I am the Program Manager of the Community Support Program (CSP) and at one of our residentia houses where we provide support to individuals subject to Post Sentence Orders.
I have been working at ACSO for almost 6 years, but have been working within the Forensic field now for around 16 years now (wow that makes me feel old!).
My interest in the forensic field was initially sparked through personal exposure in high school to individuals pushing the envelope with the law and my desire to help them make better choices. This desire to make a difference continued to grow as I completed my first degree, a Bachelor of Social Science (Criminal Justice) and entered the field of Community Corrections. My desire to better understand the behaviours behind offending led to down a path of exploration through a Specialist Certificate in Criminology (Forensic Disability), Master of Forensic Mental Health and Graduate Diploma in Psychology followed by the advance year.
When I joined ACSO, what really surprised me was how dedicated and motivated the organisation as whole is about changing the lives of those involved in the justice system and the collaboration between us to make positive change. I love my team’s dedication and willingness to offer help regardless of individual pressures, and the visible passion we all share for what we do.
“Understand the story, support the change” means everyone has a background that has led them to where they are today, and we need to take the time to understand this journey to learn what support they truly need. It is this genuine understanding that will increase the likelihood of the success of our programs, and the people we work with making positive changes that will affect the rest of their life.
I genuinely believe that with the right opportunities and supports, people can change for the better —and everybody deserves a second chance.
