OARS Offenders Aid And Rehabilitation Services Of S.A. Inc.

Welcome to OARS S.A., Australia's most innovative non-government Crime Prevention Agency based in Adelaide South Australia. This web site is designed to inform and educate you about OARS S.A., its objectives, policies and services, and about broader criminal justice issues. You can browse around extensive resources on crime and justice on this site, download documents and go to our criminal justice links page.

If your interest is more personal, and require help our contact details are below and you may wish to phone or email us about your needs. If you would like to be a part of the services team and help as a volunteer, or assist us financially, please contact us and we would be more than happy to assist. OARS SA volunteer statement is also on this site. Most importantly become a part of of our vision to strengthen communities by reducing crime and its impact.

Strengthening communities by reducing crime and its impact.

We are a non government community organisation that values our clients and their diversity. We are dedicated to the provision of excellent services for people involved in, affected by, or at risk of being drawn into the criminal justice system.

4/6/2009 The State Government has today cancelled the PPP for new prison infrastructure in South Australia. This is a retrograde step and can only lead to more disenfranchised offenders and increased crime.

11/3/2009 OARS SA has been awarded a place on the DEEWR Innovations Panel to deliver Innovative Employment Services for our clients. This is great news and we are currently preparing several funding submissions to ensure better employment outcomes. Watch this space. We are eagerly awaiting the outcome of our Tender for Employment Services.

1/3/2009 OARS SA welcomes the Hon Tom Koutsantonis MP to the Correctional Services portfolio as Minister for Correctional Services. The Minister has announced the expansion of current Correctional facilities to ensure a better quality service to prisoners, and in our view this will reduce the overcrowding currently evident in our prisons significantly.

9/11/2008 OARS SA Patron, His Excellency Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce, AC CSC RANR, Governor of South Australia, officially opened our new OARS office at Murray Bridge. The event went very smoothly and the Governor was warm and generous in his praise of our work. The Murray Bridge Branch and the OARS SA staff and volunteer workers at Murray Bridge were also congratulated by OARS SA CEO Leigh Garrett for their outstanding work and commitment to services in the region. The organisation of the event was flawless. The Murray Bridge Branch members put on a fantastic afternoon tea and a great time was had by all. The Governor is very interested in our work and his understanding of, and empathy with, the issues and problems we face working alongside the criminal justice system was very encouraging to all in attendance. The opening was supported by the presence of the Deputy Mayor of the Rural Council of Murray Bridge, Phil Nutt, and CEO David Altmann, colleagues and stakeholders from the local community, and most importantly, OARS SA staff and local Branch volunteers.

View The Annual Report Commentary by the CEO of OARS SA at the recent AGM.

Download the article published in the Advertiser today about over-use of incarceration