In partnership for women and families.
The Sisters of the Good Samaritan Foundation supports a number of Australian programs to assist those experiencing particular 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 domestic violence and cost of living pressures. The surge in rent prices has many more desperate mothers knocking on the door in search of help. The Inn is about to start building a new 10-room facility with the help of a grant from the Victorian Government and an injection of funding from the Good Samaritan Foundation. The existing seven-room facility caters for women and their children in need of short-term help. The new building will provide a longer-term solution for stays of six months to a year, prioritising those who are especially vulnerable, including people without permanent residency.
I have never felt safe in my own home, but I feel safe here.
Guest Comment
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 particular hardship. The program has been running since 2015. Forty-seven students have been supported in total to date. Each student is facing a significant challenge – it could be family violence, serious illness, refugee status or other circumstances. Application information is forwarded to eligible schools in August each year.
Recipient comment
I would like to thank the sponsors of my education grant for your generosity, which serves as an inspiration as I continue my studies. I would also like to thank you for your personal investment and good faith you have put in my future.
Refugee medical fund
Established by Sr Sarah Puls sgs and now operated via a partnership with the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), this program helps refugee and asylum seekers in Australia pay for medical essentials such as doctor’s appointments and medication.
This program is particularly important as refugee and asylum seekers are ineligible for most forms of government support and are reliant on the charitable sector. All recipients supported by the fund have undergone a financial hardship assessment via JRS. In the past year, a total of 41 clients / families (comprising 64 adults and 26 children) were assisted by this program.
Remote communities
Ltyentye Apurte (Santa Teresa) is a remote Arrernte indigenous community approx. 85 kilometres south-east of Alice Springs with a population of about 550 people. The Sisters of the Good Samaritan Foundation supports the Santa Teresa Spirituality Centre, a safe place for women to share their culture. We’re continuing to run our successful inter-generational sewing program at Santa
Teresa, which aims not only to help indigenous women develop their sewing skills but also to offer a safe place where older women can mentor younger women, building relationships and sharing stories and skills, while engaging in meaningful, purposeful activity. They then sell the items to generate income for themselves and their community.
The Good Samaritan Rural Outreach in remote Western Australia continues under the stewardship of the local Good Samaritan Oblates. Thanks to the support of CCI’s Small Grants program, we are also commencing a trial program to support women in pastoral roles in remote locations. Thanks to CCI for supporting these new shoots!
Note that from 2020, the Good Samaritan Housing program (Brisbane) will be delivered via a new partnership with the Society of St Vincent De Paul. Please contact us if you require further information.
