Thanks to The Chronicle for helping us highlight the important, yet devastating issue of elder abuse in our community.

Over the last six months (as of 9/07/2021), TASC has unfortunately seen a significant increase of people accessing our services due to elder abuse – from 2020, we have seen an increase of 66%.

CEO Frances Klaassen OAM said that due to the ongoing pandemic, older people are more exposed to abuse from those closest to them than ever before.

“Our older generation have become more reliant on family, friends and carers over the past 18 months, which has left them exposed to being taken advantage of in all forms of abuse,”

“Financial abuse often comes hand in hand with situations like: family agreements around properties or granny flats not being fulfilled, coercion and control over financial matters where the older person is clearly being disadvantaged or pressure on bill payments, leading to personal lending – just to name a few. Along with this, nationally there has been a spike in domestic violence cases during the pandemic.” Frances said.

Clients often feel like they are bystanders in their own lives and not being supported to make important decisions. At TASC we want to support people to stand up for themselves and to educate the community about the importance our older community members.

TASC is focused on working with government and other social services organisations and advocacy groups to expose and address this serious issue

TASC believes there are three key steps to ensuring our older community is protected from abuse – they are:

1. Keep an open line of communication, listening carefully and acting appropriately.
2. Helping the older person identify that what they are experiencing is elder abuse.
3. Respecting their boundaries and choice to either seek help or not.

Remember, TASC is here to help – so if you live in Toowoomba or Ipswich, you can call us on 07 4616 9700 for more information and guidance surrounding elder abuse.

If you or someone you know is experiencing elder abuse, call the Queensland Government’s Elder Abuse Helpline on 1300 651 192.

Click on this link to read The Chronicle article: https://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/toowoomba/local-expert-says-elder-abuse-is-up-by-more-than-60-per-cent/news-story/1cfd76af1f767f957ed264bac8b1de13

On National Sorry Day, we acknowledged and remembered the mistreatment of our First Nation’s Stolen Generations who were forcibly removed from their families and Country.

TASC staff attended USQ’s National Sorry Day Ceremony, where they joined together with other attendees to commemorate, have a yarn and enjoy the activities on offer.   

TASC’s Social Justice Advocate Aunty Sharron Jackson reflected on the strength of the Stolen Generations.

“I always reflect on the resilience of our Stolen Generations to pull through the unknown times of their destiny. Tragically, many have not been able to reconnect back to family and country further intensifying their intergenerational trauma.” Aunty Sharron said.

Aunty Kathleen Wincen, Solicitor also attended and reflected on her experiences of Sorry Day. 

“Over twenty years ago I was one of the more than 250,000 people that walked over the Sydney Harbour Bridge for Reconciliation. I stood with pride in my heart as a young Budjiti woman, that so many people were making a stand for a way forward for Australia as a nation. To heal the wrongs of the past and to make a difference to the future. It was a historical moment. One of the greatest things to come from this stand for me and my family was the apology to the Stolen Generation in 2008,” Aunty Kathleen said.

“On National Sorry Day, I got to feel that sense of wanting to make a difference again, when I visited the University of Southern Queensland with my work colleagues, as the University marked the occasions of National Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week in the courtyard of the Toowoomba’s campus. We’ve seen movements for change over the last twenty years, and at its heart, reconciliation is about strengthening relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous peoples, for the benefit of all Australians and this is what I witnessed today at the University of Southern Queensland.”

In May, we opened our doors to the public for an Open Day in Ipswich celebrating our newly relocated office as well as to launch TASC’s Volunteer Program. 

Attendees at the open day had a great time networking, socialising and getting to know what it would be like to volunteer in our Legal Services Team. 

Frances Klaassen OAM, TASC’s CEO said that it was a great way to bring together Law Week and our new volunteer program to display what we do and how volunteers can be involved.

“TASC is a unique community legal centre, in that volunteers can learn how to truly make a difference in a real-world setting. Thank you to everyone who attended!” Frances said.

We also began the week by celebrating a volunteer that had been with us for her student placement – Hollie MacDonald. Hollie is picture below left with Kym Allen, Social Justice Services Senior Practitioner. 

Looking to volunteer with TASC?

At TASC National, we want to give our volunteers a meaningful and worthwhile experience, from the moment you walk through the door, to the moment fly to your next adventure.

We see volunteering as an opportunity for our organisation to inspire, nurture, encourage and promote the amazing people in our community.

If you’re interested in volunteering at TASC, send us an email: [email protected] or visit www.tascnational.org.au.