Recent Projects
With ethics approval from Aotearoa Research Ethics Committee, an extensive impact assessment was conducted of the use of adventure therapy across Waipuna’s programmes, particularly exploring the use of adventure therapy within a multidisciplinary service for young people, including reintegration services.
The following feedback was provided from the founder of adventure therapy within the Waipuna context:
“Thank you for capturing the value, the essence, the heart, the outcomes and a whole lot more of 25 odd years of AT at Waipuna. Your ability to capture the nuances and weave that amongst the ever changing evolution of the mahi is a rare gift indeed. You have honoured the whole community of people who have contributed, but most of all you have illuminated and honoured the voices of the Rangatahi, in a sacred, life giving way…. I can’t help but reflect on the magnitude of what you have captured. Regardless of what tomorrow brings this mahi of yours will remain etched in the sacredness of the communities of where the stories emerged.”
The researcher delivered the World Health Organisation’s Age-Friendly Communities survey across the district and developed a comprehensive picture of the district’s older adult population. A large number of focus groups sought to reach across demographics to identify the priorities for enhancing the community to make it a great place for older adults to live life well.
This project is one of a number Sarah has conducted in partnership with Cheyenne Scown (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara, Ngāi Te Rangi), applying mixed methods with a strong emphasis on capturing whānau voice regarding the service. Ethics were approved by AREC.
The Christchurch City Local Alcohol Plan was approved 30 June 2025. Councillors praised the staff for the quality of the report which underpinned the plan.
The evaluation utilised mixed methods, with a strong emphasis on capturing consumer voice. Ethics approval from AREC, and with Cheyenne Scown assisting with the research. The evaluation supported expansion of peer support worker roles into other multidisciplinary teams.
This project, the qualitative follow-up to a large-scale quantitative survey of 14-17-year-old New Zealanders, involved in-depth interviews with 52 14-17-year-olds from throughout the country, with interviews conducted by Sarah and by a team of young researchers trained and supported by Sarah and the Collaborative Trust’s research manager.
Gold Award Winner 2022: ESOMAR Research Effectiveness Awards (REA), the
global data, research and insights industry award.
NZ Dynata Supreme Award 2021 Winner: Social, Community and Not For Profit Category (Platinum) 2021.
Colmar Brunton, The Collaborative Trust and The Classification Office Te Mana Whakaatu were awarded the Dynata Supreme Award at the 2021 Research Association Effectiveness Awards (RAEAWARDS) for the three-part NZ Youth and Porn research series: NZ Youth and Porn (2018), Breaking Down Porn (2019) and Growing up with Porn (2020).
This research for the respective Councils presented the research and legislative context regarding pokies and TAB venues in their communities and across Aotearoa New Zealand, drew together both quantitative and qualitative data around current gambling behaviours and gambling-related harm in the district, and helped inform future policy.
- Evaluation of Digital Coach role, Ōtautahi Community Housing Trust, May-June 2025
- Health needs research: Mackenzie District for MDC and High Country Health, November 2024 – April 2025
- Community Environment Scan – Mackenzie District for Mackenzie District Council, May – August 2024
- Evaluation of BOOST literacy programme, Advance Ashburton Foundation, May – July 2024
- Evaluation of Employment Coach role, Ōtautahi Community Housing Trust, May-June 2024
- Community audit of community-managed community facilities in Banks Peninsula, Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū Banks Peninsula Community Board, January – March 2024
- Preparation of case studies for Kāhu Matarau, a community-based OT intense social work intervention for whānau Māori, Christchurch Methodist Mission, January – March 2024, January – March 2025 (conducted in partnership with Cheyenne Scown)
- Research exploring public transport needs for Ashburton township, Ashburton District Council, January – April 2024
- Needs analysis research focused around tamariki, whānau and truancy, Catholic Social Services, October – December 2023
- Feasibility Study – Hornby Multicultural Centre for Tongan Youth Trust, June – August 2023
- Community Needs Assessment, Clutha District for Clutha Development, May – July 2023
- Process and outcome evaluation of a pilot adventure therapy programme for ACC-funded sensitive claims (sexual violence victim) clients, Adventure Specialties Trust, February 2023 – February 2024
- Scoping and design research for a pilot project supporting tamariki and rangatahi on the ASD spectrum and referred through ISR as using violence, ISR Collaboration, Canterbury and South Canterbury, December 2022- February 2023
- Community needs analysis research for Burnside Elim and St Timothy’s Church, August – September 2022
- Social Impact Assessment of Class 4 gambling in Westland, Westland District Council, June – July 2022
- Evaluation of ReVision Youth Audits for Rerenga Awa Canterbury Youth Workers Collective, March-April 2022
- Year 2 snapshot evaluation of ISR Te Hononga Rangatahi Mentoring programme, Home & Family Society, February-April 2022
