Synergia Services
Research and evaluation
Research and evaluation capabilities
Synergia brings together systems thinking, innovative research methods and extensive stakeholder and consumer engagement to provide insights to support strategic, service and policy development.
Our research is tightly focused on client and stakeholder needs to inform decision making and create a foundation for spreading learning and innovation across organisations and sectors.
Our systems orientation explores the complexity of communities, organisations and networks, and develops insights that are tailored to the needs of diverse stakeholder interests.
Synergia’s research projects have included use of stakeholder focus groups and interviewing, survey questionnaires, health impact assessment, scenario planning, literature reviews and social network analysis. We combine the insights emerging from these research tools with robust analysis to support decision-making and focused action.
Research and evaluation Experience
Counties Manukau Active Evaluation
Project Date: 2009
Contact: Adrian Field
Client: Manukau City Council, Counties Manukau Sport, Procare Network Manukau
Population: General Population, Maori, Pacific, South Asian
Sector: Health
Description:
Evaluation of a three-year programme to raise levels of physical activity, sport and recreation in south Auckland, expand the capability and capacity of the local physical activity workforce, and improve organisation partnerships and collaboration.
Auckland Regional Land Transport Strategy Health Impact Assessment
Project Date: 2008-09
Contact: Adrian Field
Client: Auckland Regional Council, Auckland Regional Public Health Service
Population: General Population, Maori
Sector: Regional Government, Health
Description:
Assessment of the potential health impacts of regional transport planning, to provide a health and wellbeing perspective into the development of a 30-year transport strategy.
Manukau Built Form and Spatial Structure Plan Health Impact Assessment
Project Date: 2008-09
Contact: Adrian Field
Client: Manukau City Council
Population: General Population, Maori
Sector: Health. Local government
Description:
Analysis of health impacts of a major urban centre renewal project, aimed at reconnecting the city centre to the rest of the city by reducing car dominance, enhancing accessibility, and providing public open spaces and parks.
Elective services major joint and cataract initiative review
Project Date: 2008
Contact: Philip Gandar
Client: Ministry of Health
Population: General Population
Focus: Research and evaluation
Sector: Health
Description:
The major joint and cataract initiatives represented substantial and well funded efforts to increase the level of service, improve equity of access, develop quality improvement capability and build sustainable elective outpatients/surgical capacity. Jointly sponsored by the Ministry of Health and the respective clinical colleges (Orthopaedics Association and The Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Ophthalmology) the evaluation used a mix of primary research, (with clinicians, managers and programme personnel), and analysis of national datasets to recommend design changes to the second phase of this programme.
Evaluation of ACE strategy implementation
Project Date: 2008
Contact: Miles Shepheard
Client: Tertiary Education Commission
Population: General Population
Focus: Research and evaluation
Sector: Education
Description:
Synergia undertook an evaluation of the Adult and Community Education Professional Development Plan 2006, to determine which projects arising from the plan had been successful. The evaluation proposed further development within the ACE sector that assisted the transfer of professional development responsibilities to ACE Aotearoa.
Evaluation of chronic care management programme
Project Date: 2008
Contact: David Rees
Client: Counties Manukau District Health Board
Population: General Population, Maori, Older People,
Focus: Research and evaluation
Sector: Health
Description:
Following an initial evaluation by University of Auckland School of Population Health, this project was designed to explore the reasons behind the variation highlighted in this study and the factors that can improve overall performance.
Future Insights Fitness Industry
Project Date: 2008
Contact: Adrian Field
Client: Nielsen
Population: General Population
Focus: Research and evaluation
Sector: Health
Description:
Literature review supporting in-depth qualitative research on key trends for the future and their implications for the fitness industry.
Long Term Systems Framework: Models of Care Paper
Project Date: 2008
Contact: Paul Stephenson, Kim Arcus
Client: Ministry of Health
Population: General Population
Focus: Research and evaluation
Sector: Health
Description:
High level review of international and national trends and impacts on long terms health service design. Identifying implications for patients and health sectors.
Papakura McLennan Health Impact Assessment
Project Date: 2008
Contact: Adrian Field
Client: Auckland Regional Public Health Service
Population: General Population
Focus: Research and evaluation
Sector: Health
Description:
Assessment of the potential impacts of an urban development in South Auckland on service access, walkability, and community cohesion. The assessment brought together and established relationships between the health sector, local government, iwi, community and social sector, education, and other interested parties in the district.
Northern Region Chronic Care Management Programme Review
Project Date: 2008
Contact: Miles Shepheard
Client: Department of Labour
Population: General Population
Focus: Research and evaluation
Sector: Infrastructure
Description:
With new legislation requiring changes in practice by Labour Inspectors, we conducted research for the Department of Labour Research into Labour Inspectors' readiness for change
Review of Education Crown Entities
Project Date: 2008
Contact: Miles Shepheard
Client: Ministry of Education
Population: General Population
Focus: Research and evaluation
Sector: Education
Description:
The Ministry of Education receives performance data from each f the Education Crown Entities. We were asked to evaluate the success of the Education Crown Entities from the education sector's perspective
Evaluation of Better by Design programme
Project Date: 2007
Contact: Miles Shepheard
Client: New Zealand Trade and Enterprise
Population: General Population
Focus: Research and evaluation
Sector: Infrastructure
Description:
With Simon Coley we carried out an evaluation of the Trade and Enterprise Better by Design programme, which was designed to encourage entreprenurial exporting
Health my way - people centric self care
Project Date: 2007
Contact: Philip Gandar
Client: Ministry of Health
Population: General Population, Maori, Pacific
Focus: Research and evaluation
Sector: Health
Description:
A qualitative research study into the nature, function and processes of citizen centric self care undertaken on behalf of the Ministry of Health. Conducted in partnership Nielsen to research self care as seen through the eyes of people with long term conditions to understand the information environment of self care; the information, knowledge, influences, processes and support required for people to build confidence and capacity to manage their own health conditions.
Healthy Eating Healthy Action Networks research
Project Date: 2007
Contact: Paul Stephenson
Client: Ministry of Health
Population: General Population
Focus: Research and evaluation
Sector: Health
Description:
Review of HEHA networks across the country and how the sector can make better use of formal and informal public health networks to improve whole sector performance.
Key directions for the primary health information environment - case study
Project Date: 2007
Contact: Philip Gandar
Client: Ministry of Health
Population: General Population
Focus: Research and evaluation
Sector: Health
Description:
Key Directions is a Ministry of Health sponsored programme to develop an information environment within community and primary health that supports people centric health and responses to the challenges of long term conditions and disparities in health outcomes.
Media Engagement
Project Date: 2007
Contact: Adrian Field
Client: Nielsen
Population: General Population
Focus: Research and evaluation
Sector: Health
Description:
Literature review of concepts and analytical approaches for assessing media engagement.
Cardiovascular Indicators
Project Date: 2006
Contact: Adrian Field
Client: Counties Manukau District Health Board
Population: General Population
Focus: Research and evaluation
Sector: Health
Description:
Review of cardiovascular disease monitoring at national and DHB levels, and identification of gaps and opportunities.
Evaluation of Tertiary Education Strategy
Project Date: 2006
Contact: Miles Shepheard
Client: Ministry of Education
Population: General Population
Focus: Research and evaluation
Sector: Education
Description:
Synergia carried out stakeholder interviews, and used a systemic analysis to understand the Tertiary Education Strategy documents’ usability and usefulness. It was published by the Ministry of Education as 'Making Use?'
Northern Region Chronic Care Management Programme Review
Project Date: 2005
Contact: Paul Stephenson
Client: Northern District Health Board
Population: General Population
Focus: Research and evaluation
Sector: Health
Description:
A review of chronic disease prevention and management programmes and capacity, across the four northern regions DHB’s to identify common issues and opportunities for shared strategic resource and capability development.