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Tag: Toowoomba

Communication the key for senior’s legal and support team

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

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 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.

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.

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

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

SCAM ALERT

If you receive a call from a number you are not familiar with do NOT provide the person on the phone with any PERSONAL INFORMATION including your social security number, bank information, etc. Sometimes the callers will make it sound like they already have all of this information or like they know you, but you still do NOT want to confirm anything with them. If you are unsure, tell them you will call them back and call a family member, friend or the police department to ask what you should do.

If you live in or around Toowoomba, Ipswich or Western Downs we 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.

Back to School Privacy

So long holidays, hello back to school. The academic year kicks off next week.

Posting a photo on the first day of school is a tradition for many Queensland families, but it may be putting kids at risk. Queensland Police are warning families sharing photos on social media can give away sensitive information. A single photo can enable predators to discover personal information like names and locations, putting children at risk.

They are also asking drivers to slow it down in school zones and keep an eye out for more cyclists and pedestrians.

Have a great and safe start to your school year, everyone!

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