Virtual Instructor-Led Workshop
We will be facilitating a virtual instructor-led workshop over two half-day sessions (Tuesday 04 August 2026 and Tuesday 11 August 2026, both 10:00 am to 1.30 pm AEST) for the Australian Evaluation Society.
This interactive, practical workshop is designed specifically for evaluators and assumes no prior knowledge of cost-benefit analysis (CBA) or economics. It will build participants’ understanding of CBA, explain how CBA can and should be used in evaluation, compare CBA with other economic methods, provide practical guidance for undertaking and interpreting a CBA, and build confidence in working with CBA.
Workshop Start Times
12:00 pm - New Zealand
10:00 am - ACT, New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria
09:30 am - South Australia
09:30 am - Northern Territory
08:00 am - Western Australia
Why Attend?
CBA is an appraisal and economic evaluation technique that considers the economic, social, environmental, and cultural impacts of projects, programs, and policies, monetising impacts where feasible and describing important impacts qualitatively where this is not possible.
Widely used as an ex-ante (forward-looking) technique for appraising options and informing social decision-making, CBA is becoming increasingly important in ex-post (after the event) economic evaluation.
Across Australian state and territory governments, CBA is the preferred method for economic assessment.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this workshop, participants will have an increased understanding of:
The role of CBA in evaluation
When and why evaluators use CBA, and when other economic approaches may be more appropriate
How CBA compares with other types of economic analysis
The different types of CBA, including ex-ante and ex-post applications
Key concepts and principles underpinning CBA
The main steps involved in undertaking a CBA
The data and evidence needed to support a credible CBA
Practical issues and challenges associated with undertaking a CBA
How to review, interpret and communicate the results of a CBA
Where to find useful guidance and resources for CBA
The workshop will also build participants’ confidence in engaging with CBA in evaluation contexts.
Workshop Audience
This workshop is designed as Foundational.
Optional Office Hours
In addition to the two half-day workshops, optional ‘group office hours’ will be offered for those participants wanting to engage more deeply with the program or ask any questions outside of the main workshop.