Economic evaluation of 'Return to Country': a remote Australian initiative to address indigenous homelessness

Kinchin, Irina, Jacups, Susan, Hunter, Gary, and Rogerson, Bernadette (2016) Economic evaluation of 'Return to Country': a remote Australian initiative to address indigenous homelessness. Evaluation and Program Planning, 56. pp. 69-75.

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Abstract

Background: An increase in the number of Indigenous homeless persons in Cairns, Northern Australia, prompted the Queensland Police Service (QPS) to commence a pilot 'Return to Country' (R2C) program. The program was designed to assist homeless people who were voluntarily seeking to return to their home communities. This study assesses the costs of running the program and evaluates its net economic impact.

Methods: Retrospective uncontrolled cost, cost-effectiveness and cost-offset analyses were undertaken from a societal perspective. All costs were expressed in 2014 AU$.

Results: The R2C program successfully assisted 140 participants to return home, reducing the prevalence of homelessness in the regional center by 9.6%. The total program cost was estimated as AU$ 135,831 or AU$ 970 per participant. The economic analysis indicated that R2C was value for money, potentially saving AU$ 2,714,460. Limitations of the study included retrospective data collection and no established alternative comparison group.

Conclusion: R2C is a relatively simple, minimal cost program, which can be utilized by policy makers to offer one solution to homelessness. This economic evaluation informs the QPS of the effects of the R2C program in order to guide further program initiatives. The R2C model may be applied to assist temporarily stranded Indigenous people in other locations within Australia or internationally to return home. No funding was obtained for conducting this study.

Item ID: 43628
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1873-7870
Keywords: Indigenous homelessness; economic evaluation; cost analysis; cost-effectiveness; cost-offset; police; value for money; threshold analysis
Date Deposited: 09 Aug 2016 23:16
FoR Codes: 45 INDIGENOUS STUDIES > 4504 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing > 450420 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social, emotional, cultural and spiritual wellbeing @ 50%
44 HUMAN SOCIETY > 4404 Development studies > 440406 Rural community development @ 20%
44 HUMAN SOCIETY > 4410 Sociology > 441016 Urban sociology and community studies @ 30%
SEO Codes: 92 HEALTH > 9203 Indigenous Health > 920303 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health - Health System Performance (incl. Effectiveness of Interventions) @ 60%
97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970116 Expanding Knowledge through Studies of Human Society @ 40%
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