Challenge

Victoria experienced significant drought from 2018-2020, prompting the Victorian Government to establish the Drought Response Package comprising five programs coordinated by DELWP: Catchment Management Authority employment support, emergency water supply points, bore licence fee waivers, wildlife control authority, and local government service payments. DELWP required an independent evaluation to assess the alignment of the Department's response with the Western Catchments Group Drought Preparedness Response Framework, the effectiveness of the five programs, and the Department's team performance in program delivery.

Approach

CIS undertook a structured program evaluation across multiple phases. Our role included:

• Desktop review of the Drought Preparedness Response Framework, governance structures, and individual program evaluation reports

• Development of an evaluation framework to map program activities, outputs, and key evaluation questions aligned to framework principles

• Stakeholder consultation through focus group sessions and individual interviews with DELWP, AgVic, Catchment Management Authorities, and Water Corporations to gather feedback on program design and delivery

• Analysis of program alignment with the Drought Preparedness Response Framework, effectiveness of individual programs, and team performance in delivery

Outcome

CIS delivered a comprehensive evaluation report with key findings on program alignment, effectiveness, and departmental performance. The evaluation produced three strategic recommendations to improve the efficiency and continuity of the Department's drought response, plus 21 additional recommendations for continuous improvement. The findings equipped DELWP with evidence-based insights to strengthen future drought preparedness and response strategies.