Project Karinya

Providing safety, dignity and hope for women and children

Project Karinya demonstrates what is possible when philanthropy, government, and community organisations work together to tackle complex social challenges. Completed in February 2025, the project delivered four new two-bedroom units in Dandenong, providing safe and stable housing for women and children experiencing homelessness.

The project was sparked by local philanthropist Margo Hartley, who recognised the urgent need for secure housing for women and children forced to sleep in cars or on the street. Determined to make a difference, Margo approached the Greater City of Dandenong Council with her vision. With strong support from then Mayor Jim Mementi, the Council allocated land specifically for social housing.

From there, a partnership was forged between Margo, the Council and wayss, the region’s leading provider of family violence and homelessness services. wayss brought deep expertise, a track record of impact, and extensive local networks. Together, the partners built momentum, culminating in the appointment of Proud Projects in January 2024 to manage construction. Just over a year later, the homes were complete.

Margo named the development ‘Karinya’, an Aboriginal word meaning peaceful. The name reflects the project’s core purpose: to provide not only shelter, but a sense of calm, safety, and dignity for women and children in crisis.

For wayss, Project Karinya is a tangible example of its strategy in action. The organisation is committed to creating more housing in areas of greatest need, with a goal of providing 1,000 homes by 2035. This dual focus of addressing immediate housing shortages while developing long-term solutions underpins all its work.

Operating in the southeast corridor of Melbourne, where rates of family violence and homelessness are among the highest in the state, wayss supports almost 6,000 people each year from more than 170 cultural backgrounds. With over 200 staff, including many with lived experience, wayss is recognised as a trusted, knowledgeable, and responsive partner.

Project Karinya stands as a model of what can be achieved through collaboration. It delivers more than four homes. It delivers safety, hope and a chance to rebuild for families who need it most.