ABSTRACT
This chapter suggests an approach evaluation as a joint activity for the consultant in collaboration with the consultees. It discovers several definitions and descriptions of evaluation relevant to the practice and outcome of collaborative consultation: 'to determine the importance, effectiveness or worth of'; 'an appraisal of the value of something'; and 'to gain insight, enable reflection and to assist in the identification of future change'. The chapter analyses 'effectiveness', 'worth' and 'value' in relation to the goals and intended outcomes of consultation. It examines in order to review, and thereby enhance the working relationship with consultees. The 'stakeholders' had different goals and expectations of the consultation Victoria was offering; therefore, they had different perspectives on what would demonstrate a good outcome of the consultation. The multi-layered impact of consultation and the diverse expectations of multiple stakeholders leave many practitioners daunted by the task of evaluating consultation.
