🌈💜 Today is Wear It Purple Day, and at TASC we stand in solidarity with our LGBTQIA+ youth and community, highlighting the intrinsic human rights everyone deserves.
At TASC we believe in a world where everyone can proudly express who they are, free from discrimination. Celebrating diversity goes hand in hand with promoting well-being, and challenging any form of injustice. By wearing purple, we’re not just adding a splash of colour for the day; we’re demonstrating our commitment to equality, dignity, and a life free from prejudice.
Remember, you are valued, your rights are recognised, and your well-being is paramount.
Together, let’s champion a brighter, inclusive future for all. 💜🌈
Collaboration, communication and supportive peers are the key for TASC’s talented and dedicated solicitors and social workers from our Seniors Legal and Support Service (affectionately known as SLASS internally because we all love an acronym)… Cake helps too 😊 .
Earlier this year the service was expanded to include access for seniors living in the Ipswich hinterland who may be facing, or at risk of elder abuse, which can take many forms including emotional, psychological, financial, physical abuse and neglect.
Our Seniors Legal and Support Service team work with older people to address instances of elder abuse and can provide strategies to help avoid it.
The service is free of charge for people aged over 60 (or over 50 for Frist Nations people) and is available to people living in Toowoomba, Ipswich and the Ipswich hinterland. To find out more please visit www.tascnational.org.au/seniors
TASC are excited to introduce our Roma Solicitor Natalie Alexander. Natalie is available for appointments via telephone or in person, operating from the Roma Neighbourhood Centre situated on the corner of Bowen Street and Hawthorne Street, Roma.
Natalie will be available for in-person appointments one week per fortnight, with phone appointments available the following week.
To make a booking please contact our Legal Intake Team on 4616 9700 or visit our website tascnational.org.au/legal to find out more.
Natalie is admitted as a Solicitor in the Supreme Court of Queensland and the High Court of Australia. Natalie holds a GradDipLP, LLB, DipPolicingPrac, DipLeadershipMgt, DipBusAdmin, DipComServ, and is currently studying to obtain her national accreditation as a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner. Committed to social justice and helping those disadvantaged, Natalie has an extreme passion for helping clients through their Family Law and Domestic Violence matters.
An experienced Social Justice Advocate, possessing strong advocacy skills to assist her clients navigating through their legal issues, she ensures the best outcome for her clients.
In 2013, Natalie was successfully awarded a National Police Medal for her dedication and commitment to policing and for her 10-year service, in the New South Wales Police Force.
Outside of work she enjoys keeping fit and spending time with her friends and family.
TASC’s Social Justice team had the chance to discuss the impact their programs are having in Southern Queensland communities earlier this week when senior members of QLD’s Department of Seniors, Disability Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships visited our Toowoomba office.
Deputy Director General, Max Wise and Director of Specialist Programs Lauren McFarlane were given an overview of our services, with an emphasis on TASC’s disability advocacy and Seniors Legal and Support Services (SLASS).
TASC’s SLASS service exists to help older people who are at risk of or experiencing elder abuse – which it’s estimated affects almost 1 in 6 Australians aged over 65.
Each year our disability advocacy services help hundreds of people living with a disability to enforce and maintain their human rights.
Pictured are Max Wise and Kym Allen with (seated) Lauren McFarlane, Frances Klaassen and Gail Reardon.
TASC receives funding from the QLD Government to provide legal services and disability advocacy to communities in parts of Queensland. Please visit tascnational.org.au for more information about our advocacy and legal services.
TASC CEO Frances Klaassen OAM caught up with Chair and Managing Director at Cultural Perspectives Group, Pino Migliorino AM GAICD FPRIA in Melbourne today.
Pino was today’s facilitator at the NDIS Cultural and Linguistic Diversity Strategy Summit being held in Melbourne today.
At the summit they discussed, reflected on and refined objectives and actions with attendees from across Australia. It was also a chance to identify and gaps or areas which need refining.
The summit was a fantastic opportunity for organizations across the sector to come together and give feedback and insights to inform the 2023-27 NDIS CALD strategy.
TASC CEO Frances Klaassen caught up on her to do list at Sydney airport this week before her flight to Melbourne for a summit on NDIS Cultural and linguistic diversity strategy.
Frances and Social Justice Manager Gail Reardon were in Sydney for a separate NDIS and Mental Health conference.
Attending these events gives TASC access and input into what’s happening in the disability and mental health advocacy space, including best practices, common challenges and how to overcome them.
TASC provides free mental health and disability advocacy services across South West Queensland and into the Burnett and Wide Bay.
Last week TASC’s Seniors Legal and Support Service (SLASS) attended a senior’s expo at Clifford Park in Toowoomba. The event, organized by the State Government aimed to connect local seniors with some of the support providers and programs which are in place to help them stay safe, healthy and connected in the community.
Over 190 Toowoomba seniors attended the morning event which was emceed by State member for Toowoomba North, Trevor Watts.
Representing TASC were Paula and Narelle who took the opportunity to talk face to face about how TASC’s SLASS program can help them secure their safety and well-being.
TASC’s seniors service is available to anyone over the age of 60, or 50 for First Nations people, and helps older people who may be at risk of, or experiencing elder abuse.
If you are live with or represent someone who lives with a disability and is culturally and linguistically diverse the NDIA would like to hear from you about how they can improve the NDIS.
A set of information sessions will explain the project and what they have learned so far, before opening up for people to have their say about the NDIS.
To find out more about the project in a range of languages and formats please visit:
As people age, the autonomy and independence they enjoyed earlier in their lives is often denied by the negative, ageist attitudes of those who believe older women and men are unable to make their own decisions, or disregard those choices when they do. It prevents older people from making important decisions about their finances, employment, living arrangements, family life and participation in community life. This situation has been detected throughout societies – from governments and local authorities, to local leaders and family members
Everyone should have the opportunity to make decisions about the care and services they receive and the risks they are willing to take.– especially our senior populations. While aging can sometimes make independent living difficult, small supports, such as home wellness solutions and home-delivered meals, can help seniors maintain independence in their own homes.
Loss of independence can be discouraging to older adults. They have spent their entire lives living independently, working jobs, raising families, and making decisions. The natural effects of aging can sometimes make independent living harder than it once was. Difficulties with mobility, behavioural health conditions such as isolation and loneliness, and financial strains are just some of the contributors to a loss of independence in aging adults.
While we cannot avoid some barriers to independence, we can take the time to understand the importance of independence in seniors and look for ways to increase opportunities for independent living. Some of the benefits of older people making decisions about the care and services they receive and the risks they are willing to take are: feeling like an individual, maintaining balance and strength, it gives them sense of purpose, it aids with memory skill, it gives them sense of control and it helps them to develop positive relationships.
If you or somebody you know is experiencing elder abuse, and live in or around Toowoomba our Seniors Legal and Support Service (SLASS) may be able to help you with you with free legal advice and information or referrals or other services near you. Call 07 4616 9700 or go to HERE to find out more.
Have you ever wondered what a community legal and social justice centre does and how they help the communities they work in?
TASC’s 2021-22 Annual Report has just been released and provides a more in depth look at what we do and how we have helped the communities we live and work in by standing up for everyone’s human rights both for individuals and at the wider level with our systemic advocacy and law reform submissions.
If you would like to find out more about TASC and our achievements and challenges from last year, the report is available here.
