohorts with complex needs, and
- insufficient funding is also driven by provider behaviour. This includes servicing ineligible clients, and delivering services that are outside the scope of SETS and offered by other settlement and mainstream services.
The Department has made a range of improvements to the SETS program in the 2024-27 round to address stakeholder feedback and the findings of the evaluation. This includes increased funding and combining the previous Client Services and Community Capacity Building streams into a single stream to streamline reporting and administration.
For more information, see the
Evaluation of the Settlement Engagement and Transition Support (SETS) Grants Program report.
