ACSO Australia

During ACSO’s 40th Anniversary celebration, our Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP) featured in our very first Human Library. The Human Library is a fantastic practice that brings together many diverse people to share their unique lived experience with the broader community. In this powerful concept, people become 'books,' engaging with 'readers' in small groups to share their stories and answer questions. The aim of the Human Library is to break down prejudice and encourage empathy, leading to greater understanding across differences within the community. This is why we thought it would be a perfect fit for ACSO. At ACSO, we strive to incorporate lived experience into everything we do. We believe understanding the story is the first step to bringing about meaningful change in the lives of people who have come into contact with the criminal justice system. Our Lived Experience Advisory Panel meets monthly to contribute to various activities, including:   ▪️ Co-designing and evaluating ACSO programs and content  ▪️ Participating on interview panels for prospective employees  ▪️ Consulting on ACSO’s strategic planning  ▪️ Supporting external requests for consultation and co-design.    LEAP is just one of the ways ACSO advocates for greater awareness around the true causes and consequences of incarceration in order to break the cycle of recidivism and bring about safer outcomes for the community. Click here if you’d like to learn more about ACSO’s Lived Experience Advisory Panel and how you can engage them in your next event: https://lnkd.in/gB2jEasS Click here to learn more about the global Human Library project: humanlibrary.org/ #humanlibrary #ListeningSkills #Storytelling #communitysupport #notforprofit

Meet Claire Noone, ACSO’s fabulous Equity and Inclusion Manager. Claire began working with us in 2020 as a Forensic AOD Case Worker. But when the position of Equity and Inclusion Manager was introduced, her team leader recognised how well this role matched Claire's passions and encouraged her to apply.    With the trust and confidence of her leaders behind her, Claire took the leap and landed the job. Since commencing in October 2020, her career has evolved in many exciting ways.    "I’ve presented at conferences, been interviewed on radio and podcasts and most importantly worked alongside some brilliant people to re-examine diversity, equity, and inclusion at ACSO."    Claire is just one of the many team members who have successfully navigated diverse career pathways within ACSO.     While moving into a new role can be challenging, at ACSO we are fortunate to have outstanding leaders who foster a culture of growth, diversity, and support. ACSO also offers leadership and development programs for team members eager to build their careers.    Claire’s experience not only underscores the many opportunities available within ACSO but serves as an inspiring example of how stepping outside your comfort zone can lead to fulfilling and impactful career paths.    Read more about current career opportunities at ACSO here: https://lnkd.in/gHFQBbDW #careerdevelopment #diversityandinclusion #notforprofit #communitysupport

At the close of 2024, ACSO celebrated a big milestone. 40 years have now passed since Stan McCormack created his first drop-in centre to support individuals exiting the criminal justice system. That one small drop-in centre would, in time, become the Australian Community Support Organisation. 40 years on, ACSO offers services to clients with complex needs across many different spaces including mental health, youth justice, alcohol and other drug (AOD), and forensic disability support. In 2024, ACSO’s 461 staff provided much needed help to 27,421 people. We now run 27 programs across Australia’s three most populous states, including among many others:  ▪️ The Community Re-Entry Services Team (CREST) in Queensland  ▪️ A dedicated AOD Hub in Shellharbour NSW  ▪️ Supported forensic disability accommodation across Victoria  ▪️ The Federally funded Reintegration Pathways Program (RPP), providing support to individuals exiting immigration detention across all three states. We would like to use this occasion to extend our grateful thanks to ACSO’s many supporters, especially our dedicated staff, both past and present. It is thanks to all of you that, throughout four big decades of growth and change, ACSO has remained true to its mission—creating a safe and inclusive community where prison truly is the last resort. In the words of Chris Cappello, who has been with us since the beginning, “Keep up the good work ACSO!” Watch footage of our 40-Year Anniversary Event here: https://lnkd.in/gySncZ-c  #complexneeds #communitysupport #reintegration #notforprofit #fortyandfabulous

As a big year comes to a close, we recognise and celebrate the diversity of traditions observed by our team and our clients during this time—Christmas, Hanukkah, Bodhi Day, Kwanzaa, and more. For some, December is a time of joy and togetherness; for others, it is a moment to rest and reflect. However you choose to spend your holiday season, we wish you warmth, connection, and peace. Thank you for being part of our community and supporting our work throughout the year. 🙏 #HappyHolidays #MerryChristmas #ChagSameach #BodhiDay #Kwanzaa

Earlier this month, the Queensland Government's Making Queensland Safer Bill was signed into law. The Bill (known also as “Adult Crime Adult Time”) makes significant changes to the way youth are processed and sentenced by the criminal justice system in Queensland. Among other changes:  ▪️ Children as young as ten can now receive adult sentences for serious crimes.  ▪️ Detention for children as young as ten is no longer a last resort.  ▪️ A youth offender’s record can no longer be wiped when they turn 18. But do harsher penalties for young offenders lead to better outcomes for the community? Research from the Sentencing Advisory Council shows children who enter the youth justice system early are in fact more likely to reoffend, while evidence from the Australian Law Reform Commission shows disproportionate rates of incarceration among already disadvantaged communities.     As an organisation with decades of experience in supporting individuals exiting the criminal justice system, ACSO understands firsthand that incarceration often isn’t the most effective pathway to ensure a safe and inclusive community.     Instead, ACSO advocates for more effective services addressing the complex needs of youth coming into contact with the criminal justice system. Some of ACSO’s own services include:  ▪️ Youth Residential Recovery (YRR) program   ▪️ Youth Outreach Recovery Support (YORS) program  ▪️ Boost program (a mentorship program designed for young people aged 14 to 17 who have breached or are at risk of breaching an existing AVO). In everything we do, ACSO stands in solidarity with vulnerable incarcerated individuals to advocate for a greater focus on community support, rehabilitation, and reintegration programs to break cycles of incarceration.  It is only through supporting vulnerable youth that meaningful progress can be made toward building safer communities. You can read more about ACSO’s youth services here: https://lnkd.in/ggxizbwi You can read more about the Queensland Government's youth justice reforms here: https://lnkd.in/ekkKvtQM You can read Amnesty International’s report on the reforms here: https://lnkd.in/gdx7BB7W #YouthJustice #YouthAdvocacy #JusiceReform #RaiseTheAge #AdultCrimeAdultTime

This week wrapped up Respect Victoria's 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, a campaign that aligns deeply with ACSO Australia’s mission. Our team has been actively involved throughout, reaffirming our commitment to fostering a safer community for everyone. One example of ACSO’s enthusiastic involvement in the campaign was shared with us by team members Izzy and Layla, who had this to say about their experience attending the DjirraVIC ACTIVEism Festival: “The Djirra ACTIVEism Festival was a wonderful and welcoming event, celebrating community, collaboration, advocacy and Aboriginal women's strength and talent. There were heaps of activities including basket weaving, dance, yoga, live music and resources shared by local First Nations services. We loved learning, eating, celebrating and connecting at the festival and will be back next year!” Initiatives like DjirraVIC's ACTIVEism Festival are crucial for building strong, resilient community. Research continues to demonstrate the links between women’s experiences of violence and imprisonment—with violence increasing the risk and effects of imprisonment, and imprisonment increasing the risk and effects of violence. In many of our programs, ACSO Australia seeks innovative ways to intervene in cycles of violence and incarceration to map out alternative pathways back to meaningful community participation. To find out more about ACSO’s services, visit our website: https://lnkd.in/eWKTFW4C

Calls for Abstracts close Monday for the Complex Needs Conference 2025. Hosted by ACSO Australia in collaboration with Ermha Ltd and funded by DFFH, the conference will bring together a diverse group of people at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne to explore challenges and solutions for supporting individuals with complex needs. By fostering a collaborative environment, we aim to share ideas, research, and personal experience. These aim to inspire, inform, and drive better practices in delivering coordinated care for people with diverse and complex needs. With the overarching theme for the conference "Making it work: overcoming barriers and simplifying support for people with complex needs", we are seeking abstracts across 3 conference streams: ▪️ Interconnected systems ▪️ Research and program showcase ▪️ Lived experience Whether you are a practitioner, researcher, policy maker, and/or a person with lived experience, we invite you to submit your abstract for the Complex Needs Conference 2025. Abstracts should be submitted via the Conference website’s abstract submission form: https://lnkd.in/gSHdadCS

On National Disability Day, ACSO reflects on the overrepresentation of people with disabilities in the criminal justice system. While only 2.9% of people have an intellectual disability, they make up 15% of the prison population—this proportion rises to 30% when accounting for borderline intellectual disability. In Australia, individuals with cognitive and psychosocial impairments are disproportionately incarcerated, underscoring significant systemic inequities (Hellenbach et al., 2017). Research shows inmates with disabilities face higher rates of physical, intellectual, sensory, and mental health challenges (Dias et al., 2013). The recent NDIS review highlights critical gaps in support for people with disabilities, particularly those involved in the justice system. Not everyone with a disability engages with the NDIS, yet these gaps emphasise the urgent need for a more holistic approach to supporting individuals, both within and outside of of the justice system. ACSO is dedicated to supporting, diverting, and reintegrating individuals through services like mental health support, alcohol and drug treatment, intensive residential assistance, and housing and employment programs. These services span the entire justice continuum, from prevention to rehabilitation. We will continue to advocate for long-term solutions, as prison should not be the default for people with disabilities. Australia needs better solutions to support individuals in exiting the justice system and keeping communities safe. To learn more about our programs, visit: https://lnkd.in/eWKTFW4C #NationalDisabilityDay

We're excited to be co-hosting the Complex Needs Conference 2025 with Ermha Ltd, which is proudly funded by Victorian Department of Families, Fairness & Housing (DFFH). The conference will bring together a diverse network of professionals, practitioners, and individuals with lived experience to address the unique challenges and solutions for supporting people with complex needs.   Call for Abstracts! We're inviting our network to submit abstracts that addresses the challenges and innovative solutions in supporting individuals with complex and intersecting needs, including mental health issues; harmful substance use; behaviour that can lead to risk to self and others; homelessness; trauma; and disability.   To learn more about the conference streams and how to submit an abstract, visit: https://lnkd.in/gtDy8gGM   Abstract Closing Date: Monday 16 December 2024

Earlier this year, ACSO Australia team members Nathan Billings and Simon Robinson participated in the World Congress on Alcohol and Addictions. This conference brings together experts from around the world to discuss various initiatives in the Alcohol and Other Drug space that have yielded positive results.  Some useful examples our team members gathered from this year’s comprehensive program include:  ▪️ A new model of pharmacotherapy assessment within the Canadian remand space that has seen a decrease in Suboxone related risks  ▪️ Successes using emerging technology (such as smart watches) in early recognition of opiate overdose  ▪️ Useful data showing the positive benefits of aftercare in post residential drug withdrawal treatment. Nathan hopes to put some of his newly acquired knowledge to work in ACSO’s Community Offender Advice and Treatment Service (COATS) program. COATS is our Victorian state-wide service for forensic clients in contact, or at risk of contact, with the criminal justice system. At ACSO, we aim for best practice in all our programs by actively seeking informed ways to improve our processes. You can learn more about COATS and our various other programs here: https://lnkd.in/gYkWyhms World Congress on Alcohol and Addictions sponsored by: Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association (VAADA) World Health Organization Victoria State Government (Victorian Government)