Design Journey
The Sunshine model was designed through a collaborative action research project to explore what supports might enable families to grow their good life, even in the midst of hard times. ​
Drawing from the learnings of the 100 Families project research and guided
by Hilary Cottam’s Radical Help, the design team worked closely with 6 families (comprising 27 people) in Kwinana/Rockingham in Western Australia, to co-design and test out these approaches. They also worked with other local organisations to test out additional ideas which have also benefitted a larger cohort of people in those communities. 
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The design phase of this project was self-funded by Anglicare WA and Ruah, along with generous philanthropic support, which enabled the design work to unfold iteratively in response to what the team were learning, without the usual constraints of a funding contract. The design phase of the project concluded in December 2023, with an independent evaluation of the project by Innovation Unit (now Third Story).
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About 100 Families WA
The Sunshine Project was initiatied in response to the findings of the 100 Families WA research. The 100 Families WA research contributed an evidence base on the lived experience of poverty, entrenched disadvantage and social exclusion in Western Australia. It elevated the voice of families experiencing hardship and highlighted the ways in which services and systems can make it hard for people seeking help to get it.
 
To learn more about the project, go to the 100 Families WA website.
