BUILD YOUR CONFIDENCE
Evaluation Coaching and Mentoring
GETTING STARTED
Evaluation support when you need it
One-to-one and team coaching and mentoring —
whether you're picking up after a workshop or starting from scratch
Not every evaluation challenge needs a full package or a course. Sometimes you just need someone to think it through with — mid-project, stuck on one task, or checking your work before it goes out the door. Our coaching and mentoring plugs in wherever you're at, whether that's just you or your whole team. If you've done a workshop or package with us, we'll pick up right where that left off. If you haven't, that's fine too — tell us what you're working on and we'll go from there. We work with not-for-profits, government teams, and community organisations across Australia and around the world.
WHEN WE CAN HELP
Any of these is a good reason to book a session
A project
You're mid evaluation and want a thinking partner, not just a sounding board.
A specific task
One part of a bigger evaluation has you stuck - a survey, a framework, an analysis approach.
A skill or career goal
You want to build your own evaluation capability, or mentor a staff member who's starting out.
A quality check
Something's about to go out the door and you want a second, expert set of eyes on it first.
Already thinking coaching or mentoring could be right for you?
Book a scoping conversation with us to get started. Or, if you’d like to understand more about how coaching and mentoring works keep reading.
IS THIS YOU?
Who we work with
We coach and mentor individuals and teams who want -
To apply what they have learned. For teams that just finished a package or workshop and want help putting it into practice.
A second opinion. For evaluators partway through a project who want a check and to talk to a 'critical friend' before going further.
Capability building. For teams that want a regular, ongoing source of guidance as they grow their skills.
To know how to make a start. New to evaluation? For staff members just starting out who need mentoring.
Quality Assurance. For teams who want an independent review before something goes out the door.
WHAT TO EXPECT
How it works
1
Book a session
Pick a time that works, based on the format you've chosen above.
2
Tell us what you're working on
Let us know beforehand so time is well used.
3
Meet online
Using Microsoft Teams, we will meet online, let us know if you would like the session recorded.
FIND THE RIGHT FIT
How we can work together
One-to-one
Build your own skills or work through a specific project, just you and a coach.
Small team
Work through a shared evaluation challenge together as a group.
Ongoing package
Regular sessions booked in advance — ideal if you're working through a challenge, course or package over time.
Coaching vs mentoring - why you need both
Coaching and mentoring get lumped together, but they do different jobs.
Coaching
Our coaching is focused on cultivating autonomy and critical thinking. We ask the questions and facilitate the reflection that helps you work through a problem yourself — so the skill stays with you long after the session ends, not just the answer.
BUILDING YOUR THINKING
Mentoring
Sometimes you need a direct steer from someone who's solved this exact problem before — what worked, what didn't, what to try next. We transfer our knowledge through storytelling and experience sharing. We provide guidance and advice.
SHARING OUR EXPERIENCE
Most sessions use a mix of both. Early on you might lean more on mentoring — as your confidence grows, sessions shift toward coaching.
Frequently asked questions
NEXT STEP
Ready to talk about your coaching needs?
Pick a time that works for you. Single sessions and ongoing packages are both available.
WHAT OTHERS SAY
In their words
Through our coaching sessions, Sam found a good balance between providing hands-on support and enabling us to take ownership of the deep thinking and artefacts.
Kim Campbell
Senior Manager
South Australian Council for Intellectual Disability
Working with Dr Samantha Abbato and Visual Insights has had a lasting impact on the way we work at Legal Aid WA. Sam hasn't just strengthened our evaluation skills—she has changed the way we think about projects.
Helen Loreck
Managing Solicitor, Projects
Legal Aid Western Australia