Our vision is for a community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, and prison truly is the last resort.
Our purpose is to strengthen the wellbeing of communities by advocating for and delivering services which divert people away from the justice system.
Our ethos is "Create another chance"​

ACSO was founded in 1983 by a man named Stan McCormack, who served a number of years in Pentridge Prison for armed robbery. While Stan was in prison, he underwent a spiritual conversion. There were always people in his cell wanting to talk, or needing advice. When he was released, he created the Epistle Centre; later The Victorian Offender Support Agency for ex-prisoners who were highly disadvantaged. Our founders established support programs and a halfway house (McCormack House) which still remains in operation today. 

ACSO has expanded over 35 years to deliver services across the eastern seaboard for the intellectually disabled, peopling with mental illness, alcohol and other drug problems, offenders and people with long term unemployment. With a staff of over 440 and an annual turnover of approximately $50m in 2019, ACSO is now a leading Australian NFP, delivering more than 20 life changing programs to approximately 20,000 people a year

"It was the sheer determination and drive of founder Stan and his supporters that got ACSO through, even when the foundations seemed to disappear. He was willing, and things happening so fast. There was a lot of help from a lot of people, but the brains and inspiration came from Stan. The best thing was that he took all those blokes in on face value without worrying about their pasts"​

Rehabilitation

Non Profit

Humanitarian

ACSO Australia

Vaughan Winther

Claire Noone

Stephanie Houston

Hannah Christie

Alan Koh

Nerita Wraight

Lynn Warneke

Jane Hall

Jane Dixon

James Mcginnes

Dean Mcwhirter

Danny Sullivan

Andrew Chadwick

Larissa Daniel

Cath Williams

The Human Resources and People Management team at ACSO Australia is dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive workplace culture that aligns with the organization's vision of community wellbeing. They focus on talent acquisition, employee engagement, and the implementation of equitable practices, ensuring that all staff members feel valued and empowered to contribute towards the mission of diverting individuals from the justice system. Through strategic initiatives and support programs, this team plays a crucial role in enhancing the overall employee experience, enabling ACSO to effectively deliver its life-changing services.

Human Resources and People Management

Clinical and Support Services

Operations and Strategy

Human Resources and People Management

About

Team members

Other teams at ACSO Australia

Clinical and Support Services

Operations and Strategy