Association History

The Society of Rehabilitation Counsellors (SORC) was founded in NSW on the campus of the Cumberland College of Health Sciences, Glebe by students of the Associate Diploma in Rehabilitation Counselling who completed their first years in 1974 and 1975. These two groups were banded together to do second year in 1976 and in that year formed SORC.

ASORC ® was historically set up with individual Incorporated Associations in each State, with a ‘National’ body and a body to look after the ASORC ® Journal. Each State was fully responsible for their own members including complying with local authorities on the running of their organisation.

In July 2000 the Society was incorporated in the State of NSW as the Australian Society of Rehabilitation Counsellors Inc.

In 2004 the States voted to merge all States into one body and wind up the existing State bodies.

From 1976 to 1990 a number of people held the role of President either in the original SORC, which began in NSW, or in subsequent State branches of SORC. Included in that list are Mary Hawkins, Susan Kable, Maurine Edwards, Malcolm Ross, Peter Harris, Judith Laurie, Therese Rein, Josephine Dowsett, Bronte Earl, Peter Scott and Stephen Pearce.

If any names have been ommitted from this list, ASORC ® would be only too happy to recognise the significant contribution those individuals made to the advancement of this professional association.

Past Presidents Honour Roll

1991 Fran Feldman

1992 Fran Feldman

1993 Fran Feldman

1994 Trevor Hawkins

1995 Michael Reardon

1996 Mike Hancock

1997 Trevor Hawkins

1998 Trevor Hawkins

1999 Mike Hancock

2000 Pearl Donaldson

2001 Pearl Donaldson

2002 Jos Rennie

2003 Angela Ilic

2004 Angela Ilic

2005 Angela Ilic

2006 Angela Ilic

2007 Michael Iacovino

2008 Michael Iacovino - to current