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Project Overview
Komosion created the Aurora smartphone app, which was the first of its kind in the world to allow female victims who experience domestic abuse to access information on help services. The app provides a GPS ‘call-for-help’ system that can alert recipients of the sender’s location and allows users to create a trusted network of friends who can be easily contacted.
Komosion applied a user-centred design (UCD) approach to map the domestic violence “journeys” and created a ‘Cycle of Abuse’ framework, establishing where and how the app could assist people in a cycle of domestic violence.
Project Commissioner
NSW Department of Family and Community Services
Project Creator
Team
Craig Burtenshaw, Matt Knight, Mara Patterson, John Doyle, Rebecca Chik, Anton Chemerys, Stephen Brewer, Luke Haillay, Dee Teddy
Project Brief
Komosion was engaged by Women NSW, a directorate of the NSW Department of Family and Community Services (FACS) in response to evidence that shows that the majority of violence against women and girls occurs within their homes at the hands of people they know. Often women flee a situation with only their immediate personal belongings, including their mobile or smart phone.
Komosion was approached to develop a smartphone application that would:
• Provide a digital tool to help people who are experiencing abuse make informed, empowered choices
• Increase awareness of the issues related to domestic and family violence.
Komosion worked in collaboration with Women NSW, NSW Police Force, experts from the domestic and family violence sector, including the NSW Women’s Refuge Movement to design to develop the Aurora app.
Project Need
For the NSW government, preventing domestic and family violence and keeping victims safe are key priorities. Women NSW required a solution that would cater for victims who do not always have access to online information on desktop, particularly while in circumstances of duress and for people in regional and rural areas who often choose to own a smartphone over desktop.
The Aurora app has created reform in the delivery of government services through creating a new way for victims to access useful and potentially life-saving information anonymously on mobile. It provides quick access to information on how to receive help, which may benefit the NSW Domestic Violence Hotline by providing victims with an alternative medium to access information.
Within the first month of the app’s release it was downloaded 1,200 times, representing take up by the equivalent of 5% of the annual Hotline audience or the equivalent of 66% of average monthly callers.
The pattern of usage is that the majority (63%) of users are people seeking preventative information about domestic and family violence.
User Experience
As part of applying a UCD approach, a series of personas and use-case scenarios were built around the people who are likely to experience abuse in order to map out the needs that the app could meet.
The app is based on simplicity and usability designed to allow easy access to supportive information and provides direct ways to contact the police, hotline, friends or family.
Along with GPS location-based functionality, there are three in-built messages incorporated into the app; 'Call me', 'Come and pick me up' and 'Call the police for me,' which can be instantly communicated with three quick touches of a phone pad.
Project Marketing
Komosion was involved with the marketing strategy of the Aurora app, which used a combination of PR, digital distribution and ’point-of-sale' collateral. A quick response code was also included in both online and physical materials and the app was promoted on highly trafficked nsw.gov.au website.
Komosion’s Creative Director helped launch the app on prime time television coverage by the ABC along with the Minister, Police, Women’s Refuge representatives and a victim of domestic violence to demonstrate the app to the public.
Tags
Government Services
This category recognises applications developed for all levels of government services.
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