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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

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Out now! ACSO’s 2021-2022 Annual Report.

December 12, 2022

Read about our achievements for the year

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10th International Criminal Justice Conference

November 28, 2022

Leading criminal justice voices convene in Melbourne to share ideas and discuss solutions.

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Boost program a first for the Illawarra

November 4, 2022

How mentoring is helping divert teens from harmful behaviours

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Boost is off and running!

September 1, 2022

ACSO pilots new youth mentoring program.

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ACSO launches updated website and brand ethos

July 13, 2022

In 2020, ACSO embarked on a journey to strategically position ourselves as changemakers through research, client work and partnerships. With...

Spotlight on crisis accommodation

June 7, 2022

ACSO CEO speaks with The Age on the crisis in post-release accommodation.

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ACSO launches its REFLECT RAP

June 1, 2022

ACSO is proud to announce the launch of its Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).

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Support the key to breaking the prison cycle

May 31, 2022

Read our special feature in the Fairfax group of newspapers. ACSO CEO Vaughan Winther, Board Director Dr. Danny Sullivan, and...

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ACSO Media Release – Parliamentary Inquiry

March 25, 2022

ACSO supports inquiry into a Victoria’s criminal justice system – government must act now to divert people away from a...

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