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Welcome to the Australian Community Support Organisation (ACSO)

Our vision is for a community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and prison truly is the last resort

Latest News

The Conversation_prison visits

ACSO Comment: Access to in-prison visits is crucial for reintegration  

January 28, 2025

In a 2024 article published in The Conversation, researchers Nicole Ryan and Nathan Ryan highlight the difficulties many family members...

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Reintegration_housing

ACSO Stories: Creating a Family Home through McCormack Housing 

January 15, 2025

One of ACSO’s core values is belief in humanity; stories like EK’s remind us that our belief is well placed.

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ACSO_Annual_Report_2023-2024_Page_01

ACSO’s 2023-2024 Annual Report Out Now!

December 6, 2024

ACSO’s 2023-2024 Annual Report, titled Celebrating 40 Years of Understanding Stories and Supporting Change, highlights our resilience, innovation, and enduring...

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Shellharbour AOD Hub Opening

Celebrating the Opening of ACSO’s Shellharbour AOD Hub

September 2, 2024

Last week, we had the pleasure of officially opening ACSO’s Shellharbour Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Hub, and we couldn’t...

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Pattie

Meet an ACSO Peer Support Worker

July 10, 2024

Pattie joined ACSO as a Peer Support Worker in March of this year, although she’s been sharing her lived experience...

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Bus-ride-Bendigo

ACSO Stories: Louis’s Journey to Self-Discovery and Independence

June 27, 2024

AT ACSO, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT FURTHER DRIVES OUR PASSION FOR OUR WORK IS HEARING SOME OF THE INCREDIBLE...

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Sunrise-new-day-2024

ACSO Stories: Recovery and Resilience with YORS Participant

June 5, 2024

AT ACSO, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT FURTHER DRIVES OUR PASSION FOR OUR WORK IS HEARING SOME OF THE INCREDIBLE...

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driver-development-course-web

ACSO Stories: Enhancing Road Safety Through Driver Development Training

April 19, 2024

In a proactive move towards safer roads, the Community Support Program (CSP) team in Ballarat embarked on a journey through...

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Three Substance Abuse Support Peer Leads holding awards with Team Leader

Celebrating 5 Years of Dedication: Honouring ACSO’s SAS Peer Leads

April 17, 2024

In the bustling world of volunteering, there are individuals who stand out for their unwavering dedication, passion, and impact. At...

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Our purpose is to strengthen the wellbeing of communities by advocating for and delivering services which divert people away from the justice system

Circular photo of Stan McCormack all in orange. Stan is cut out and has the logo circles behind him.
our history

Hope through Lived Experience

“While I was in an assistant prison chaplain said to me ‘Stan, I want you to give some thought to what would be needed when men are coming out of jail, like a half-way house.  I have a couple of barrister friends who have noticed firsthand the lack of support of anyone after release.’ This was late 1982.​

So, I set to work and thought hard, and I decided to make an exercise of it.” – Stan McCormack

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Reconciliation

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Equity and Inclusion

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