- Eligible groups and organisations
- What we can do for you
- Cost
- Who does what
- Participants with additional support needs
- Getting started
- Download our Community Work Program information guide
On this page
Eligible groups and organisations
What we can do for you
By partnering with us, you can:
- deliver projects in a cost-effective way
- complete projects that might otherwise be deferred due to funding or resource constraints
- assist someone to make a fresh start in life, and reduce their likelihood of reoffending.
We cannot replace the work of an existing paid staff, but we can provide additional help.
What we have provided for other organisations
Cost
All services provided by participants are free of charge.
Your organisation must provide any tools, safety equipment and materials required to complete the task.
You may be required to provide a supervisor or contribute to expenses for a provided field officer.
Who does what
Your role as a community partner
- Nominate a person to be your key liaison point
- Induct, supervise and manage participants as you would your staff, ensuring they are not subject to any discriminatory behaviour
- Keep all personal and CCS information confidential, unless authorised by CCS or the participant
- Record attendance
- Report incidents, including any illegal behaviour as soon as possible
- Provide agreed materials and equipment (including PPE)
- Provide training
- Manage health and safety, including the safe use of equipment
- Liaise with your Community Work and Partnerships representative to ensure a safe and productive placement
- Ensure staff are trained in the required first aid and comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic).
What you can expect from us
We will provide you with a partnership contact who will be in regular contact with you. You can talk to them about the placement of participants, tasks to be completed, participant timesheets, review of contract and OHS requirements.
We will ensure that:
- all participants undergo a comprehensive risk/needs assessment before being referred and match your participant criteria
- a staff member will be responsible for the day-to-day running of any supervised programs
- a staff member is allocated to your partnership and will help to resolve any problems that arise
- training and information sessions are provided to your organisation, as needed
- ensure that all work undertaken is determined by the completion of a Hazard Inspection and is in line with the OHS Act.
Matching participants to a program
All participants are assessed using an individually administered risk assessment tool. The assessment guides the participant's management plan, ensuring goals and strategies are consistent with their level of risk and appropriate for their needs, learning style and ability. Participants are placed at the most appropriate program and will not be placed on programs where they will be at risk of reoffending. For example, a participant with a history of computer fraud will not be placed on a program where they have access to computers.
As a community work partner, you will be given the opportunity to review and accept participants before they begin placements.
Participants with additional support needs
Some participants with additional support needs may require individualised management and placement at a program that supports their needs.
Young adults
Young adults are between 18 and 25 years of age. We encourage young adults to develop skills aimed at enhancing their employment prospects. Higher risk participants should be provided with placements and programs that enhance their social and work-related skills.
First Nations
Where possible, First Nations participants are placed with First Nations partners, partners that employ First Nations staff or partners that are familiar with the history and culture of First Nations people. Partners need to be aware and respectful of participants' cultural beliefs and community and family responsibilities.
First nations participants will be offered the opportunity to perform community work that enhances their links with their culture and history or participate in specific community work programs designed to develop personal and educational or vocational skills.
First Nations CW participants will be offered the opportunity to perform CW that will enhance their links with their culture and history or participate in specific community work programs designed to develop personal and educational/vocational skills.
Women
Some women have specific needs relating to experiences of sexual assault and family violence, or have carer and parenting responsibilities.
If possible, women will be given the opportunity to work with women supervisors and co-workers. Where practicable, participants with dependent children or carer responsibilities will be placed at a program that provides childcare or minding facilities onsite (or nearby). Placements with flexible hours, particularly during school hours are encouraged.
People with disability
Participants with disability can have varying needs. Sometimes they just need the program to be aware of the disability. Sometimes, they might need a minor or straightforward adjustment such as an accessible toilet, or wheelchair access for a participant with mobility issues.
Programs that cater for people with disability will be informed of participants' needs prior to their placement.
Participants with specific offence types
There are a range of offences that result in a community work condition on an order or a permit. Partners may choose not include some offence types, depending on the work to be performed and the site conditions. As a community partner, you will have the final decision on which participants will be accepted in your program.
People with language and cultural needs
Participants must, wherever possible, be provided with verbal and written information in their preferred language and in a manner that is sensitive to their cultural needs.
We will also try to provide multi-lingual facilities to help participants from non-English speaking backgrounds understand the requirements of their order and provide informed consent.
Access to interpreter services can be arranged, where necessary, to explain the conditions and requirements of a placement.
Getting started
Contact your local CCS office to discuss your requirements
You will need to provide details regarding:
- the type of work or task
- whether this is an ongoing, casual or one-time arrangement
- an estimate of the number of individuals you require
- the approximate days and hours you would like the participants to work.
What happens next
- We will arrange a meeting to discuss your needs and the type of work required.
- Our representative will work with you to:
- complete a health and safety site hazard inspection and support you to ensure OHS compliance
- ensure all staff (including our staff) are suitably trained.
- You will be provided with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which is a non-binding agreement between your organisation and Community Correctional Services. The MOU will set up a framework of agreed guidelines, procedures and roles and responsibilities for you and for us. It outlines the roles and functions of each individual and group, a statement of needs and an agreed implementation process. It also sets up a framework.
- We will provide an induction so that you are ready to receive participants.
Download our Community Work Program information guide
These link(s) will open in a new browser window.
You may need Adobe® Acrobat® Reader or Libre Office to view the document(s) on this page.