Delivered at the TasCOSS Annual General Meeting, Wednesday 30 October 2024, Hobart.
Congratulations to Sue Ham who was awarded TasCOSS Life Membership at this year’s AGM. TasCOSS Life Membership recognises the significant and noteworthy contribution an individual has made to TasCOSS and the Tasmanian community services industry.
In making the Life Membership presentation, the TasCOSS Board lauded Sue’s long-standing contribution to the industry over 40 years. Sue is a past President of the TasCOSS Board and also served as a ACOSS Board Director. Her strong background in social work saw her take the reigns as CEO of Colony 47 for many years in the late 1990s, where she was instrumental in growing the organisation and improving homelessness, mental health and youth services to the community.
A key strength of Sue’s is her remarkable collaboration skills and ability to bring others with her in pursuit of a common goal, frequently working across organisations and with government for the betterment of her client groups and Tasmanians experiencing disadvantage. Later in her career, Sue was able to effect change from the inside, working at senior levels within the Department of Social Services and the National Disability Insurance Agency.
Sue’s contribution to TasCOSS, the wider COSS Network, the industry, and to improving the lives of Tasmanians, make her a worthy and esteemed recipient of TasCOSS Life Membership.