Vacro
@vacro.bsky.social
Since 1872 we've supported people in contact with the criminal justice system and their families to create new beginnings and stronger communities.
https://www.vacro.org.au/
https://www.vacro.org.au/
Our Second Chance Cycles program reopens tomorrow for 2026!
Second Chance Cycles operates on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10AM and 4PM (closed for lunch between 1 - 2 PM) and is located in the underground carpark opposite the public housing towers on Harmsworth Street in Collingwood.
Second Chance Cycles operates on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10AM and 4PM (closed for lunch between 1 - 2 PM) and is located in the underground carpark opposite the public housing towers on Harmsworth Street in Collingwood.
January 4, 2026 at 9:20 PM
Our Second Chance Cycles program reopens tomorrow for 2026!
Second Chance Cycles operates on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10AM and 4PM (closed for lunch between 1 - 2 PM) and is located in the underground carpark opposite the public housing towers on Harmsworth Street in Collingwood.
Second Chance Cycles operates on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10AM and 4PM (closed for lunch between 1 - 2 PM) and is located in the underground carpark opposite the public housing towers on Harmsworth Street in Collingwood.
Oceania's pre-trial/remand detention population has grown by 313% since 2000.
The latest World Pre-trial/Remand Imprisonment List attributes this to "the more than quadrupling of the numbers in Australia and the nearly six-fold increase in New Zealand.”
www.prisonstudies.org/news/more-th...
The latest World Pre-trial/Remand Imprisonment List attributes this to "the more than quadrupling of the numbers in Australia and the nearly six-fold increase in New Zealand.”
www.prisonstudies.org/news/more-th...
December 28, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Oceania's pre-trial/remand detention population has grown by 313% since 2000.
The latest World Pre-trial/Remand Imprisonment List attributes this to "the more than quadrupling of the numbers in Australia and the nearly six-fold increase in New Zealand.”
www.prisonstudies.org/news/more-th...
The latest World Pre-trial/Remand Imprisonment List attributes this to "the more than quadrupling of the numbers in Australia and the nearly six-fold increase in New Zealand.”
www.prisonstudies.org/news/more-th...
Huge thanks to Waverley Woodworkers for gifting 68 beautiful handmade wooden toys to us, and in turn to children with a parent in custody.
Check out their club and the wonderful things they get up to: mensshed.org/sheds/waverl...
Check out their club and the wonderful things they get up to: mensshed.org/sheds/waverl...
December 22, 2025 at 12:01 AM
Huge thanks to Waverley Woodworkers for gifting 68 beautiful handmade wooden toys to us, and in turn to children with a parent in custody.
Check out their club and the wonderful things they get up to: mensshed.org/sheds/waverl...
Check out their club and the wonderful things they get up to: mensshed.org/sheds/waverl...
Second Chance Cycles will close for Christmas from Tuesday 23 December 2025 and will reopen on Tuesday 6 January 2026.
We thank all our participants, partners, supporters, mechanics, cyclists, and community members for donating, repairing, and riding our Second Chance Cycles away all year!
We thank all our participants, partners, supporters, mechanics, cyclists, and community members for donating, repairing, and riding our Second Chance Cycles away all year!
December 17, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Second Chance Cycles will close for Christmas from Tuesday 23 December 2025 and will reopen on Tuesday 6 January 2026.
We thank all our participants, partners, supporters, mechanics, cyclists, and community members for donating, repairing, and riding our Second Chance Cycles away all year!
We thank all our participants, partners, supporters, mechanics, cyclists, and community members for donating, repairing, and riding our Second Chance Cycles away all year!
And if you or someone you know is in a position to contribute to this research and support children affected by parental arrest, contact details are in the flyer attached.
December 15, 2025 at 1:40 AM
And if you or someone you know is in a position to contribute to this research and support children affected by parental arrest, contact details are in the flyer attached.
Our final All Staff Day for 2025 at the Koorie Heritage Trust was a valuable day of connection and learning. On these days we bring together staff from all across the state. As one regional staff member reflected, it's "nice to be reminded of the great 'the whole team matters' attitude Vacro has."
December 11, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Our final All Staff Day for 2025 at the Koorie Heritage Trust was a valuable day of connection and learning. On these days we bring together staff from all across the state. As one regional staff member reflected, it's "nice to be reminded of the great 'the whole team matters' attitude Vacro has."
The December issue of @Paper Chained is out now, full of art, writing, reviews, interviews and more, directly by, from, and for people impacted by the justice system.
Read and download the issue for free here: www.paperchained.com/post/issue-2...
Read and download the issue for free here: www.paperchained.com/post/issue-2...
December 3, 2025 at 3:15 AM
The December issue of @Paper Chained is out now, full of art, writing, reviews, interviews and more, directly by, from, and for people impacted by the justice system.
Read and download the issue for free here: www.paperchained.com/post/issue-2...
Read and download the issue for free here: www.paperchained.com/post/issue-2...
For the next four years we’ll be advocating for changes that help people caught in the justice system strengthen their connection to their families and communities, get access to the resources they need, and live lives that have purpose and meaning in places they belong.
November 27, 2025 at 9:42 PM
For the next four years we’ll be advocating for changes that help people caught in the justice system strengthen their connection to their families and communities, get access to the resources they need, and live lives that have purpose and meaning in places they belong.
Listen to this beautiful song written many years ago by a woman who spent time incarcerated and in secure care. An ode to the reintegration journey: one filled with forgiveness, transformation, and renewal.
November 25, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Listen to this beautiful song written many years ago by a woman who spent time incarcerated and in secure care. An ode to the reintegration journey: one filled with forgiveness, transformation, and renewal.
Vacro was a proud contributor to the first Prison Law Handbook, launched by Fitzroy Legal Service today.
The Handbook is a comprehensive resource built to give people in prison and their families up to date legal information and a clear picture of their rights.
The Handbook is a comprehensive resource built to give people in prison and their families up to date legal information and a clear picture of their rights.
November 13, 2025 at 4:03 AM
Vacro was a proud contributor to the first Prison Law Handbook, launched by Fitzroy Legal Service today.
The Handbook is a comprehensive resource built to give people in prison and their families up to date legal information and a clear picture of their rights.
The Handbook is a comprehensive resource built to give people in prison and their families up to date legal information and a clear picture of their rights.
After 13 incredible years, we bid farewell and extend our deepest gratitude to David Jablonka, our Second Chance Cycles Manager. David’s impact has been nothing short of extraordinary. Thank you, David, for your passion, generosity, and unwavering belief in people.
November 10, 2025 at 8:17 PM
After 13 incredible years, we bid farewell and extend our deepest gratitude to David Jablonka, our Second Chance Cycles Manager. David’s impact has been nothing short of extraordinary. Thank you, David, for your passion, generosity, and unwavering belief in people.
Coming soon: The Connect will provide people in prison with access to a secure intranet, hosting information about services, resources, and supports.
Today we filmed a video for The Connect about our family visits program!
Today we filmed a video for The Connect about our family visits program!
November 10, 2025 at 5:54 AM
Coming soon: The Connect will provide people in prison with access to a secure intranet, hosting information about services, resources, and supports.
Today we filmed a video for The Connect about our family visits program!
Today we filmed a video for The Connect about our family visits program!
Future Dreaming is an annual exhibition presented by The Torch and established in 2020. We visited the exhibition last week, and here’s what we saw!
November 4, 2025 at 4:30 AM
Future Dreaming is an annual exhibition presented by The Torch and established in 2020. We visited the exhibition last week, and here’s what we saw!
Val has spent 15 years tinkering with bikes underground at our Second Chance Cycles program in Collingwood. He's been at Cycles since the beginning and is seamlessly woven into the fabric of the cycling community in Melbourne.
October 22, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Val has spent 15 years tinkering with bikes underground at our Second Chance Cycles program in Collingwood. He's been at Cycles since the beginning and is seamlessly woven into the fabric of the cycling community in Melbourne.
Our colleagues at the @innovativejustice.bsky.social and Melbourne City Mission have released an important new report spotlighting the needs and experiences of unaccompanied young people seeking shelter.
October 21, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Our colleagues at the @innovativejustice.bsky.social and Melbourne City Mission have released an important new report spotlighting the needs and experiences of unaccompanied young people seeking shelter.
Our world-first Reintegration Practice Framework was recently cited by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in its global study on social reintegration: www.ohchr.org/en/documents...
The report was presented to the Sixtieth session of the Human Rights Council.
The report was presented to the Sixtieth session of the Human Rights Council.
October 19, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Our world-first Reintegration Practice Framework was recently cited by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in its global study on social reintegration: www.ohchr.org/en/documents...
The report was presented to the Sixtieth session of the Human Rights Council.
The report was presented to the Sixtieth session of the Human Rights Council.
We were proud to attend the Inner North Community Foundation Awards at Abbotsford Convent last night and celebrate the ongoing funding awarded to our Second Chance Cycles program.
October 14, 2025 at 1:48 AM
We were proud to attend the Inner North Community Foundation Awards at Abbotsford Convent last night and celebrate the ongoing funding awarded to our Second Chance Cycles program.
Romy S. joined Vacro 16 years ago and has been instrumental in shaping the way we deliver Family Therapy since the program’s inception. Thank you Romy, and congratulations on this milestone.
October 7, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Romy S. joined Vacro 16 years ago and has been instrumental in shaping the way we deliver Family Therapy since the program’s inception. Thank you Romy, and congratulations on this milestone.
Our submission to the Senate Inquiry into Australia's Youth Justice and Incarceration System (www.vacro.org.au/Handlers/Dow...) argued for a national approach to youth justice that foregrounds evidence-based interventions to support desistance among children and young people in their communities.
October 6, 2025 at 6:10 AM
Our submission to the Senate Inquiry into Australia's Youth Justice and Incarceration System (www.vacro.org.au/Handlers/Dow...) argued for a national approach to youth justice that foregrounds evidence-based interventions to support desistance among children and young people in their communities.
At our recent All Staff Meeting we celebrated some big staff milestones.
Melanie Field-Pimm first joined us on a placement in the 90s, came back to manage our family services in 2005, and marks her 20th anniversary with us as Executive Director of Development.
Join us in congratulating Mel!
Melanie Field-Pimm first joined us on a placement in the 90s, came back to manage our family services in 2005, and marks her 20th anniversary with us as Executive Director of Development.
Join us in congratulating Mel!
October 1, 2025 at 9:57 PM
At our recent All Staff Meeting we celebrated some big staff milestones.
Melanie Field-Pimm first joined us on a placement in the 90s, came back to manage our family services in 2005, and marks her 20th anniversary with us as Executive Director of Development.
Join us in congratulating Mel!
Melanie Field-Pimm first joined us on a placement in the 90s, came back to manage our family services in 2005, and marks her 20th anniversary with us as Executive Director of Development.
Join us in congratulating Mel!
With an election looming and 'law and order' firmly on the agenda, it's more important than ever to get regular, reliable, trustworthy information. At our quarterly All Staff Meeting last month, we reflected on our 153 years of expertise in this space and looked ahead to a challenging year.
September 30, 2025 at 10:01 PM
With an election looming and 'law and order' firmly on the agenda, it's more important than ever to get regular, reliable, trustworthy information. At our quarterly All Staff Meeting last month, we reflected on our 153 years of expertise in this space and looked ahead to a challenging year.
Two ABC articles, one day apart. Two diametrically opposed approaches to crime prevention.
One works. The other just got three quarters of a billion dollars in funding.
If we want stronger, safer communities that can overcome the drivers of crime, we *must* invest in them instead.
One works. The other just got three quarters of a billion dollars in funding.
If we want stronger, safer communities that can overcome the drivers of crime, we *must* invest in them instead.
May 15, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Two ABC articles, one day apart. Two diametrically opposed approaches to crime prevention.
One works. The other just got three quarters of a billion dollars in funding.
If we want stronger, safer communities that can overcome the drivers of crime, we *must* invest in them instead.
One works. The other just got three quarters of a billion dollars in funding.
If we want stronger, safer communities that can overcome the drivers of crime, we *must* invest in them instead.
The VIC Government has announced plans to reverse its 2023 bail reforms.
This will hurt children, families, and communities. Harsh bail laws put thousands of people in prison who likely won’t be sentenced to a term of imprisonment and may not even be convicted of a crime.
Read our media release:
This will hurt children, families, and communities. Harsh bail laws put thousands of people in prison who likely won’t be sentenced to a term of imprisonment and may not even be convicted of a crime.
Read our media release:
March 13, 2025 at 2:34 AM
The VIC Government has announced plans to reverse its 2023 bail reforms.
This will hurt children, families, and communities. Harsh bail laws put thousands of people in prison who likely won’t be sentenced to a term of imprisonment and may not even be convicted of a crime.
Read our media release:
This will hurt children, families, and communities. Harsh bail laws put thousands of people in prison who likely won’t be sentenced to a term of imprisonment and may not even be convicted of a crime.
Read our media release:
BREAKING: We've just been told that the government's subsidy for phone calls from prison will come into effect from TOMORROW - 1 Feb 2025.
This is a huge win for our campaign and will change our participants' and their families' lives. But it's not over yet.
This is a huge win for our campaign and will change our participants' and their families' lives. But it's not over yet.
January 31, 2025 at 6:24 AM
BREAKING: We've just been told that the government's subsidy for phone calls from prison will come into effect from TOMORROW - 1 Feb 2025.
This is a huge win for our campaign and will change our participants' and their families' lives. But it's not over yet.
This is a huge win for our campaign and will change our participants' and their families' lives. But it's not over yet.