AHA was appointed by the Queensland Department of Communities to undertake an evaluation of the Intentional Peer Support (IPS) Training and Consumer Operated Services (COS) program.

The aim of these programs is to promote the role of consumers in the delivery of mental health services and improve outcomes for people with mental illness.
AHA was appointed to:

• Evaluate the effectiveness of the IPS training in terms of preparing peer workers in the peer support role and the extent to which it promotes and helps to build a peer workforce
• Describe the satisfaction of key stakeholders and any unintended outcomes of the IPS training and provide recommendations for enhancement where relevant
• Profile the people who receive support through the COS program
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the program
• Determine the type and range of outcomes that are being achieved for the respective target cohort and ascertain the extent to which improved outcomes are linked to the COS program.

A mixed method approach involving quantitative and qualitative data sources were used to achieve the evaluation objectives.

The final report is available here.