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Insights and Reports

From the beginning we have framed Sunshine as an opportunity for deep learning, we have collected an abundance of insights about the daily realities of families, their complex challenges and remarkable resilience, and their aspirations for change. We have shaped a deep understanding of how the system can enable and hinder leaps toward the good life and how we can liberate helping professionals to do their best work with a shift toward relational practices. Sunshine will always be a space for deeper learning and sense making.  

Sunshine Reports

A key part to our work is dedicating time to curate and share our learnings. 

Outcomes

During the initial 2 year design and testing phase, the design team collected a range of qualitative and quantitative data from participating families and oter stakeholders through surveys, semi-structured interviews, workshops. For more detail please see the Evaulation and Design reports above. Highlight outcomes are captured below:

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Families each saw progress against 4-7 of the following SCORE domains. ​

  • Reduced impact of immediate crisis​

  • Mental wellbeing and self-care​

  • Family functioning​

  • Material wellbeing​

  • Increased knowledge​

  • Empowerment choice and control​

  • Engagement with relevant supports​

  • Community & Participation

Cost Benefit Analysis

An indicative cost benefit analysis carried out by an independent evaluator suggested a ROI of between $0.79 and $2.54 per $1.00 spend, depending on the nature of crisis avoided. ​

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This figure only considers avoided costs in that year and does not include additional savings across subsequent years of avoided crisis, or any intergenerational benefits.

“I have had the distinct honour of engaging in conversations with project participants and have been deeply moved by their stories of personal growth and transformation. This project has provided a platform for individuals to articulate their visions of a ‘good life’ and has empowered them to actively pursue and experience the qualities that define such a life. Given the outstanding results and benefits that have emerged from the Sunshine Project, I strongly recommend its expansion and piloting in other communities. The holistic and client-centred approach, coupled with its demonstrable benefits for both individuals and the community, positions this project as a potential beacon of hope and transformation for communities facing diverse challenges.” – Service Manager, Smith Family

We are the system

When we talk about ‘the system’ we take a holistic lens on all the contributing parts from high level mechanisms such as policy, laws, commissioning process, through to social service and community organisations, including our own organisations and the ways they function. All parts of the system are actioned by people, with their own needs, motivations and underpinning world-views.

 

We had initially framed "the system" as what happens out there, but we were reminded of the ways that we are ourselves part of the system through: 

  • Our own internalised narratives about how things should happen and why. ​​

  • Our own organisational practices, and those of other social sector organisations, which constrain
    the ability to be genuinely family-led, trauma informed and holistic.

  • The parallel ways in which these patterns are repeated at Government level, in commissioning and social policy.

 

In seeking to disrupt the system, we first need to be able to disrupt ourselves. 

 

The above reports highlight various system challenges identified through the work, along with opportunities for how we might create more enabling conditions for families to grow the good life. 

The System Immune Response

The system immune response kicks in when efforts are made to introduce change. We are continually learning from the ways in which a system immune response is triggered when offering an alternative approach to family support. We have captured this in detail in the Sunshine Design Report, however some of the frequent immune responses we have heard include:​

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We acknowledge Aboriginal Peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands that our services are based on and pay our respects to Elders of these lands both past and present. Anglicare WA and Ruah deliver services across many Countries in WA, from Balanggarra Country in the North to Minang Noongar Country in the South. In particular, we wish to acknowledge the Custodians of the lands where our offices operate. We would like to thank the Noongar, Miriuwung Gajerrong, Tjurabalan, Yawuru, Nyikina, Ngarluma, Kariyarra, Nyiyaparli, Martu, and Wangkatja peoples for their wisdom and generosity. 

©2025 Sunshine

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