Summary

  • Since 2013, ARI has collected yearly feedback from our partners about the quality of our work, the impact of the research for policy and management decisions and areas for improvement.
  • Our 2023 Survey results reported that 100% of our clients rated their overall satisfaction with ARI was good, very good or excellent
  • 90% of our clients reported the impact or influence of our work as having a moderate to very high impact for their organisation

On this page:

  • Science impact through continuous improvement
  • Our approach to research
  • What you can expect from working with ARI
  • 2023 Client Survey Report
  • Why clients pick ARI as their research partner
  • What our clients say
  • Partner testimony from 2023
  • Science impact through continuous improvement

At ARI, we are committed to both science excellence and client satisfaction. We are scientists because we want to contribute to evidence-based decision-making and we know that our science is assisting our partners to achieve this.

Since 2013, ARI has asked our clients for feedback about our performance and the impact of our research. Through an annual survey we continue to learn how we can improve our services and better support our clients to make meaningful and informed decisions to improve biodiversity outcomes.

Our commitment to continuously improving has seen our average Customer Satisfaction Rating increase over the last 10 years by 10% from Good (3.95) to Very good (4.35). This would not have been possible without the genuine feedback from 484 clients over this period.

In the 2023-24 financial year, ARI delivered on 311 projects for over 50 project partners from all levels of Government, resource management, universities and Traditional Owner organisations.

Our approach to research

Our clients are not only customers but partners in the research we deliver. Every project we deliver contributes to and benefits from over 50 years of ecological research in Victoria, from field observations to data management and species expertise.

Our research is targeted, has direct application and is delivered directly to decision-makers in policy and source management who can use it. This is why 90% of our clients say that our research has had a moderate to very high level of influence on their organisation's work (47% high to very high).

As a Victorian Government Research Institute, ARI does not make profit and research investment supports the delivery science for the public good and protecting the environment.

What you can expect from working with ARI

  • Independent, trusted research delivered under the Victorian Public Service Code of Conduct.
  • Research designed to answer your questions.
  • Data with a legacy – our research is compatible with our other datasets so you can get the most out of your research investment.
  • Responsive, transparent communications and project management.
  • Quality communications products to help tell your science story to your audience.
  • People that collaborate in a way that makes working with ARI an enjoyable experience.

2023 Client Survey Report

Our 2023 ARI Client Survey received 49 responses from Governments (Local, State, Federal and International), Universities, Catchment Management Authorities, non-for-profits and other research organisation clients. These represented projects of varying durations (from less than 6 months to multiple years), diverse research services and were from mostly returning clients.

We are proud that 100% of our responding clients would recommend ARI to others.

Why clients pick ARI as their research partner

The top 3 reasons clients say they pick RI are:

  1. Reputation or recognised expertise
  2. Continuation of previous projects
  3. Existing relationships

What our clients say

  • Overall satisfaction – 100% of client's felt their overall satisfaction was good, very good or excellent (85% very good or excellent).
  • Understanding of the client's needs – 88% felt ARI had very good or excellent understanding of their research needs.
  • Rigour and robustness of the science – 94% said that ARI's science and thinking behind the project design was very good or excellent.
  • Quality products – 94% of our clients rated out reports, products or services as good, very good or excellent (84% very good or excellent)
  • Relevance of recommendations – where applicable, 93% said recommendations were good, very good or excellent.
  • Value for money – 85% of clients said ARI's overall value for money was good, very good or excellent.

Partner testimony from 2023

"[The scientists] did an amazing job and did some groundbreaking work. They also did some fantastic presentations on this work to staff and other agencies to promote the excellent research."

"High impact, high quality science that will lead to important conservation outcomes for a critically endangered species"

"The value in using ARI for this particular project lies in their knowledge and experience with the target species and the fieldwork location. Other service providers would have been less capable of spotting the target species"

"Build balanced and trusting relationships with Traditional Owners and government departments – Excellent!"

"[ARI's] communication, data sharing, involvement of staff in field work and engaging directly on the issues and project development is exemplary."

"[ARI researchers] have been extremely helpful and supportive during this project."

"Thanks again for the professionalism of the ARI research team, we've really enjoyed working with you so far in this project."

"As our funding for these projects is coming from grants that we are writing, it is hard for us to often secure enough funding for what we need! However, ARI staff have been very accommodating in trying to work within our budgets and compile funds from multiple sources to keep our project work going."

Page last updated: 07/11/24