ACSO provides a range of support models and residential housing options to support complex and high-risk persons. We also provide NDIS support programs and outreach services.
McCormack Housing provides safe, affordable, well-maintained supported housing options in the Gippsland and Loddon-Mallee regions for people being released from (and people at risk of entering) the criminal justice system.
McCormack Housing’s “Stepping Stones” program is a 6–12-month program of intensive housing support designed to re-establish clients into the community and reunite with their families. Stepping Stones assists clients to find long-term, safe and stable accommodation for their future. We offer fully furnished, self-contained units with complete kitchen and laundry facilities.
McCormack Housing operates in conjunction with ACSO’s Forensic Casework services including ReConnect, ReStart, and Community Support Program. To be eligible for our housing services, clients must be actively engaged with a suitable program.
ACSO operates a range of forensic residential programs throughout Victoria for individuals over the age of 18 with intellectual and cognitive disabilities who have an offending history, are currently involved in the justice system, or are at risk of contact with the justice system. All ACSO’s residential programs operate on a 24/7 staffing model, led by multi-disciplinary and skilled teams, supporting eligible NDIS and non-NDIS participants.
All ACSO’s residential programs support residents to identify pro-social goals and strategies to reduce behaviours of concern, build their capacity, and increase community inclusion and engagement. These are pathways to establishing healthy relationships, connection to culture and identity, education and employment, and independent living, promoting long-term stability and successful community reintegration.
Our residents may require additional support depending on the complexity of their assessed needs. ACSO provide stable accommodation to work through each resident’s goals to increase their independence in daily living skills, social skills, emotional regulation and strengthen strategies to manage challenging behaviours and/or risks. ACSO’s Residential Services are not long-term, and the accommodation period varies from short-term (1-2 years) to medium-term (3-5 years).
ACSO are unable to receive referrals directly for participants requiring Residential Services. Referrals to our Residential Services programs can only be made directly to the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH), who will coordinate with ACSO further around a referral.
The above service description does not include our Youth Residential Recovery (YRR) Program, which is another Residential Services program ACSO provides.
Working closely alongside ACSO’s Clinical Services team, ACSO offers a range of psychological intervention and positive behaviour support plans for individuals with acquired brain injury and/or intellectual disability who engage in problematic behaviour including inappropriate sexualised behaviour, violence and aggression. We specialise in working with and managing the risk of clients who have had or are at risk of having contact with the criminal justice system and work closely with DFFH to reduce restrictive practices for clients subject to Supervised Treatment Orders. We also provide training and consultation to support workers, Community Corrections Officers and other professionals working with complex/forensic clients to support capacity-building and consistency in practice.
Referrals for Specialist Behaviour Intervention Support can only be made by professionals via our intake form. Please note this service is only available to clients who have an NDIS plan with improved relationships funding or some alternative form of funding.