FestABLE is an annual event designed, managed and rolled out by people living with disability for people living with disability.

TASC’s dedicated disability advocates were on hand at our stand to connect with the community and let people know about how our disability and mental health advocacy services can help them navigate the systems they rely on and services which impact them.

It was a privilege to be part of FestABLE 2023,  a fun, inclusive and community driven event.

#FestABLEHerveyBay #InclusionMatters #TASCAdvocates

Yesterday TASC CEO, Frances Klaassen OAM was at the QLD Council of Social Services town hall meeting in Toowomba where she caught up with QCOSS CEO Aimee McVeigh.

The town hall was a chance for community  and social service organisations to discuss existing and emerging issues facing the Toowoomba and South West QLD communities.

The housing crisis was a key topic of conversation.  Apart from the immediate impact it’s having on vulnerable people across the country in terms of a place to live and feel secure, a key take away was the opportunities for employment and community growth which are being lost due to lack of housing impacting people’s ability to relocate.

Other emerging issues discussed included funding inconsistencies and gaps in rural and regional areas and the difficulties faced by the Community Sector in finding workers for those communities.  Possible solutions to help overcome these challenges were also discussed and include suggestions such as programs to upskill local people in rural and remote areas.

These events are fantastic opportunities to connect with others in the sector and see if their experiences reflect our own and foster cooperation across the Community Sector.

In these five years, David has spearheaded impactful initiatives, engaged with communities, and collaborated with organisations that share his passion for social justice. His ability to inspire others and build powerful coalitions has been instrumental in creating lasting change that touches many lives.

NAIDOC Week celebrations are kicking off next week across the region with the theme of For our Elders.

For a chance to win this lovely gift basket with items from local business Red Sand Sisters and artwork from some talented community members at Sunrise Way, we’d love to see you at the Toowoomba Community Fun Day on Monday at the Goods Shed on Victoria Street from 10am.

Just pop into the TASC stand for a chat and free raffle ticket.

For the most up-to-date information on the Toowoomba Region’s NAIDOC celebrations check out the Toowoomba NAIDOC 2023 Facebook page.

If you’re in Ipswich, TASC will be at the Ipswich NAIDOC Family and Cultural Celebration on Thursday 6 July at the Briggs Road Sporting Complex from 10am – we’d love to see you there too. We’re also running a free raffle at the Ipswich celebration.  For a chance to go in the draw for a $100 gift card or one of four $25 gift cards, come to our stand for a chat to get your free ticket.

Both the raffles will be drawn on the day towards the end of the events.

🎉 Big News! 🥈🏆

We’re thrilled to announce that TASC National has won SILVER at the prestigious Australasian Reporting Awards! 🌟✨ It’s a tremendous achievement for our organization, and we couldn’t be prouder of our team.

This recognition is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and expertise of every member at TASC National. We’re incredibly grateful for their unwavering commitment to delivering outstanding reports that make a real impact.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Australasian Reporting Awards committee for this honour. It’s truly humbling to be acknowledged among the top performers in the industry.

We also want to express our gratitude to our clients and partners for their continued trust and support. You are instrumental in our success, and we value the strong relationships we have built along the way.

This silver award is a reminder of our commitment to excellence and motivates us to push the boundaries even further. We will continue to raise the bar, innovate, and strive for greater achievements in our reporting endeavours.

Congratulations to all the winners and nominees at the Australasian Reporting Awards. Let’s celebrate our collective accomplishments and continue making a positive impact in the reporting world.

#AustralasianReportingAwards #SilverWinner #Proud #TASCNational

TASC Legal and Social Justice Services is collaborating with the University of Southern Queensland’s School of Law and Justice to offer volunteering opportunities to students and alumni.

Drawing on our long-standing relationship, TASC staff and Founding TASC Member, Mark Orchard, joined together with Associate Professor of Law Caroline Hart, to discuss what a community legal centre does, as well as details about our volunteer program.

CEO Frances Klaassen OAM, said the webinar was a fantastic way to collaborate with USQ and spread the message of volunteering at TASC.

“We’d like to thank USQ for the opportunity to collaborate with their School of Law and Justice to help students and alumni find volunteer or career pathways at TASC and beyond,” Ms Klaassen said.

“With our dynamic host, Professor Caroline Hart, I really enjoyed shining a light on volunteers, as well as our growing organisation – we can’t wait to welcome USQ students and alumni into the TASC family.”

Did you miss the webinar and would like to know more?

You can view the recording of the webinar here: https://cloudstor.aarnet.edu.au/plus/s/dW5mY6ETMLWCKde

Please use password: kUc6L^s#HQWs

There are many types of legal volunteers that we can support, these being PLT Program Students, Lawyers/Solicitors or Barristers, and law students. The main legal volunteers are looking for currently are:

• Lawyers in practice, to assist clients on a pro-bono basis (specifically in areas of law that may be outside of our current scope).
• Evening Legal Advice Solicitors (clients often come to us with legal matters surrounding family law, but again often can be something that sits outside of our scope)
• Legal Intake and Referral Officers (the first point of contact for clients when they access our services).

In line with government requirements, all volunteers need to have a current Blue Card (NB: solicitors may be exempt) and Disability Worker Screening Card. If you don’t already have these documents, TASC’s online volunteer portal will help guide you to complete the application process.

Does this sound like you? Click here to apply to be a volunteer at TASC!

The TASC Team were excited to attend the Senior’s Expo this year in October, organised by the Garden City Toowoomba branch of National Seniors Australia.

TASC’s Senior’s Legal and Support Service (SLASS), dynamic duo Kim Raine and Kym Allen commended the event, with over one hundred and five other display sites joining TASC at USQ’s Clive Berghofer Recreation Centre.

Our team were able to speak to over 150 seniors and retirees on the day, to spread the word that social work delivers free legal advice, information and support to people in Toowoomba and Ipswich (and surrounding areas).

TASC can assist in many ways – especially if someone they trust is hurting them or taking advantage of them financially.

We may be able to help with:

• Legal advice and information
• Social work support
• Short-term counselling
• Advocacy
• Referrals to other services
• Community education on elder abuse.

During the pandemic TASC has also seen a rise in elder abuse and the Seniors Expo was a chance to spread the message that elder abuse is never ok.

Remember, elder abuse can manifest in many different ways – financial, emotional and neglect. If you’re worried about a family member or if you feel you may need some support, call our friendly team on (07) 4616 9700.

This service is available to anyone aged over 60 years and First Nation’s people aged 50 years and over – however please call us to check your eligibility.