Take Two has published three evaluation reports:

• Frederico, M., Jackson, A., & Black, C. (2005) Reflections on Complexity — Take Two First Evaluation Report. Bundoora: La Trobe University.
• Frederico, M., Jackson, A., & Black, C. (2006)."Give Sorrow Words" — A Language for Healing: Take Two Second Evaluation Report 2004—2005. Bundoora: La Trobe University. 
• Frederico, M., Jackson, A., & Black, C. (2010) More than Words: The Language of Relationships. The Third Evaluation of the Take Two Program. Bundoora: La Trobe University. 

The program has been cited as Promising Practice (CCCH, 2016) and as the only Australian Emerging A service model identified in the report by Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health and Parenting Research Centre (2013).

The Department of the Prime Minister & Cabinet have commissioned Harvard University to conduct an evaluation of Take two, utilising a Randomised Control Trial (RCT) design. This project commenced on 1st January 2018 and has received ethics approval from Harvard University and DHHS (Vic).

One of the most frequently asked questions of the service is to explain the name of Take Two. The answer is that it has a number of meanings relating to the following concepts:

• Children or young people who have experienced trauma need a second chance at enjoying life through the process of recovery; 
• Recovery takes two people (the client and the clinician or a significant other) and that the clinician needs to also work with others. It is not feasible that the clinician alone will be able to offer healing. 
• Recovery takes relationships – the child or young person cannot recover from trauma in isolation and we cannot provide a therapeutic service in isolation from others.

The emphasis of the Take Two research is on gathering and building knowledge and accurate information to inform best practice and better outcomes for children and young people in the Child Protection system.

The principals guiding the Take Two Research Strategy include:

• Ethical research that is mindful of the vulnerability of the population being studied
• A commitment to knowledge translation
• Collaboration in relation to knowledge transfer
• Research efforts directed to improving the lives of traumatised and vulnerable children 

Areas which will become the focus for research activity over the next three years

• Developmental trajectories and vulnerabilities for traumatised children
• Aboriginal children and their social and emotional wellbeing
• Interventions and outcomes for traumatised children
• Longitudinal outcomes for traumatised children
• Participatory research with traumatised children
• Education & workforce development

Take Two Research is overseen by Prof Margarita Frederico, Associate Professor, Department of Community and Clinical Allied Health, School of Allied Health, College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe University.

Take Two is auspiced by Berry Street and is a partnership with La Trobe University, Mindful Centre for Training and Research in Developmental Health, and the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA).

Mindful (University of Melbourne, Department of Psychiatry) has the primary responsibility in supporting the Take Two clinical practice development and training functions. 

The Mindful Director also provides secondary psychiatrist consultation and provides clinical governance advice to the whole program.

VACCA is the largest Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO). It provides consultation and advice to Take Two regarding its work with Aboriginal children and the community. This is important due to the over‐representation of Aboriginal children in the child protection system, reflected in the Take Two population.

La Trobe University Department of Community and Clinical Allied Health is a partner in the Take Two program with a leadership role in the research and evaluation strategy. The Department of Community and Clinical Allied Health is part of the School of Allied Health, College of Science, Health and Engineering. The Take Two research team is co-located at the Bundoora campus and the Berry Street Eaglemont office. 

Although LaTrobe University’s relationship with Take Two is with the Department of Community and Clinical Allied Health, on occasion that Department supports or creates opportunities for Take Two to work collaboratively with other disciplines such as Human Communication Sciences or Occupational Therapy. Similarly the primary relationship between Take Two and LaTrobe University is in relation to research although they also collaborate on other projects such as education and training.

Take Two employ almost 100 staff in 14 different locations. There are opportunities for employment, clinical education and research projects. 

Take Two is largely informed by trauma and attachment theories with a developmental, ecological and cultural perspective.

The Take Two approach emphasizes the need to understand the children and young people’s experience of trauma and disrupted attachment within their context, including cultural identity. Take Two aims to intervene at multiple levels to harness resources available to the children and young people and to build on their strengths. In addition to tailoring interventions to the child or young person, Take Two seeks to develop a culture in which staff engage in knowledge development and dissemination (Jackson, Frederico, Tanti, & Black, 2009).

This prestigious scholarship, established by Berry Street’s Take Two Program which is in partnership with La Trobe University, Mindful Centre for Training and Research in Developmental Health and Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA). The scholarship is dedicated to the memory of Robin Dennis Clark (1936–2001), a visionary and leader who has greatly influenced current practice in Victorian child, youth and family services. It will be next available in 2019. 

Previous Scholarship recipients:

• Dr Robyn Miller: Thesis Title: “Walking the Same Talk”. Promoting cultural reform in Victorian Child Protection and Family Services through the best interest case practice model.
• Dr Prue Atkins: Thesis Title: The Influence of Organisational Context in the Practice Implementation Process. 

Current Scholarship Holder: 

• Carly Black: Thesis Title: The role of cultural connection in healing for Aboriginal children in out of home care