Summary

Up to Closing the Gap: Northern Territory

Table of contents

Executive summary

Based on all the evidence considered for this evaluation, it is clear that there is support for the key principles and characteristics of the MOS Projects, and that as a new and evolving service model, there are some areas requiring further development and improvement.

The overall findings highlighted in the evaluation are:

This is an evolving service model which requires time to engage respectfully with the community and with the sector, and to adapt and be responsive to community and service need
The effectiveness of the MOD database in capturing outputs and appropriate outcome measures in an evolving and responsive service model, will be critical
The service is beginning to gain traction in community, with services and new cases increasing over the period of the evaluation
All remote communities in the NT have been visited at least once, over the period of the evaluation
There have been a total of 632 community visits, over the period of the evaluation
There have been 220 referrals, predominantly from Child Protection, SARCs, health services and schools, for case work services over the period of the evaluation
There have been 313 individual and group counselling services provided over the period of the evaluation
Non-case related services such as community education, community meetings and professional development activities comprise approximately two thirds of MOS Projects activities, and offer potential to further enhance an integrated and collaborative approach with primary health care and family and children's support service providers
Cultural competence and respectful engagement in remote communities was considered to be of equal or even greater importance than the provision of specialist counselling and support services. The potential to do harm in community if the service is not culturally safe, and to impact adversely on Aboriginal workers in community and in the MOS Plus service, was highlighted
There is support by service providers and community members for the primary characteristics and principles of the MOS Projects model, as a specialist service which aligns Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal workers in the outreach staff team, and which has a mix of genders in the staff teamTop of page
The suite of MOS Plus services has potential to be tailored to suit the specific needs of each community - to add specialist value to existing services and approaches, and to address service gaps or areas of high need
There is potential to expand links with existing regional and community networks and groups to enhance knowledge of the MOS Plus service and to build upon existing services and strategies
There is community and organisation support for counselling and support service engagement with children, in the context of their family and their community
There are mixed views about whether the original MOS or current MOS Plus focus is the most appropriate. Many stakeholders are concerned the specialist area of child sexual assault counselling and support will be 'lost' in the expanded service scope. However, MOS Projects' casework data shows sexual assault as the most commonly identified underlying cause of trauma for clients referred to the service over the evaluation period. The number of cases citing sexual assault has continued to grow in the period following the service scope expansion to MOS Plus. Many stakeholders interviewed expressed reservations about defining a service as focusing on concepts of child abuse and neglect. Local organisations and community members were supportive of broader counselling and support services addressing trauma in communities
Given the nature of the MOS Plus service itself (an outreach counselling and support service in remote communities in the NT), cultural competence and the service and staffing models are inextricably linked
Service development and provision in remote communities is complex and sensitive, particularly in the context of the history of service intervention in the NT. This is true for any service in remote communities, but is particularly complex for the development and provision of MOS Plus services, given the sensitivities of the specialist service focus of child abuse, neglect and trauma
Service provision logistics in remote communities are challenging: attracting and retaining staff in this specialist field; difficulties of access due to transport and weather restrictions, and to Ceremonies and Sorry Business
The challenge for a new outreach service is to leave a 'service imprint' between service visits, and in the context of changing staff both within the MOS Plus service team and in local organisations and key contacts in community
Continuity and regularity of service provision is required to enhance knowledge and understanding of the MOS Plus service by local organisations and community members
Alongside regularity of service provision, development of a relationship and trust with the MOS Plus staff providing the service was highlighted.

These findings are expanded upon in the discussion in this Chapter. Information is provided in a way to enable staff from all jurisdictions concerned with the funding, development and provision of MOS Plus services to draw conclusions and to identify opportunities for improvement at both the Territory and Region level.

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