Elements of successful evidence centres: foundations for a Disability Employment Centre of Excellence

This study reports on the elements of effective evidence centres (both national and international) and other practice-focused centres. In particular, the report aims to inform the design of the future Disability Employment Centre of Excellence. 

It draws on a review of existing centres and related literature to identify crucial factors in their design, implementation, and evaluation, identifying five core, overlapping elements of centre design. It explores how these elements, along with organisational purpose, capacity, and stakeholder relationships, shape a centre's success. 

Key elements of successful evidence centres:

1. A clear logic of change that identifies activities likely to have maximum effect.
2. Strong connections to the actors they seek to influence, built through multiple mechanisms including governance roles and collaboration in design and/or delivery of activities.
3. An entrepreneurial approach that plans for and manages diverse income streams while maintaining clarity of focus across diverse projects.
4. Programs that offer different intensities of support.
5. Multiple strategies of knowledge translation.