Looking at the amazing surgical and training outcomes delivered by our volunteer teams across the Asia Pacific, it is easy to see the impact that our programs have.
As demonstrated through the many stories and statistics featured on this website, as well as the anecdotal evidence we have, from the gratitude of patients who have received life-changing surgery, or the long term mentor-relationships developed between our volunteers and their local counterparts, we are confident we are on track to meet our goals and objectives.
However, as a professional, DFAT and ACFID accredited international development organisation, it is important that Interplast has strong monitoring and evaluation mechanisms in place to assess the success of our programs, and to learn from outcomes to ensure continuous improvement. Interplast has in place a comprehensive framework, which outlines how we approach the monitoring and evaluation of our programs, including the tools we use to capture outputs and outcomes, and how lessons learned from programs delivered are incorporated into future program planning.
For all individual program activities delivered, Interplast teams complete comprehensive reporting on the program and its outcomes, which complement any clinical information captured through patient records, as well as documentation around training participants and topics. Local partners provide feedback on each activity, including local coordinators and trainees completing individual reports, as well as participants of training workshops completing evaluations. Reports are also completed by Interplast’s program coordinators, covering logistical, financial and operational aspects of the activity.
You can read Interplast’s ”Promise 2030: Our 10 Year Pledge to Partner Countries” here.
Reports from each individual program activity are reviewed in line with Interplast’s clinical guidelines, through Interplast’s Nurse Working Group, Allied Health Working Group and Surgical Committee (depending on the focus of the program), including any challenges or issues experienced, and any recommendations made for future programs. Recommendations are documented and are reviewed ahead of future programs to ensure that they are incorporated where possible into ongoing planning.
For example, when it was identified that there was a substantial lack of local capacity and resources in the Pacific Islands for post-operative rehabilitation, Interplast responded by offering local partners allied health training programs which continue to be requested by our partners. In Myanmar, gaps in the post-operative nursing care of complex microsurgical patients led to the development of a ward nurse education program which runs alongside our surgical mentoring activities. Building on the success of targeted local partnerships for supporting program logistics, Interplast is continuing to build local linkages with corporate supporters.
On an annual basis, Interplast undertakes a comprehensive country planning process, for each of our 17 partner countries. Through this process, staff work closely with local partners and volunteer country coordinators to review the previous year’s programs and plan for the coming year.
Local partners complete an online survey which enables them to provide formal feedback and suggestions for future program areas, and individual activities are reviewed from a whole-of-program approach. Interplast’s Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Working Group reviews the annual country program plans prior to them being reviewed by the Surgical Committee, who recommends them to the Board for approval.
Interplast’s M&E Working Group meets regularly each year to review various areas of the organisation, including programs, finances and fundraising and communications.
Each year, Interplast identifies specific countries or programs which are due for a more comprehensive evaluation. These evaluations look at inputs, outputs and outcomes, lessons learned, and future directions for Interplast in each country. Below are summaries from reports from some of the recent reviews that Interplast has undertaken. If you would like further info on any of the reviews, you can contact the Interplast office (03 9249 1231 / contactus@interplast.org.au).