Description

Our purpose is to make a difference in the lives of disenfranchised people
Our mantra is "Create another chance"

ACSO was started in 1983 by a man called 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 Agenc for ex-prisoners who were highly disadvantaged. Our founders established support programs and a halfway house (McCormack House) which still remains in operation.

ACSO has expanded over 28 years to deliver services for the intellectually disabled, peopling with mental illness, alcohol and other drug problems, offenders and people with long term unemployment. With a staff of 200 and an annual turnover around $18m ACSO is now a leading Victorian charity delivering more than 20 life changing programs to approximately 10,000 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"

Specialties

Clinical services (Alcohol, drugs, mental health), Disability (Cognitive impairment, ABI, Intellectual disability), Justice services (Offenders pre and post release), Employment services, Residential services (Disability, mental health), Research and advocacy

Website

ACSO website

State

Victoria

Social Category

Community Support/Advocacy