In 2010, Litmus helped the New Zealand Skin Cancer Steering Committee to develop the Skin Cancer Control Strategic Framework 2011 to 2014. Litmus worked collaboratively with the HSC and MelNet to set up and facilitate the August 2010 meeting. On the basis of meeting discussions, Litmus prepared a draft Strategic Framework document, which was circulated to Committee members for feedback before finalisation. Preparation of the Framework document included development of a programme logic, review of relevant skin cancer control literature and statistics, and close collaboration with HSC and MelNet to ensure the document met the needs of the sector.
Key Outcomes:
The New Zealand Skin Cancer Control Strategic Framework for 2011 to 2014 identifies five intervention pathways for reducing the incidence and impact of skin cancer: prevention; early detection; diagnosis and treatment; rehabilitation, support and palliative care; and, research, evaluation and surveillance. The prevention pathway is a particular focus of the Framework document; highlighting the need for a continued focus on SunSmart behaviours as well as an increased focus on melanoma detection by health professionals and the general public. A copy of the New Zealand Skin Cancer Control Strategic Framework 2011 to 2014 can be accessed on the Sunsmart website. Further reading 
Gaming funding into the sport, physical activity and recreation sector 2010
Client:
SPARC
Project Background:
Funds from gaming remain an important source of income for the Sport and Recreation sector, with grants from all the gaming machine societies estimated to contribute $100 million annually. SPARC regularly undertakes analysis to look at the contribution of the four major societies that distribute around eighty percent of grants into the sport and recreation sector – the New Zealand Community Trust, Southern Trust, Pub Charity and the Lion Foundation.
Our Involvement:
Litmus was commissioned to assess the contribution of the four gaming societies to the sport and recreation sector, and to identify changes in funding compared with 2007. The project included:
- Accessing the datasets from the gaming societies
- Coding to ensure comparability to previous measures and across gaming trusts
- Data table generation
- Analysis of data
- Reporting of key findings.
Key Outcomes:
The results for 2010 compared with those from 2007 confirmed, as expected by the sector, a decline in gaming funds over that time. It is intended that the updated information will help the sector in understanding this valuable income stream and the changes that are occurring within it. Further reading
Development of Ethics Advisory Function
Client:
Ministry of Education
Project Background:
Since 2006, the Ministry of Education has been exploring the need for an in-house ethics advisory function. Like many social policy agencies, the Ministry has faced a number of ethical issues relating to research, policy and professional practice.
Our Involvement:
Since 2006, Litmus has worked with the Ministry’s Research Division and Group Special Education to:
- Scope and develop an internal ethics advisory function that aligns with legislative requirements, existing ethical functions and codes, and the directions of other social policy agencies
- Help establish the ethics advisory function through the development of processes and tools, and secretariat services.
Key Outcomes:
The Ministry of Education is trialling a six-month ethics advisory function to build internal capability for ethical thinking, ensure consistency in decision-making on ethical issues and have a process to manage opportunities and risks.
