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Tag: disability advocate

Tourette Syndrome Awareness Week

 

This week it’s Tourette Syndrome Awareness Week. Did you know that about 1% of our population experience Tourette’s?

But, what is Tourette Syndrome? Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a condition that causes involuntary motor/vocal tics. These include: repetitive movements, unwanted sounds (tics), speaking offensive language, etc. Diagnosed at the early stages of childhood, this syndrome is 3-4 times more common in boys than girls.

This year’s campaign focuses on ‘What’s your first response?’. Let’s work together to change the way Tourette syndrome is viewed by society to be more inclusive.

 

Senior Solicitor Allana Janke Celebrates 11 Years with TASC

Congratulations to our awesome Senior Solicitor Allana Janke, celebrating another work anniversary with us.

Allana joined TASC in 2012 and works primarily in the area of Family Law. In her role, Allana provides people in the Ipswich community with free legal advice about parenting matters, divorce and domestic violence and family violence. She is also on the roster as Domestic Violence Duty Lawyer in the Ipswich Magistrates Court; and provides advice through the Family Relationship Centre as part of its partnership with TASC in Ipswich.

Allana supervises a team of Solicitors across TASC’s network of offices in Ipswich, Toowoomba and Roma. She also represents TASC on groups including the Regional Legal Assistance Forum in Ipswich.

Allana has a Bachelor of Laws and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, both from Queensland University of Technology (QUT). In 2008 she was admitted to the Supreme Court of Queensland and to the High Court of Australia.

 

TASC meets rising demand for services

In 2021-22 TASC’s legal services helped with over 16% more problems than in the previous year, with the largest increases coming from people over 50.

This increase is being reflected in the number of people utilising TASC’s SLASS services. Additionally we saw increases in the proportion of indigenous Australians being helped by TASC (increasing to 11.1% from 9.4% the previous year ) and in the number of people experiencing homelessness (8% of people, up from 4.6% the previous year. Proportionally the number of people experiencing financial disadvantage was steady despite an overall increase in volume for 2021-22.

If you or somebody you know are looking for legal, justice or advocacy support but doesn’t have the resources to pay for it call TASC on 07 4616 9700 or visit www.tascnational.org.au to see how we can help you.

TASC Attends CLCA Conference

Our CEO, Frances Klaassen, and Legal Services Manager, David Manwaring attended the National Community Legal Centres Australia (CLCs) Conference in Hobart last week.

This conference is celebrating 50 years connecting Community Legal Centres in eight states and community legal sector peak bodies. The Conference’s theme for this year was “Reconnect and Reimagine” the justice landscape.

Frances and David took the opportunity to connect with colleagues in Community Legal Centres from across Australia attending presentations to explore creative new opportunities for integrated models of service delivery, cyber security risk management, building strong safe workplaces. They also discussed the how and why of the role of governance and leadership in creating a thriving workplace.

A  key take away was Bob Brown’s, Australian Politician founder of The Bob Brown Foundation, definition of the word justice as “everyone’s right to optimism. “ Hope is no good without  action – our job is to change reality.  Our community will come with us to do this if we give them the opportunity”. “Thank you Bob for reminding us that social change requires action and that is what we at TASC are here for”, Frances said.

Community impact the focus for TASC

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.

NDIS CALD summit informs stratgey

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.

Office on the run

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.

Widebay a focus for TASC advocacy

Last week saw TASC CEO, Frances Klaassen OAM and Social Justice Services Manager Gail Reardon travel to the Wide Bay region to catch up with our advocates and network with other organisations in the sector.

While in Gympie they also inspected possible office spaces for TASC’s Social Justice advocate for the area, Alicia Hawkins.

Stopping by TASC’s Bundaberg office also gave them the opportunity for an in person catch up with Nakayla Murnane who joined the TASC team in December.

Frances and Gail also stopped in at Hervey Bay to connect with other people in the community sector.

The Wide Bay region is an important and growing part of TASC’s Social Justice Advocacy network.

TASC’s disability advocacy and social justice service is free and helps people in parts of regional southern Queensland stand up for their human rights.  If you need advocacy help, contact TASC on 07 4616 9700 or visit tascnational.org.au.

TASC Advocate attends the QLD Independent Disability Advocacy Network (QIDAN)

David Boden, TASC Social Justice Advocate, participated at the last Queensland Independent Disability Advocacy Network (QIDAN) two-day meeting to discuss future plans and goals for disability advocacy in our State.

TASC Legal and Social Justice Services is proud to be part of QIDAN, a network of non-for-profit organisations that provides state funded disability advocacy in Queensland.

If you are a person with a disability, or know somebody who is living with a disability, and are looking for advocacy support, then call TASC on 07 4616 9700 or visit www.tascnational.org.au find out more.

2023 the Year of Accessible Tourism

The Queensland Government has declared 2023 the Year of Accessible Tourism to make sure our state is a destination for everyone, including people of all abilities and to change the perception of what it means to be an accessible tourism business.

One of these initiatives is a new accessible tourism online toolkit delivered by Get Skilled Access and TravAbility on behalf of the Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport and now available on the DTIS website for tourism operators to help the industry welcome travellers of all abilities to participate in Queensland’s incredible tourism experiences.

Our TASC Team welcome this and other initiatives that allow people of all abilities to enjoy the same experiences as everyone else. Whether you are seeking more accessibility or are a tourism business embracing accessibility, find out more about what the Year of Accessible Tourism means for you – https://bit.ly/3iQvQ4w

And, if you are a person with a disability, or know somebody who is living with a disability, and are looking for advocacy support, then call TASC on 07 4616 9700 or visit www.tascnational.org.au find out more.

Image credits: Queensland Government

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