Basic Rights Queensland is excited to welcome our new CEO, James Farrell. James has a long history of fighting for the rights of those who need it most having worked for over a decade in community legal centres, including as the manager/principal lawyer of Victoria’s Homeless Persons Legal Clinic and director of Community Legal Centres Queensland.
Hear from James in his own words about his first week on the team.
Reflections after my first week at BRQ
Hi, my name is James Farrell, and I’m really excited to be the new CEO of Basic Rights Queensland! As an experienced community lawyer and community sector leader, I’m rapt to be joining an organisation that makes such an incredible difference to everyday Queenslanders who are doing it tough.
At the end of my first week, I just wanted to share some reflections:
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Our people are incredible
I’ve spent my first week getting to know the team at Basic Rights Queensland, including Working Women Queensland. Our organisation is full of energetic, compassionate, smart professionals that are focussed on making an impact, and I’m really impressed with the calibre of our team.
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Our work has never been more important
With the financial pressures facing the community, growing inequality and increasing vulnerability, the need for our services has never been greater. Whether it’s women facing harassment at work, people trying to access or keep social supports, or people with disability trying to access basic services, the support we provide is critical.
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Our service model is proven, and it works
For nearly four decades, our organisation has provided advice, support and representation to thousands and thousands of Queenslanders. We use the insights from this work to educate and empower people in the community, and to inform and improve policies and program. This model works, and allows us to amplify our impact.
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We can’t do our work without you
Everything we do requires us to work in partnership – whether we’re delivering legal advice in a remote community or an inner-city homelessness service, presenting training to workers about legal issues facing people in their communities, or advocating to increase access to core government services. None of this would be possible without you, our supporters and partners.
I’m looking forward to working with you – please reach out if you’d like to chat.
And again, thanks for your continuing support for Working Women Queensland and Basic Rights Queensland.
Kind regards,
James
