PARSO birth and growth: A background to the development as work of the Professional Association of Road Safety Officers (PARSO) in New South Wales Inc.

Until recently, PARSO members talked of the Association as being in its infancy. After more than six years of operation, we now feel we have moved on to another stage of development. This is reflected in the success of the recent PARSO Community Road Safety Summit. The Summit was the highlight in what has been, at times, an arduous journey. The need for a professional body to represent Road Safety Officers (RSOs) was initially identified in September 1997. Discussion about how this might come about began and, in May 1998 a working group for the founding of a Professional Association of RSOs in NSW was established. Draft objectives, benefits and outcomes were produced to be canvassed with RSOs across the State.