What's new
MOSQUEDA SYDNEY SEMINAR 24 NOV
Professor Mosqueda's presentation will be followed by a panel and Stephen Newell TARS Principal Solicitor will be on the panel representing The Older Person's Legal Service. Each member of the panel will reflect on what lessons for NSW there may be from Professor Mosqueda's presentation in preventing and responding to abuse.
Please click here to see the Mosqueda Sydney Seminar Flyer.
Ageing Landscapes Seminar
Janna Taylor, TARS CEO and Rosalene Jones, Manager Education and Promotion Service will be attending the 41st Australian Association of Gerontology National Conference "Ageing Landscapes" from 18-21 November 2008 in Fremantle WA.
Professor Mosqueda will also be addressing this conference.
TARS' AGM
TARS Annual General Meeting was held on 6 November at our offices at Surry Hills. The meeting was well attended by TARS staff and 11 visitors who stayed to network over morning tea after the meeting.
The meeting was chaired by Acting Chairperson, Margo Haydon. Reports included one by the Manager of the TARS' Legal Service, Stephen Newell, who spoke of the achievements of the Legal Service and the increase in legal advice to older people in NSW and to retirement village residents. In addition, Rosalene Jones, Manager Education and Promotion Service, informed the gathering of many educational activities the Education staff conduct throughout the state and Advocacy Coordinator Pat Joyce gave an overview of advocacy provided for residents of residential aged care services.
The financial report showed a surplus which was the result mainly from funding received for the Older Persons' Legal Service (OPLS) which did not get under way until March 2008 due to the need to recruit staff and develop the service. It was noted that there has been another significant increase in staff at The Aged-care Rights Service in the last year from 10 staff a year ago, to 14 at the same time in 2008. Please phone TARS' Receptionist if you would like a copy of the 2007 - 2008 TARS Annual Report.
There were 6 nominations for positions to the Management Committee of which 5 were accepted at the meeting; the sixth nomination was accepted one day later due to unforeseen circumstances. Congratulations all new members of the TARS Management Committee who have committed their time for the next year to providing governance to The Aged-care Rights Service, I look forward to working with you in continuing to develop TARS.
I would again like to thank all staff for their dedication to their work and the very important contribution they make to upholding the rights of older people in New South Wales.
Janna Taylor
Chief Executive Officer
7 November 2008
Welcome Ray Horsburgh
Background:
Ray has had over thirty years experience working in the Community sector in both government and non government agencies. He started his career working with young people at risk in Victoria and youth refuges in the eastern suburbs of Sydney. Has worked with larger community organizations including Barnardos and St Vincent De Paul to smaller community centers. He has had extensive experience assisting people with disabilities living in supported accommodation and developing strategies for true community integration. He has assisted people with intellectual disabilities into open employment via job placement, training and ongoing support. His most recent role, assisting people with psychiatric disabilities exercise their rights as borders and lodgers in un-licensed and licensed boarding houses in the inner west of Sydney.
Interests:
Ray enjoys all sports, unless it is a horse or car racing around a track. Enjoys swimming, reading traveling when possible and most importantly - his family.
NSW Fire Brigade SABRE Programme
The NSW Fire Brigade runs a programme called Smoke Alarm Battery Replacement for the Elderly or SABRE.
This programme is available to elderly people and people with disabilities living in their own homes who have limited support in their homes to have help with checking their smoke alarms and to change the batteries in their alarms.
If you are an older person living alone, or with minimal domestic support, look in your local phone book for the phone number of your local Fire Station to ask for more information or assistance. Or you can go to the website of the NSW Fire Brigade: www.fire.nsw.gov.au
Welcome to Irene Turnbull
Irene has joined the TARS Aged Care Advocacy staff after 14 years of dedicated service to Hills Community Care as the Dementia Services Co-ordinator.
Irene was known for her innovative approach, enthusiasm and passion for improving the lives of people living with Dementia and their carers, commitment to improving knowledge of and education on Dementia Awareness to the wider community and her compassion and devotion to her professional career.
Irene was also known for her strategic planning, submission writing and leadership skills.
We are looking forward to all Irene can offer as part of the TARS team.
TARS staff raise funds for the RSPCA Cup Cake Day
Capacity Toolkit
TARS has received the new Capacity Toolkit booklet which has been developed as an information tool for government and community workers, professionals, families and carers
in NSW.
It deals with issues such as - "What is capacity" and "How do I decide whether a person has the capacity to make their own decisions."
If you would like a copy phone TARS.
