What a Story!

Hello to All!

My name is Mark Berkovich I am from Russian/Polish decent and have worked in the Disability Sector for some 18 years now starting out as a direct support worker. 

Understanding the whole notion of a just and fair society has driven me from an early age as I was born in China to a very privileged family within a Colonialist setting.  The greatest influence on my thinking around social justice and ethics came from my Grandfather Leonti Markovich Berkovich who with his family built a vast business in China.

Our privileged life had all the trappings of wealth and status with some 30 or so servants supporting our family's lifestyle.  Grandad while exercising his autocracy also practiced deeply held values and a set of ethics toward as to his treatment of his family and employees, he believed in one family with domestic staff included. 

In these times benevolence  was unheard of, and he earned the reputation of a soft touch and "do gooder".

Everyone in our family was afforded the best medical care from European doctors, servant's children received private tutor education,with food and accommodation of a high standard.

As an only child I emersed myself with friends and the Chinese kids of our family, we played and ate together in our household and the domestic staff quarters.  This cultural mixing greatly pleased Grandad and my parents.  My grounding made me feel an equal in life, and this is an important trait I hold dearly injustice I despise. 

He was so proud of me that I picked up Mandarin as a language and loved my cooking lessons from our Chinese chef.  Grandad never ate Chinese style food in his life, he had fixed European traditional tastes.

Grandad was probably an unknowing socialist, he believed in equality,dignity and respect for all peoples and based many beliefs on Chinese traditions,which he held to the end.  His lesson to me was when he needed to come to Australia at (gun point) he refused to go.  When asked what would he do now that China was in Communist party rule he said,  " I will talk to Andrew my Chef and move in with his family."

My father said to him how will this work, Andrew has 12 children and his parents living with him and you do not eat Chinese food. He answered. " I employed his father and his family and I am certain I have earned his respect for me to fit into his household,as for food a man must learn to appreciate new things"

Grandad was 84 his beliefs unshakeable, Andrew was never asked, Grandad came to Australia I believe he would have been accepted in china. Today I have also travelled in the Human Services Sector, searching for answers to help people with those same issues of fairness,dignity,and equality,a "a fair go mate".

I sought answers through higher education, I hold a Masters Degree in Human Services, I still search each day.

Two years ago I joined TASC, and I think of Grandad, I have the opportunity each day to practice his ethics with our clients.

This organisation offers the committed person to change peoples lives,to challenge inequality and practically assist people I love working here surrounded by likeminded people.

And yes Grandad I love Chinese food.

The BOOTS say it all

My name is Sue Gordon and I am one of the TASC team. The team comprises a really terrific bunch fo people who are genuinely committed to the principles of Social Justice. I consider it a privilige to come to work at TASC. The reason is simple. We get to work with and for people who face challenges that to many that would be insurmountable. Challenges like discrimination, vilification, injustice, isolation, marginalisation, disabilities and more. These are the people who have taught me the value of a kind word, the value of time taken to listen, really listen, the need at times for assistance to get back on their feet or address a problem, the value of community inclusion and understanding and the value of every single human being.

I have one of the young 'old timers' at TASC having commenced work in 2002...I have participated in Award winning initiatives and Projects and continue to play a role in challenging the status quo, in working towards better ways and better systems. I have watched this organisation grow into the dynamic and leading organisation it is today, an organisation that is changing our part of the world. I think the "BOOTS" say it all for me....
'Changing the world one step at a time'! I am proud to be part of this team.

TASC = Great Values + Great Purpose

I came to work for TASC 9 months ago. I have worked in Disability Support for some twenty years and needed a change from the daily routine where I was working. I knew about TASC, its principles and its ideals. I knew it was somewhere I could work that had values and purpose, somewhere I could feel good about the outcomes of my days work. A job which gives you the opportunity to help others improve the quality of their life while giving yourself a sense of purpose and pride is a job you enjoy showing up to each day - And I also get paid.

Its great to work with people who genuinely care about others and strive to make a difference.

As a Disability Advocate, I am passionate about helping people to achieve better outcomes for themselves and to assist our clients in matters where they need some extra help.

That's what TASC is People helping People.

BIG Recommendation

My name is Andrew Caple, a casual legal researcher with TASC. I came to this organisation by responding to an advertisement to join the Queensland Criminal Justice Centre (QCJC). The QCJC is TASC’s web-based ‘think-tank’ committed to developing theoretical and practical innovations that facilitate the development of resolutions to the many systemic legal issues inherent within our criminal justice system.

Quite simply, I recommend TASC to anybody who wishes to make a contribution to the well-being of some of Queensland’s most marginalised persons. Possessing a sense of social responsibility is essential, as is the ability to initiate and develop ideas. TASC is an innovative organisation, and from my experience, everybody here possesses these abilities – and more.

Make a contribution…

Why I'm here!

Hi my name is Paula and I am the Business Services Coordinator. I have only recently joined TASC, 5 months ago yet have already felt and seen the enormous differences that we truly make to people’s lives.

Our CEO is a true visionary and steers our bus in forward directions. In our last general staff meeting we viewed the documentary Red Hook, about a Community Court House in New York, and discussed Blue-Ocean thinking, which stimulated us all to make a difference wherever we could and to do what we can individually or as a whole to assist those who need our services and support. Later this month we are having the Creativity guru: Gary Bertwistle visit in house to develop creativity strategies for the entire organization, therefore, further supporting us not only as a team but providing us fuel to continue striving in new directions to facilitate change for those who need it most.

On the horizon is the CEO 10,000 step challenge, offering a bit of in house fun and competition while more importantly supporting the staff’s well being in what can at times be a very stressful environment when dealing with people in very high stress personal circumstances.

TASC not only offers a stimulating work environment but it offers a great lifestyle balance with flexible work hours and a 9 day fortnight.

Why I enjoy working at TASC

My name is Rodney and I am employed as an Advocacy Worker, this means I will be trained as Tenancy Advocate as well as my current role as a Disability Advocate. My previous experience has been in Disability Employment in Toowoomba, prior to this I spent most of my life in South West Queensland and North Western New South Wales managing sheep and cattle properties.

I started with TASC in December 2008, a big part of my role is to provide advocacy to people with P300 funding, also anyone with a disability require help. I love working at TASC because I get great satisfaction through being in a position to help people help themselves. It is a wonderful feeling to go home after work knowing you have helped change a person’s life for the better. This is made possible with the help of the great team of people at TASC I work with.

I find TASC is very innovatively managed, with lots of opportunity for professional development provided. The nine day fortnight and flexible hours are beneficial to fit work around family. I love the opportunities at TASC to take on other projects with the support of the organisation to help bring them to fruition.

We just keep getting better!

Hi, I'm Dan and I'm the CEO

I came to TASC as a young lawyer who wanted to make a difference.  It allowed me the space, elasticity and support to be able to innovatively respond to some pretty damn big social and legal issues.  It also gave me a great team of people who supported both legal innovation and wanting to make a real difference each and every day to the lives of the most disadvantaged.  

Since becoming CEO, I'm as keen as mustard to ensure what I experienced is replicated for each and every member of our team.  That's why we insist that our TASC Force have time to dream up new approaches and time to work across our diverse organisation.  We don't encourage staleness.  We really are a dynamic organisation.  The people who succeed here are invariably those who have a deep-seated sense of social justice and irrepressible enthusiasm for changing the world, either by one person at a time, or whole systems.  We do both here!  

While all that sounds way too serious, never before have I worked anywhere that offers the conditions, interspersed with great people and good fun! 

Why TASC works for me!

Hi, my name is Helen and I'm the Chief Operating Officer at TASC.  For me working in TASC enables me to use my management skills in a way that supports people involved in day to day services for clients.  Working in a highly professional environment, while supporting the people who support some of the most marginalised people in our community, really gives me the best of both worlds.  I feel like in my own way I'm helping to make a difference, and I'm continuing to develop and utilize my own professional skills.  Particularly as a former practitioner in the not for profit sector this is ideal.

 

TASC is about the people - while our new premises are lovely, it's the team & the people who make it the place it is.  And it's a great team with dedicated professionals who genuinely care about their clients and their fellow team members.  As the saying goes if you find something you love doing, you'll never work a day in your life (because you're being paid to do what you love) - and with TASC I think that sort of dream is very much a possibility. 

 

TASC also offers a great lifestyle balance with a 9 day fortnight, additional annual leave over Christmas and flexible working hours - as a working mother I find this a fantastic bonus. 

Why I like working at TASC

Working as a Tenant Advocate for TASC.

My name is Samantha and I have been working for TASC as a Tenant Advocate for 12 months. Prior to working here I worked for the Residential Tenancies Authority for 7 years providing information to Real Estates, Lessors and Tenants on their rights and obligations while renting in Queensland under the Residential Tenancies Act 1994.

I moved to Toowoomba at the beginning of 2008 and contacted TASC not long after. When I contacted them I let them know my experience in tenancy law and was employed not long after that as a casual employee. I am now the full time tenancy worker and have never looked back. I have been very fortunate to meet some great people in my co-workers. Some of the most wonderful things about working with TASC are the working conditions, the people I work with, the flexibility and the encouragement we are given to be innovative.

I love the job that I do here as I get to see the impact and outcomes that TASC has on helping people fight for their rights and change their life for the better.