History
TASC History
TASC (formerly the Toowoomba Community Legal Service) was founded in 1982 as a small legal service for disadvantaged people. Today TASC is nationally known for its innovative delivery of legal, advocacy and community development services across the whole south-west of the state and most recently, into Ipswich and West Moreton. In particular, TASC's holistic provision of disability, tenant advocacy, a full suite of legal services, as well as our robust commitment to community development has seen TASC considered by many, including the Queensland Government, other not for profits and academics as the model for the future.
TASC has also led the State in the use of technology. As technology has advanced throughout the years - so has the service delivery TASC can provide clients in remote and regional southwest Queensland. We use state of the art video-conferencing technology to stay in contact with our clients and the many services that work in the west. Our technology is supported by regular trips to the region by our full compliment of TASC services. Coinciding with the use of this technology, TASC in keeping with its contemporary focus, is rapidly developing a strong WEB 2.0 focus, utilising this new technology as a means of bridging across the chasm to a new generation of disadvantaged Queenslanders. Our commitment in this respect will soon become overtly apparent with the pending launch of a new web-based service, that proudly is not reliant upon government funding, but rather the passion of the people who work within this organisation to make a difference.
TASC has a strong background of working collaboratively with other local organisations, often joining forces with community organisations and government departments to improve our service delivery. In Warwick our disability advocacy service is based in the Disability Services Queensland (DSQ) office, assisting clients by having access to advocacy services at the same location. In 2008, TASC as lead agent, in association with the QLD Department of Communities spearheaded one of the first Multi-Tenant Service Centres, bringing together diverse community organisations into one location to broaden the collective client reach of respectives services.
TASC is pioneering the way community legal services can become more accessible to clients, opening the Ipswich Community Legal Service within the Ipswich Courthouse, in the very troubled heartland where disadvantaged people so desperately need intervention.
TASC recently launched the TICA Pack, a now widely utilised resource that seeks to empower people listed on Tenancy blacklists to have their names removed and thus, restore their individual entitlement to rental properties in Queensland.
In 2008, in association with QUT Law School, TASC launched the Queensland Criminal Justice Centre (QCJC). The QCJC is Australia's first web-based resource to assist lawyers and other professionals in learning the complexities of effectively representing vulnerable people in our criminal courts. It showcases why TASC has become Australia's leading authority on effective legal representation of disabled people. The QCJC recently appointed retired Supreme Court judge Ken Mackenzie as its consultant. Later this year, TASC is looking forward to consulting with the Department of Justice & Attorney General and Disability Services on the instigation of innovative strategies to further minimise the contact of disabled Queenslanders within the criminal justice system.
As you can see, TASC has continued to evolve and innovate, allowing ourselves to provide a truly holistic approach to client service delivery. The future will see TASC continue to grow in accordance with our growth strategy and commitment to provide tomorrow's services to today's disadvantaged Queenslanders.
