We need your help! The #PrioritiseallTasmanians campaign is calling on the Government to properly fund community services in the upcoming May Budget.

Every day thousands of Tasmanians rely on community services which are now at breaking point. Show your support for a strong, sustainable, community services industry by signing and sharing our open letter to the Premier and Treasurer, ensuring that Tasmanians can access the support they need.

Every signature helps amplify a simple message — our Government must #PrioritiseallTasmanians and the services that support them.

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Open letter to the Tasmanian Premier and Treasurer 

We are Tasmanians from every corner of the state — workers, volunteers, families, carers, educators, neighbours and community members — adding our names to this letter and our voices to an urgent call for you to #PrioritiseallTasmanians because we are deeply concerned about the future of our community services.

Many of us work in the community services industry. Many of us volunteer our time. Many of us rely on these essential services or know how easily we might one day need them ourselves. Together, we are speaking with one voice to say do not underfund the community services that tens of thousands of Tasmanians rely on every day, and which are now at breaking point.

All decisions have consequences. The choices made in May’s Budget will determine whether Tasmanians receive help early or fall into preventable crisis.

In a time of growing uncertainty, Tasmania needs a secure, stable and well-resourced community services industry more than ever. We call on the Government to demonstrate that every Tasmanian matters.

To show your support, please sign the open letter to the Premier and Treasurer and join us in calling on the Government to #PrioritiseallTasmanians.

Yours sincerely,

Tasmanians who believe in strong community services

Please note, you are not expected to make a financial contribution. Contributions support the Change.org platform, not the campaign directly.

A printable version is also available for noticeboards, lunchrooms and reception desks. If you display a printed copy, please let us know via email so we can arrange to collect signatures. You can also contact Bronwyn Tilbury, Industry & Impact Lead, via email if you would prefer not to sign the open letter via Change.org.

The petition will be tabled in Parliament by Kristie Johnston MP, Independent Member for Clark.

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Please share the open letter with your networks, colleagues and communities. You can also lend support the campaign by downloading and displaying the campaign branding elements on social media, and sharing posts from the Coalition of Community Service Peaks across Facebook​, LinkedIn and Instagram. 

For more information about the campaign, please visit tascoss.org.au/coalition-of-community-service-peaks.

Angela Finch, a single mother of three children, knows as well as anyone the life-saving and life-changing value of community services. Watch Angela’s story (YouTube).

When looking for a place to relocate, Rahat chose Tasmania for its reputation as one of the world’s friendliest places — a place where people look out for one another and everyone has the chance to belong. Finding that sense of welcome and support through community services helped turn that promise into reality. Watch Rahat's story (YouTube).

Louise is a mental health lived experience advocate sharing her story as part of our #PrioritiseallTasmanians campaign. Louise shares how West Moonah Neighbourhood House became a place where she found connection, purpose and belonging while living with mental illness. Her story shows what’s possible when people have access to the right support, in the right setting, at the right time. Watch Louise's story (YouTube).

Gene shares how accessing counselling and community support helped him change direction after a difficult period in his life. His experience shows the critical role community services play during and after crises, helping people stabilise and rebuild their lives. This kind of support doesn’t just benefit individuals, it helps break cycles and eases pressure on already overstretched systems. Watch Gene's story (YouTube).

From the age of eight, Izzy has balanced school, childhood and the responsibility of caring for her mum and younger brother — a role taken on quietly by many people across Tasmania. Izzy shares how accessing community supports helped change the course of her life. She speaks about the difference it made to be seen, supported and understood, and how those services gave her the chance to stay connected to education and imagine a bright future. Watch Izzy's story (YouTube).

The Tasmanian Coalition of Community Service Peaks represents the following 20 organisations:

• Ageing Australia Tasmania
• Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drugs Council (ATDC) Tasmania
• Carers Tasmania
• Community Legal Centres Tasmania
• Council on the Ageing (COTA) Tasmania
• CREATE Foundation
• Early Childhood Australia (ECA) Tasmania Branch
• Health Consumers Tasmania
• Local Government Association Tasmania (LGAT)
• Mental Health Council of Tasmania
• Multicultural Council of Tasmania
• National Disability Services (NDS) Tasmania
• Neighbourhood Houses Tasmania
• Palliative Care Tasmania
• Shelter Tasmania
• Tasmanian Association of State School Organisations (TASSO)
• Tasmanian Council of Social Service (TasCOSS)
• Tasmanian Family and Sexual Violence Alliance (TFSVA)
• Volunteering Tasmania
• Youth Network of Tasmania