This pilot tested how VicHealth’s emerging evaluation framework could be applied to Mount Alexander Shire’s wellbeing economy approach. It assessed the framework’s relevance for small regional councils and place-based systems-change work, confirming its potential while identifying practical challenges such as resourcing, data collection and authorising environments. 

CI worked with council staff to explore new ways of understanding impact beyond traditional economic indicators, developing reflective questions and guiding principles for future evaluation. The work strengthened relationships between CI, Council and
VicHealth, highlighting the importance of shared learning across
government, community and philanthropy.

The pilot also seeded a VicHealth Research Fellowship with Dr Melissa Kennedy, now based at CI, to advance locally grounded monitoring and evaluation methods that reflect wellbeing values. Together, these efforts position Mount Alexander Shire as a testbed for innovative governance and measurement within the wellbeing economy.