Improving the experience of women fleeing domestic violence

The Good Samaritan Inn & Victorian Government

1 in 4 women in Australia experience violence from a current or former partner, and many flee with little warning to start a new life. The Good Samaritan Inn provides crisis accommodation and support services but was struggling with rising demand, constrained funding, and a lack of clarity on how best to scale impact.

Working directly from the shelter, we embedded ourselves alongside staff and families to deeply understand the lived realities of women in crisis. Together, we co-designed services, funding strategies, and a long term roadmap grounded in dignity, safety, and practicality.

Outcomes

• Conducted on site research and co-design with women, staff, police, and sector experts
• Generated 150 concepts, validating 30 business cases ready for delivery
• Increased staff and volunteer engagement by 40%
• Secured $3m in funding for a 'return to work' initiative
• Delivered a 5-year strategic roadmap and new ways of working for the shelter