TASC National
Donate Today

Author: Liam Anderson

TASC meets up with Toowoomba Seniors

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.

Images courtesy of Phil Hargreaves www.philhargreaves.com.au

NDIA looking for feedback on NDIS CALD strategy

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:

The NDIS website

The sessions are being held:

Tuesday, 7th February 2023

10.00 am – 11.00 am (AEDT)

Wednesday, 8th February 2023

14.00 pm – 15.00 pm (AEDT)

Thursday, 9th February 2023

20.00 pm – 21.00 pm (AEDT)

Where:

MS Teams (Online)

RSVP:

If you would like to attend any of the sessions, please register at: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/ndis-cultural-and-linguistic-diversity-cald-strategy-information-session-tickets-495858755887

More information is available on this flyer

TASC joins the OPAN (Older Persons Advocacy Network) calling for supported decision-making to be embedded across aged care

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.

TASC Annual Report for 2021-22 released

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.

Are you living with disability and identify as being cultural and linguistically diverse?

Calling all people living with a disability and identify as being cultural and linguistically diverse (CALD).

NDIS is offering some paid feedback opportunities at their Participant First focus groups. For more information go to https://ndis.gov.au/…/participant-first-help-improve-ndis

And if you have any concerns about how you, your family or an individual is being treated, and live in Toowoomba, Ipswich and rural and regional areas in South West Queensland, our Disability Advocate team can help you with problems or issues with the services you currently use, with the aim of making sure these meet your needs.

Go to https://www.tascnational.org.au/serv…/disability-advocacy/ to find out more.

TASC’s mental health week activity wrap

TASC’s Mental Health Week activities kicked off on Tuesday with our Toowoomba event near the Art Gallery in Little St. With one in six Australians currently experiencing depression or anxiety or both according to Beyond Blue, it was a reminding for us to check in on and be kind to ourselves and those around us.

People visiting us there had the opportunity to hear about and experience well-being activities and ideas with mindfulness and yoga sessions. Thank you to Alan Martin for the wonderful meditation session.

Did you know TASC offers a Mental Health Advocacy Service? If you or someone you know experiences mental health challenges and needs advocacy assistance please contact TASC on (07) 4616 9700 or visit tascnational.org.au for more information.

Come talk with TASC this Senior’s Month

This month is Seniors Month. TASC helps seniors with legal and advocacy services and will be attending both the Ipswich and Toowoomba Senior’s Expos again this year. We’d love it if you stop by for a chat!

TASC announced as Redress Scheme Support Service

TASC National, a community legal, advocacy and social justice organisation which services Toowoomba, the Darling Downs and Maranoa has been announced as the Redress Support Service for people in the region seeking support to engage with the National Redress Scheme (the Scheme).


Redress Support Services offer free, confidential, practical and emotional support to people applying, or considering applying to the Scheme.


The Scheme is in response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, which estimated over 60,000 people in Australia have experienced such abuse.


TASC CEO, Frances Klaassen OAM said while the Scheme began on 1 July 2018, the recent announcement of TASC as a support service means engaging with the Scheme is now more accessible to the local community.


“The National Redress Scheme is an important step in gaining recognition, acknowledgement, support and healing for people who have experienced institutional child sexual abuse and in holding institutions accountable,” she said.


The Scheme can provide access to counselling, a Redress payment, and the option to receive a direct personal response, such as an apology, from the responsible institution.


Delving into deeply personal and emotionally sensitive issues can be confronting. TASC understands this and has a focus on meeting each individual applicant’s need around how they can be best supported through their application process.


“Through our work in the community we understand accessing schemes like Redress is often difficult both from an emotional perspective as well as having to navigate complex systems,” she said.


“Using a person-centred approach for clients engaging with the Redress Scheme, our case workers will be there to provide support, information and advice based on a person’s circumstances so they’re able to make informed choices about which areas of Redress to pursue.”


“Clients can also choose whether to pause or progress their application at any stage,” she said.


Ms Klaassen said the scope of institutional child sexual abuse uncovered by the Royal Commission means people engaging with the Scheme will come from a wide cross section of the community.


“If you believe you’re eligible or know someone who might be eligible for redress but are unsure I would encourage you to talk with us or to visit our website to find out more information.”


For more information about the Scheme, eligibility and support services visit tascnational.org.au/redress or nationalredress.gov.au .

TASC scoops up Silver Award for reporting

Transparency and clarity represent core aims for most businesses and organisations.  For organisations in the Not for Profit space and which rely on government funding it is vital.

TASC  is no exception and earlier last month (July 2022)  was rewarded for walking the talk on transparency and clarity in their corporate communications with a Silver award at the Australasian Reporting Awards (ARA) for their 2020/21 Annual Report.

Other organisations to receive a Silver award in 2022 included: CSIRO, DFAT, Mission Australia and Australian Red Cross Society among others.  To be included with so many high profile and large organisation puts in context the level TASC’s achievement.

What are the ARA?

The ARA have been operating for over 70 years and were introduced to improve the quality of annual reporting in Australia and raise awareness of the purposes of organisations and their achievements.  The awards have been expanded and are open to organisations in the Asia Pacific region and beyond.   More information is available at About the Australasian Reporting Awards — Australasian Reporting Awards (arawards.com.au)

How are they judged?

According to the ARA:

“Reporting, the annual report especially, is an essential mechanism of accountability, a vital element in the governance process….  Good reporting requires an open willing attitude, attention to detail and accuracy, a sensitivity and responsiveness to stakeholders, a willingness to put in the effort to communicate effectively and a commitment to achieving and improving upon standards.”

Reports are assessed on six criteria:

  • Overview of the organisation, its context and objectives
  • Review of operations or activities with a focus on progress towards achieving objectives
  • Coverage of the organisation’s governance approach and its effectiveness
  • Coverage of the organisation’s human resources management approach and effectiveness
  • Details and analysis of financial performance and financial statements
  • Presentation and navigation

Congratulations to everyone at TASC who contributed to the Annual report. Pictured are current Marketing and Communications Coordinator Naish Nand with former colleague and report editor Amy Clark with a copy of the annual report.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children dreams

On 4 August, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day, all Australians have the opportunity to show our support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, as well as learning about the crucial impact that culture, family and community play in the life of every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child.

This year’s theme ‘My Dreaming, My Future’ refers to the fact that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are born into stories of their family, culture, and country. They carry with them the song lines of their ancestors and culture, passed down by generations. Their Dreaming is part of our history, while their futures are their own to shape. 

TASC is funded by the Queensland Government to deliver legal advice to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families living in or around Toowoomba or Ipswich. To access this service simply visit https://www.tascnational.org.au/services/ or call 07 4616 9700 for a confidential discussion with one of our legal team.

#NATSIChildrensDay2022

#TASCnational

Skip to content