Maximising the Middle (MTM) is a place-based initiative focused on young people in their middle years, and involves a collaboration among Uniting NSW and ACT, the Stronger Smarter Institute (SSI), and the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY). We have worked as a Learning Partner to accompany the introduction of the initiative into communities. As the MTM initiative is developmental in nature, a developmental evaluation approach was of strong preference, which would engage key actors from across the initiative’s multiple levels in ongoing learning, reflection and adaptation. This included a specific focus on the partnership among Uniting, ARACY and SSI.
