Evaluation of the Master TreeGrower Program

The monitoring and evaluation of the Australian Master TreeGrower program has occurred at a number of levels since the inception of the program in late 1996.

Internal Monitoring and Evaluation of the MTG Program

Regional Evaluation and Reporting

Since July 1998 a formal and standardised monitoring and evaluation process has been conducted with all regional MTG programs. This has included a short questionnaire of all participants at both the start and at the end of the program.

For each regional program, the results of the questionnaires are collated and summarised with a report sent back to the regional coordinator for comment. The information is also incorporated into a regularly updated national report along with irregular review and feedback from meetings and workshops involving coordinators, sponsors and participants.

For recent papers and reports from and about the MTG program go to MTG Publications

External Evaluation and Reporting of the MTG Program

In June 2002, Western Australian social research consultants were commissioned by RIRDC/L&W Australia/FWPRDC Joint Venture Agroforestry Program to investigate the impacts and outcomes of the Master TreeGrower Program and to consider what it was about the program's positioning, marketing, course content and delivery that influenced these outcomes:

The Intangible Contribution of the Master TreeGrower Program. Prepared by AgInsight and Agknowledge June 2002 (report has not be released by RIRDC to date)

The report concluded:
"The Master TreeGrower program has had a significant impact on the capacity and skills of people who work in farm forestry. Not only has the course delivered good information in terms of species selection and suitability and site preparation and management, the course has also delivered the information in a way that is mindful of the local environment and the questions and needs of course participants. This attention to local relevance and individual requirements is an outstanding feature that should not be compromised".

"The Master TreeGrower program has provided individuals with the capacity to make money from trees, it they chose to do so. The course provided people with the awareness of the market opportunities and the skills to produce a quality product for the particular market. This course also encouraged important networks to develop to ensure that conversations and learnings in farm forestry would continue once the course concluded".

"The investment into the Master TreeGrower has had significant and positive outcomes, both in terms of the immediate decisions and actions taken by course participants and in establishing networks and processes to continue learnings and knowledge base".