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NEWSLETTER
Employee Neletter
Issue 6
June 2015
Tasmanian Elder Abuse Helpline – Update
Monday June 15 was World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, a day to promote respect and dignity for
older people, and a day to wear purple the internationally recognised colour for raising awareness
of elder abuse. The exteriors of Parliament House Hobart, Launceston Town Hall and Makers
Workshop in Burnie were spectacularly bathed in purple lighting from Monday 15 June until Friday
19th June to mark support for this international day. Advocacy Tasmania Inc. (ATI) staff participated
in a half-hour awareness walk in Hobart from Parliament House lawns and in Burnie from the Makers
Workshop. Following the lighting up of Parliament House in purple, people were able to attend an
event hosted and attended by Madam Speaker, the Hon Elise Archer MP, in the Long Room at
Parliament House. Other speakers included Minister Jacquie Petrusma, Sue Leitch from COTA and
ATI CEO, Ken Hardaker see photo on right.
Inside This Issue
1
Elder Abuse Awareness Day
2
EXPOS
3
Welcome New Staff
4
Consumer Engagement
4
Notice: Gearing Up Expos
4
About Us
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June 2015
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Lifestyle & Home Support
Uniting Age Well was again funded by Department of Social Services to facilitate an expo which was held
over two days, Friday 20th & Saturday 21st March. The new Governor of Tasmania Professor the Honourable
Kate Warner opened the proceedings. Darren Mathewson Aged Care Service Tasmania CEO and Anthony
Speed, State Manager Department of Social Services spoke about the future in community care and in
particular consumer directed care, as well as a range of other issues.
On 26th March Huonville Rural Health An expo was held by Huonville Rural Health on 26th March. Around 450
people attended the Expo and ATI staff spoke to many of the attendees
Connect with the Community
On the 20th April Lynne Milliss, our Information, Promotion and Education Co-ordinator, attended the
Connect with the Community information day held by the West Coast Council at Strahan. The session
aimed to inform the West Coast community of the services provided to all locals by both visiting and local
Service Providers. It was great to talk with the members of the community who attended and meet the
service providers that had come from Burnie and Devonport.(See photo below on right)
Mental Health Expo
On May 20th Ruth Rowlands, our Mental Health/ATOD Advocate, attended the – Mental Health Expo held at
the Ulverstone Surf Club. The Expo was organised by Flourish and Partners in Recovery. The expo offered a
space for any service or community group such as Spencer Clinic, Anglicare, Mii Fellowship, PHAMS
(Personal Helpers & Mentors) to display brochures and provide information about their services to
Community Houses, support groups and other services. The Expo was also open to the general public as
well as TAFE and university students.
Elder Abuse
Roslyn Wallace our Older Persons Advocate, (see photo below on left), spoke at the public workshop
entitled Taking Control: Legal Matters and Ageing at the Launceston Town Hall; Chrissy Jamieson our Elder
Abuse Co-ordinator spoke at the Hobart event. Each workshop was designed to offer information about
Powers of Attorney, Enduring Guardianships, Advance Care Directives and general information and advice
on recognising and preventing elder abuse.
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June 2015
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Meet Adela, Carolyn
and Mark
Adela Sakul – Disability Advocate
Adela has joined our Disability Team in the Hobart
office. She has worked for the last three years in
the disability employment sector, working with
employers, people with disabilities and
government departments. She has also worked for
several community organisations.
Adela has a Bachelor of Arts (Social Ecology) and
has completed a Graduate Certificate in Human
Services Practice this year. Adela looks forward to
the amazing opportunity to advocate for her
clients.
Follow us on…
Carolyn Youle – Older Persons
Advocate
Carolyn joined ATI as an Advocate in the
Older Persons Program in Hobart in February
2015. She has previously worked as a lawyer
with many years of experience in human
services departments and statutory bodies of
the Queensland Government, including the
Health Quality and Complaints Commission,
the Department of Child Safety, the
Commission for Children and Young People
and Child Guardian and the Department of
Corrective Services. Carolyn moved to Hobart
from Brisbane 4 years ago and completed
Honours in Psychology at the University of
Tasmania in 2014.
Mark Locke – Mental Health ATOD
Advocate
Mark grew up in rural Queensland. He has worked
within several industries including the cattle and
building industries before studying at the University
of Southern Queensland where he graduated with a
Bachelor of Human Services with a Major in
Counselling and Psychotherapy. Mark has
experience working within several NGOs, within
several different programs including family support
programs, child protection/early intervention,
domestic violence, and post separation/coparenting support.
ATI Newsletter
Interested in
becoming a
member of ATI?
Go to our website:
www.advocacytas
mania.org.au or
phone 6224 2240
for more
information.
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June 2015
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Consumer Engagement
It’s been a busy 6 months for ATI’s Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug (ATOD) Consumer Engagement
Program and Consumer Reference Group (CRG).
The Consumer Engagement Program has developed a new Service Development Plan for 2015 to 2016 with
three main priorities:



Consumer Capacity Building
Increasing Meaningful Input of People who use drugs into the Tasmanian ATOD sector
Sharing the Vision of Consumer Engagement
The Consumer Reference Group (CRG) has expanded to include members from The Northern and North
Western regions of the state, giving the program diverse representation. CRG members have been
participating in the delivery and design of Consumer Engagement Information,
Promotion and Education sessions; the sessions have been delivered to ATOD services and consumer groups
throughout the state.
A brochure has recently been developed which will soon be distributed along with an information sheet
and referral form for consumers interested in working with the Consumer Engagement Program or
volunteering with the Consumer Reference Group.
Watch out for:
GEARING UP EXPOS – SEPTEMBER 2015
This year’s Expos in Hobart, Launceston and Burnie are Gearing Up to be the best yet! With
the ongoing roll-out of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in Tasmania the
expos will play an important role in providing individuals with disability and their families
with a comprehensive overview of the services and support available in their local
community. The expos aim to give people an opportunity to speak directly to services.
 2nd September
 9th September
 16th September
- Princes Wharf 11am – 6 pm
- Launceston at Tailrace Centre Riverside 11am – 6pm
- Burnie Arts & Function Centre 11 am – 4 pm
About Us
ATI is an independent, non-profit organisation, working to improve the lives of vulnerable or
disadvantaged Tasmanians. We provide free, confidential and statewide advocacy services; are on
your side, and work at your direction.
ATI has programs assisting:
 Older people
 People with disabilities
 Those living with a mental illness
 People using alcohol, tobacco and other drug (ATOD) services
 Their family and carers
 The Mental Health Tribunal Representation Scheme (MHTRS)
 External Merits Review Support
ATI also operates the Tasmanian Elder Abuse Helpline (TEAHL), offering information, advice and referral to
respond to elder abuse; and the ATOD Consumer and Carer Participation Program, which provides
assistance to improve the involvement of ATOD consumers in drug and alcohol service delivery.
Contact us on free call 1800 005 131 OR write to us at PO Box 426 Sandy Bay Tas. 7006
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