Partner with us to provide community work placements

Eligible groups and organisations 

We are looking for partners that can offer unpaid placements for people on court orders.

We create partnerships with organisations and groups that:

• benefit the community or the environment
• can provide opportunities for participants to learn new skills
• model positive behaviour
• offer employment pathways for participants.

Who we work with 

• Charitable and not-for-profit organisations
• Community groups
• Non-profit hospitals and residential aged care facilities
• Non-profit educational institutions and providers
• Local, state and federal government agencies

We can also work:

• on publicly owned, leased or designated land
• at the residence of an aged pensioner or individual with specific needs (with the consent of both the occupants and property owners)
• at a home or institution for people with a disability
• at a home or institution for individuals that are socially disadvantaged.

“The program has wonderful outcomes for both the CW participants and our community. It is fantastic to see the team at the Hub each week eager to create amazing lunches which are gratefully received by our residents. I enjoy seeing the CW participants grow in confidence and take ownership of the program. Well done to the Department of Justice [and Community Safety] and I look forward to the partnership continuing”.

Wendy Vine, Braybrook Community Hub Facilitator
Braybrook Community Hub

 

“As a not-for-profit organisation, the program offers much appreciated help with the upkeep of our grounds and is a great way to utilise the participants’ times to offer great outcomes for the wider community.”

Abbotsford Convent

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

Charity / not-for-profit organisations

• Helping in opportunity shops and recycling efforts
• Providing support for administrative tasks
• Cleaning and maintenance of animal shelters
• Preparing and serving food for community kitchens
• Making soft toys for children in need

Schools, kindergartens and education centres

• General cleaning
• Groundskeeping
• Gardening
• Landscaping
• Building sandpits
• Constructing developmental play areas
• Planting fruit and vegetable gardens

All work is supervised and completed on weekends.

Parks, gardens, and reserves

• Gardening and weeding
• Cleaning
• Rubbish removal
• New roadside stops
• Landscaping neglected community coastal areas and parks
• Planting trees
• Implementing environmentally friendly irrigation systems
• Installing park furniture and signage
• Helping communities prepare for and recover from fire and floods

We have a strong focus on environmental initiatives and projects that work towards creating safe and sustainable communities.

Councils and Shires

• Graffiti removal for vandalised public assets
• Waste and rubbish disposal
• Recycling disposable household items
• Restoration and repurposing old computer equipment, reusable bags and bicycles
• Packing community awareness pamphlets
• Maintaining parks and gardens
• Painting council assets

Cemeteries and historical organisations

• Removing rubbish and graffiti
• Maintaining gardens and flowerbeds
• Administrative duties
• Identification of unmarked burial grounds
• Placing historical markers
• Restoration of trams, historical buildings, weighbridges, heritage listed assets and monuments

Other organisations

We also work with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, community centres, local learning centres, neighbourhood houses, co-operatives, churches, aged care facilities, and hospitals. We can assist in completing works, maintenance, and meal preparation and distribution services.

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

1. We will arrange a meeting to discuss your needs and the type of work required.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. We will provide an induction so that you are ready to receive participants.

Download our Community Work Program information guide