Australia

In partnership for women and families.

The Sisters of the Good Samaritan Foundation supports a number of Australian programs to assist those experiencing significant hardship.  While initiated by Good Samaritan Sisters, some programs are now operated via partnerships that bring new possibilities and capacity.  Although the number of vowed Sisters in Australia is diminishing, the Good Samaritan tradition of caring for the vulnerable and marginalised continues to find new expression and sustainability.

Good Samaritan Inn, Melbourne

The Good Samaritan Inn is experiencing higher demand for women and children’s crisis accommodation because of family violence and cost of living pressures. The surge in rent prices has many more mothers knocking on the door in search of help.

The GSI currently provides short-term case management support for between 60 and 70 women, gender diverse and non-binary people, children and young people every year. Guests are provided with crisis support, counselling, group therapy and referral to other specialist services as required.

The Chair of the GSI Board, Patricia Bergin, said the newly opened Good Samaritan Haven would expand on that support, to accommodate its guests for up to 12 months and provide a full suite of services focused on healing from the trauma of violence and abuse as well as building skills and creating pathways into training and employment. There will be a particular focus on supporting First Nations and non-permanent resident women.

Patricia said planning was also underway for a third facility that would further increase capacity to provide crisis accommodation. To be known as the Good Samaritan Village, it is expected to open in late 2027. 

The main purpose for WiW is to support victim survivors on their healing and recovery journey. The program targets women and non-binary victim survivors who require the additional support and capability to be self-sufficient and enable them to heal and break the cycle of violence.

WiW offer coaching as well as linking participates to employment. The employment stream of the program operates through WiW coordinators working in partnership with employers across different industries who are seeking to hire highly motivated people whom we know will give the job their all.

With family violence being one of the leading causes of homelessness for women and children, financial stability and independence represents both a tool for recovery as well as a protective factor.

Education Grants

Recognising the very important role of education in alleviating long term disadvantage, we provide an education grants program for students who are experiencing significant hardship. The program has been running since 2015. Each student is facing a challenge – it could be family violence, serious illness, refugee status or other circumstances. Application information is forwarded to eligible schools in August each year.

Every year the Good Sams Foundation and our benefactors support Australian students who can’t afford to continue their education in a faith-based school. Here’s feedback from a few of our 2023 Australian Grant recipients –

‘I received early entry into Wollongong University.  If I couldn’t afford to continue to attend my current school, this wouldn’t have been possible.’

‘A HUGE thank you! You have no idea how much this grant has helped not only me but also our entire family. The fact that my sisters and I have been able to complete their entire schooling at the same school and the relief it has given my mum and dad has been great. To know we have all been supported during some of our families most difficult times.’

‘Receiving this grant meant that it applied less stress for my parents having to pay not only me but also my brothers school fees. It meant that I also got to stay and finish at the high school I started at with all my friends and supportive teachers.’

‘It has allowed my mum to focus on her health and recover from last year’s treatment rather than worrying about getting back to work. This in turn made me feel better as I saw her less stressed which enabled me to focus on doing the best I could at school as I knew there was less financial stress on both mum and dad.’

‘The ongoing support in an environment that I am happy and confident in whilst being supported by my friends and teachers that know exactly how I tick. This allows me to ask for assistance as I feel comfortable in this learning and supportive environment which will enable me to achieve my goals for next years HSC.’