About.The Probation and Community Corrections Officers' Association (PACCOA) is a not for profit national group which works to promote understanding of, and discussion about, issues of offender management, particularly issued related to community-based management.
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Established in 1998
PACCOA was formed in 1998 to fill a void in national communication, brought about by the existence of separate state, territory and federal justice processes.
PACCOA promotes professional development of probation/community corrections officers; enhancing the quality of justice and the safety of the community by professional development and participation in discussion.
PACCOA promotes professional development of probation/community corrections officers; enhancing the quality of justice and the safety of the community by professional development and participation in discussion.
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Background
Under the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia, responsibility for most aspects of justice administration is devolved to state and territory jurisdictions. By arrangement with the Commonwealth Government, administration of sentences and community based options for federal offenders is administered by the state and territory jurisdictions.
Probation and Community Corrections programs in Australia have developed within the individual state jurisdictions, largely in isolation from each other. There was little cross fertilisation of ideas and exchange of information on community based offender management, with implications for how resources were used. Community based offender management has often been overlooked by the wider criminal justice debate and researchers, resulting in the field being in a subsidiary position to custodial corrections. The impact of this has been felt in areas of funding and has made the profession vulnerable to the vagaries of politics. PACCOA commenced as an initiative by workers and middle level administrators seeking to develop a national identity for the profession. It was formed in 1998 to fill the void in national communication, brought about by state and territory based processes. The constitution was adopted at an inaugural General Meeting, held at Parramatta, NSW on 12 March 1998. |
Our Goals
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PACCOA's Structure
PACCOA is registered within the State of New South Wales as an Incorporated Association. Its routine affairs are managed by an Executive Committee which consists of one delegate drawn from members in each participating jurisdiction. In those jurisdictions which have associations affiliated with PACCOA, (currently New South Wales), those associations nominate the delegate to PACCOA.
In the other jurisdictions, financial members elect their own delegate to the Executive. Office bearers are the President, Vice President, Secretary, Membership Co-ordinator and Treasurer and the life of the Executive members are elected at Annual General Meetings.
Upon applying to join PACCOA, each applicant undertakes to be bound by our Code of Ethics.
In the other jurisdictions, financial members elect their own delegate to the Executive. Office bearers are the President, Vice President, Secretary, Membership Co-ordinator and Treasurer and the life of the Executive members are elected at Annual General Meetings.
Upon applying to join PACCOA, each applicant undertakes to be bound by our Code of Ethics.
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Code of Ethics
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PACCOA Constitution
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