Program Coordination and Development
Advice and Advocacy Area
Access and Equity
Training
Publications
Policy and Representation Work
Tas Administration
Tenants Advice Service Inc. (Left to Right Back Row) Pauline Logan: Coordinator, Erin Gauntlett: Chairperson, Joanne Walsh: Tenant Advocate and Access Worker, Penny Kirk: Administrator, (Left to Right Front Row) Robyn Ninyette: Solicitor, Rebecca Smith: Administrative Assistant, Peter O'Dea: Tenant Advocate (to September 1999).
Key functions of the Resource Unit tender related to program coordination and development. The functions include:
These functions fit well with our role as the only specialist tenancy service in WA and a commitment to improving outcomes for tenants at the heart of our objectives. TAS is keen for the new Program to work well for tenants and to provide accessible, appropriate and quality services in keeping with this and our Resource Unit functions.
To this end TAS has been working with funded local tenancy services to develop the program as a network of tenancy services as far as possible. We are also continuing to network widely within the community and to link with services providing assistance to tenants but who are not funded under the Program. Our coordination and development work includes:
As with any new Program and change to service delivery there are teething problems in the transition to the new Program. TAS is trying to ease the problems by linking community workers and tenants with local tenancy services where general casework assistance is required for an individual tenant. We are also trying to document unmet need where tenants require assistance but are unable to access a local tenancy service.
TAS is keen to hear any comments agencies have on the Program and what is working and what is not to assist with our Program Coordination and Development work. We may also pass this information on to Fair Trading to assist them in their review of the pilot and tender criteria before advertising for service providers in 2000/01. Please let us know any comments or feedback by the end of January 2000 so we can feed this in to Fair Trading.
Please contact Pauline Logan for further details.
The Advice and Advocacy area of TAS is staffed by the Tenant Advocate/Access Worker (Joanne Walsh) and Solicitor (Robyn Ninyette).
The main focus of the area is to:
Advice and Information
A major role of the area is to provide information, advice and support to community agencies, from both funded local service units and other services, on tenancy issues. For instance, community workers may phone for advice or support if they have a tenant with a tenancy problem and are not sure what the tenants' rights are or how best to approach the problem. Community workers may also phone for strategies and information to assist with court preparation for Small Disputes Division actions and Homeswest appeals. Where a community worker requires assistance they should contact the Tenant Advocate/Access Worker who will deal with their query in the first instance. Where the legal position is not clear on a particular issue the Tenant Advocate/Access Worker will request a legal opinion from the Solicitor.
Specialised Casework and Test Cases
A major focus of the Advice and Advocacy area is to coordinate and undertake specialised case work and test cases on policy issues and/or matters of public interest, to test particular aspects of law or practice. Specialised case work will only be undertaken on complex matters on behalf of tenants where they have been referred from community agencies and the matter falls within the TAS Casework Guidelines. TAS will identify test cases itself and also rely on others in the community network to identify and monitor illegal and unethical practices, and areas of law which require reform.
For more details please contact Joanne Walsh on .
TAS is committed to access and equity strategies to target TAS services to best meet the needs of disadvantaged tenants. As part of TAS' Resource Unit role the Advice an Advocacy area will be developing access and equity policies, strategies and resources with the tenancy network and the Ministry of Fair Trading and helping community workers to implement policies to ensure tenants have access to tenancy services. Such policies, strategies and resources will target people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds; Aboriginal people; young people; people with disabilities; tenants who are geographically isolated; and other disadvantaged tenants.
For more details please contact Joanne Walsh on .
TAS employs Lanie Chopping as the Community Legal Education Worker with primary responsibility for training and other TAS workers assist in the development and delivery of training. TAS will continue to provide a range of training services to community workers across WA with a focus on training to meet the needs of the Funded Local Service Units in 1999 / 2000.
A range of services are provided by the training area both across the metropolitan region and in remote and rural areas. These services include:
Training Needs Analysis of services , of groups or services involved in tenancy services in the metropolitan and regional areas of WA.
TAS Training Program including:
Development of training
The development of training programs by TAS to suit the needs of specific organisations or groups.
Training Brokerage
Where through training needs analysis or expressed demand there is a training need that the Resource Unit cannot meet we will undertake to facilitate this training with the most appropriate and effective training provider available. For example, the use of a presenter external to Tenants Advice Service Inc. for "Cross - Cultural Communication" training.
Support to services providing Tenant Education
In the role as Resource unit TAS is less able to provide education directly to tenants, however the TAS Community Legal Education Worker can provide support, assistance and resourcing to workers who provide tenancy education.
Contact Lanie Chopping on for further information about education and training.
TAS has a range of publications that are currently available.
Publications currently available for Workers
A range of publications currently exists which can be used by workers providing advice and education to tenants. Most of these publications are advertised in the TAS Order Form.
Publications currently available for tenants.
TAS have a range of publications that are available for tenants including a number of translated publications.
TAS Web Page
www.taswa.org contains a range of information for tenants and workers who assist tenants in WA.
Development of new publications
TAS is keen to hear from services and individuals regarding needs identified in their local communities for additional publications to be produced. TAS also has the skills, knowledge and equipment to be able to produce new publications dependent upon resources.
For further information regarding publications please contact Lanie Chopping or to order publications please contact Rebecca Smith on .
Policy work and representation on issues affecting tenants is a significant aspect of TAS' work. This work flows from TAS' objectives which include:
TAS comes into contact with many issues affecting tenants through our day to day work with tenants and workers with tenants. It is this contact and our understanding of the broader housing system that informs our policy and representation work. Our work also stems from the recognition that systemic advocacy through our policy and representation work may help resolve the recurrence of some tenancy issues and help improve outcomes for tenants. The overriding principles informing our work are to ensure that tenants have access to adequate legislative protection through laws such as tenancy laws, privacy laws and equal opportunity laws and to help ensure all tenants (or prospective tenants) are able to access and maintain secure, appropriate and affordable housing.
TAS' policy and representation work generally occurs via involvement of TAS workers in relevant committees, research and submissions in response to government reviews and consultations, and initiating actions and proposals on issues which arise through our advice and advocacy and community education and training work. TAS tries to integrate this work as much as possible with its direct service and education work. Much of the work is undertaken by the Coordinator with the Advocate, Solicitor and Education Worker involved on particular issues and working parties and in providing valuable information and advice to the Coordinator.
See the article on TAS' current policy and representation work.
Contact Pauline Logan for further details.
Penny Kirk and Rebecca Smith are the workers in the Administration area of TAS. Rebecca and Penny's role is to provide administrative support to all TAS program areas.
Some of the types of administration support involves:
The Administration area can assist other tenancy workers or other services with:
For further information please contact Penny Kirk or Rebecca Smith on .