IMPACT REPORT 2024
On this page…
Welcome to our first Impact Report
Dear Partners, Stakeholders and Friends…
We are delighted to present you with Anchor’s inaugural Impact Report.
This milestone report marks a significant juncture in our journey, reflecting three years of unwavering commitment to building a robust foundation that will guide our on-going work while supporting an objective and dynamic evidence-based approach through our next decade of operations.
The call for community services to ensure their programs are well informed or grounded is evidence-based practices has increased in recent years. The regulatory landscape in Victoria is being reformed with the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) making significant changes to how social services are governed, with an emphasis on child safety. Our focus on evidence based practices, ensures we remain focused on child safety whilst delivering improved outcomes for everyone who uses our service, especially children and young people.
We understand that good intentions don’t always equate to good outcomes, and it is through this lens that we have developed Anchor’s Outcomes and Impact Framework1. The Framework provides a formal way for us to monitor, measure and evaluate our work based on specific outcomes – for instance not just the number of nights of care we provide, but the actual change evident in our young peoples’ lives.
Our theory of change can be summarised as:
We improve the long-term well-being of young people under our care by firstly providing them with a safe and stable place. We then support them to increase their education and or employment outcomes while developing healthy relationships and connections. This combination will result in sustainable and lasting impacts for the people that we serve.
This report provides a summary of the impact we are providing in the community as well as an indepth look at two programs we have formally evaluated. We are excited to be on this journey and we pledge to remain unwavering in our pursuit of better outcomes for all young people in our care. We invite you to explore our Impact Report 2024 and join us in shaping a brighter future for our young people.
Sincerely,
Phillip Campbell
Chair
Heidi Tucker
Cheif Executive Officer
Our work in the community
At Anchor, we are on a lifelong journey to make a real difference in every life we touch. In 2023/2024, Anchor supported over 1650 people across three critical social impact areas including:
Out of Home Care
We focus on creating a secure and nurturing environment crucial for the healthy development of children in state care.
Youth-at-Risk
We equip young people who are homeless or transitioning out of care with the tools to face the challenges of adulthood with resilience and independence.
Homelessness
We support individuals and families experiencing homelessness, not just in their moment of crisis, but through their journey to regain stability. We are proud of the contribution Anchor and our supporters make to the many lives we touch.
Support for clients
Our supporters make a significant impact through donations and in-kind support, helping the people we serve directly, and enable Anchor to build capacity. In 2024, our supporters were instrumental in helping us provide:
All children
in foster care, kinship care, Foyer, MyLife and homelessness services received a personalised Christmas gift and attended a Christmas party.
Building organisational capacity
Our supporters make a significant impact through donations and in-kind support, helping the people we serve directly, and enable Anchor to build capacity. In 2024, our supporters were instrumental in helping us provide:
We were
funded to deliver a pilot program that seeks to understand whether addressing the needs of children who are accompanying their parents through bouts of homelessness, increases their well-being and connections.
This year
we expanded to Gippsland with the MyLife Project and were funded to develop a Roadmap for growth in the Gippsland area.
We continue
to provide a Rapid Response project that provides vital outreach and support for people sleeping rough in the Yarra Ranges.
Measuring Outcomes
Anchor’s community impact is not defined by what we do, but by the tangible outcomes we achieve for and with every person in our care.
By identifying, and then measuring, what matters most and the use of objective data to monitor and evaluate our work we are able to see actual change when it happens and benchmark the success of our programs.
Evaluation plays a crucial role in understanding the effectiveness and impact of Anchor’s programs, specifically those aimed at enhancing the well-being of our clients. By systematically assessing program outcomes, Anchor’s evaluations provide valuable insights into the efficacy of interventions and informs future practice, as well as contributing our learnings in the broader social services sector in Victoria and Australia, to aid and inform policy.
Our Outcomes and Impact Framework identifies four key focus areas which are consistent across all our services and are known to contribute to long-term sustainable change for people experiencing disadvantage. Due to the diverse and complex needs of Anchor’s clients, we adopt different indicators and measures for the same set of domain-driven outcomes. This is program dependent, and are generally aligned for age appropriateness and the lived experience of the client. These four domains guide us in delivering meaningful, measurable outcomes for our clients:
Youth-at-Risk:
The Anchor
MyLife
Project
Problem
In 2021, Anchor was seeing a marked increase in the number of young people who were unable to be placed in foster or kinship care, and where residential care was no longer suitable. These young people presented with complex needs and behaviours and needed bespoke support as they transitioned into young adults.
The transition from adolescence to adulthood is universally recognised as a major milestone in a person’s psychological, emotional and social development. This is particularly significant for young people transitioning from out-of-home care, who don’t have the traditional family supports that most people have.
Young people in care face persistent disparities in health, education, employment, and housing compared to their non-care experienced peers. This disadvantage stems from complex factors, including challenging and traumatic childhoods before entering care, diverse experiences of placement stability and quality, and limited ongoing support after leaving care at 18 years or younger.
Tackling this transition without the right support can be daunting, and in many cases impossible to navigate on their own, often leading to extreme and long-term adverse outcomes for the young person.
Solution
Our experience of Advantaged Thinking within our Youth Foyer program, combined with our experience of complex case management in out-of-home care, provided an opportunity to explore a different model of care for young people with a residential care experience. MyLife, formerly Supporting Transitions, integrates aspects of both programs to support young people exiting state care to develop essential independent living skills and build meaningful community connections so they can transition to independence with confidence.
The program provides a structured pathway from state care to full independence for youth aged 16 to 18, through intensive, individualised case management. Grounded in a housing-first approach and aligned with our Outcomes and Impact Framework, MyLife Project aim to:
- Establish a good rental history and secure stable accommodation.
- Ensure access to appropriate education or employment.
- Teach self-care and home management skills.
- Foster personal networks and supportive relationships.
- Encourage a focus on talents, strengths, and independent living in secure housing.
In addition, there are nine project outcomes for which we have developed practitioner assessment rubrics that are backed by research. The 54 assessment criteria ensure our strategies for achieving our project goals are meaningful, measurable and aligned with the overall goals of the MyLife project.
By bridging the gap between state care and independent living, MyLife empowers young care leavers on their journey to adulthood. Early results are promising, and we continue to refine and build evidence for this critical work.
Key findings
What our clients say
There has been consistent progress against program goals and notable differences in baseline scores between Cohort 1 and Cohort 2, with Cohort 2 generally starting with higher scores across most outcomes.
Well-being
Measures such as life satisfaction, gratitude, and hope are crucial indicators of our clients’ overall mental and emotional health.
These results indicate that in less than two years, MyLife effectively enhanced clients’ well-being, fostering a more positive outlook on life, with gratitude for where they are now, and more hope for what’s to come next.
What our practitioners say
In 2024, we introduced an additional assessment methodology. We developed a suite of standardised rubrics for practitioners to assess clients at both baseline (serving as a needs assessment) and endline (measuring outcomes and impact).
These rubrics significantly enhance standardisation, consistency, and alignment with desired project outcomes. It provides practitioners with a clear framework for evaluating client progress and ensure that practitioners concentrate on developing the essential skills and outcomes necessary for successful client transitions and determine where effort and investment should be directed.
Findings from our practitioner assessments include:
The assessments provide opportunities for deep learning about clients and their perspective, and coaching opportunities to explain discrepancies to realign the client with the expectations of MyLife outcomes.
Management
Management
Competence
Friendships
Satisfaction
Evaluation insights
The two evaluations of MyLife have provided a systematic way for Anchor to gather, analyse and synthesise data into meaningful insights for both practitioners and more broadly, for the process of implementing evidence-based programs. As Anchor develops its analytical capabilities and generates more meaningful insights, we can identify more nuanced and relevant theories to investigate.
For practitioners
For implementation
These insights highlight the importance of data in driving meaningful conversations and informed decision-making, ultimately leading to better outcomes for clients.
Youth-at-Risk:
Lilydale
Youth
Foyer
Problem
Having delivered homelessness services in the Outer East for more than 15 years, Anchor identified a gap in services for young people. We adopted the Advantaged Thinking approach of the Foyer movement and created a bespoke program tailored to young people in 2012 called Support For Young People that Really Counts.
In 2023, to contribute to and leverage the collective knowledge of all Foyers in Australia we decided to join forces with the broader Foyer movement and became an accredited Youth Foyer with Foyer Foundation Australia. We are now known as the Lilydale Youth Foyer.
With over 26,000 young people experiencing homelessness each year, we passionately believe that every young person experiencing disadvantage should have a pathway to education, training, employment and connection to community that is founded on access to stable and secure stable housing. A collective effort is required to tackle this very topical social issue.
Solution
The Lilydale Youth Foyer extends far beyond merely providing shelter to young individuals experiencing homelessness. It offers a genuine home, where safety, support, and a holistic approach are seamlessly integrated within a nurturing environment in which to live and learn.
Our program follows Foyer Foundation Australia’s comprehensive framework and data collection guidelines, that help us understand the impact of foyer programs on young people at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness. The framework establishes a Data Governance Group that includes representatives from foyers, the Foyer Foundation, and youth advisors, facilitating key relationships and overseeing data governance to ensure insights are shared across the network.
The Foyer framework focuses on seven outcome areas which all contribute to client independence, including:
In addition, Anchor has developed a set of comprehensive rubrics to complement the data collected with Foyer Foundation Australia. These custom rubrics were created to gain a more nuanced and in-depth understanding of our clients’ progress across various domains of their lives.
To illustrate the depth and specificity of our rubrics, the Financial Capability rubric includes six key criteria:
Each of these criteria is evaluated on a scale from 1 (not yet met) to 5 (exemplary), allowing for a detailed assessment of a young person’s financial capabilities. These assessment rubrics are proprietary to Anchor and represent a significant investment in developing tailored assessment tools for our Foyer program.
Key findings
Anchor’s Foyer has demonstrated progress across all seven outcome areas. Notable improvements were observed specifically in students’:
Despite this student cohort starting with relatively high baseline scores in several areas, average scores increased across all areas, with some areas showing good growth, indicating the program’s overall positive impact on students’ lives and setting them up for a fulfilling and self-sustaining future.
Outcome 1:
Education
Our analysis highlights both progress and areas needing further attention in educational outcomes. Overall, there is a positive trend, with the average score across all criteria increasing slightly from 6.93 to 7.06. While this progress is promising, it underscores the need for continued focus, particularly in areas like “overcoming obstacles” and “initiative in self-directed learning,” which saw slight declines.
Area of most Challenge (baseline)
Area of greatest improvement
Outcome 2: Employment
There was significant progress across all criteria with a strong positive trend. Our Foyer has been particularly effective in helping students recognise the value of employment. Overall, we see a strong positive trend, with the average score across all criteria rising from 6.56 to 7.33. This improvement is encouraging and indicates that the foyer is effectively enhancing students’ employment-related skills and attitudes. Notably, all areas showed growth, with “professionalism and work ethic” maintaining the highest scores in both baseline and midline assessments.
Area of most Challenge (baseline)
Area of greatest improvement
Outcome 3: Housing
Within the housing domain, some areas show exceptional improvement. Overall, we observe a strong positive trend, with the average score across all criteria increasing. This improvement is particularly encouraging, suggesting that our foyer is effectively enhancing students’ housing-related skills and stability. Notably, “connection to support services” and “maintenance of safe living environment” reached high scores of 9.00 at midline, indicating areas of significant strength. Future housing planning remains the lowest-scoring criterion at midline, suggesting an opportunity for further focus in our program as the students’ progress towards exiting the foyer.
Area of most Challenge (baseline)
Area of greatest improvement
Outcome 4: Connection
There was significant progress across all criteria, with some areas showing exceptional improvement. Overall, we see a strong positive trend, indicating that Anchor’s interventions are effectively enhancing students’ social and interpersonal skills. Notably, all areas showed improvement, with “healthy relationship skills” and “social support networks” reaching high scores of 9.00 and 8.67 respectively at midline. While “conflict resolution skills” remains the lowest-scoring criterion at midline, it still showed improvement, suggesting an opportunity for further focus in our program.
Area of most Challenge (baseline)
Area of greatest improvement
Outcome 5: Health
There was overall significant improvement in student’s heath, suggesting that Anchor has been effective in enhancing students’ health awareness, lifestyle choices, and overall well-being. Notably, all areas showed improvement, with “health awareness and knowledge” and “healthcare access and utilisation” reaching high scores of 9.00 and 9.33 respectively at midline. While “physical health and fitness” remains the lowest-scoring criterion at midline, it still showed significant improvement, suggesting an opportunity for continued focus.
Area of most Challenge (baseline)
Area of greatest improvement
Outcome 6: Finance
The Financial Capability domain reveals significant progress across all criteria, with some areas showing exceptional improvement. This upward trajectory is evident across the board, with the average score rising from 5.73 to 7.00. Such improvement suggests that the foyer is enhancing students’ financial literacy and management skills. Notably, every area showed progress, with “financial literacy knowledge” and “budgeting skills” emerging as particular strengths, both scoring 7.33 at midline. While “saving and investing practices” remains the area with the most room for growth, it still demonstrated considerable progress.
Area of most Challenge (baseline)
Area of greatest improvement
Outcome 7: Independence
The Independence domain reveals significant progress across all criteria. This upward trajectory is evident for all criteria, with the average score rising from 7.00 to 7.78 indicating the effectiveness in enhancing students’ sense of independence and self-efficacy. “Self-identity and awareness” and “decision making and autonomy” emerged as particular strengths, both scoring 8.33 at midline. While “resilience and adaptability” remains the area with the most room for growth, it still demonstrated progress.
Area of most Challenge (baseline)
Area of greatest improvement
Evaluation insights
The Lilydale Youth Foyer has been operating for over 12 years. Although not formally accredited for this entire period, the program has consistently maintained strong participation and positive outcomes for clients. Previously, much of the evidence supporting these outcomes was anecdotal and superficial. We are now excited and proud to present our work, which is founded on rigorous research and backed by comprehensive evaluations.
The recent evaluation of the Lilydale Youth Foyer has highlighted the strengths of Anchor’s programming under the Foyer model. This evaluation has also enabled us to identify specific areas for improvement to enhance outcomes for our clients.
For practitioners
For implementation
