The University of Tasmania’s Tax Clinic has been awarded over $280,000 from the Australian Government to provide vital tax services for vulnerable and at-risk Tasmanians.
The grant will allow the Tax Clinic to continue its mission to provide free tax advice, support and education to Tasmanians while building the skills of the next generation of tax professionals.
According to University of Tasmania Tax Clinic Director Donovan Castelyn, this funding will have a profound impact on the lives of Tasmanians seeking advice or looking to educate themselves on what can be a complex process.
“For some, an extra hundred dollars in their tax return doesn’t mean much, but for others, it is life-changing,” he said. “We are delighted to be able to keep delivering those life-changing moments for Tasmanians thanks to this grant."
“This additional funding means that not only can we maintain our operations but expand them to broaden the scope of our support and make it easier for all eligible community members to access our services.”
In 2023, the Clinic served 362 clients, completed 286 tax/BAS returns, and conducted over 300 hours of client meetings. These activities not only provided critical tax assistance to the community but also offered invaluable hands-on experience to University of Tasmania students.
“From people with culturally and financially diverse backgrounds to victims of domestic abuse, the clinic provides a service so those who need support can access resources or advice in a timely, supportive and respectful manner,” said Mr Castelyn.
The Clinic operates from the University of Tasmania’s campuses in Hobart and Launceston, with plans to expand to other regions through pop-up clinics. These locations allow the Clinic to offer face-to-face and virtual consultations, educational workshops, and outreach activities.
The future of the Clinic includes plans to expand services to more remote and regional areas of Tasmania.
The Tax Clinic was also recently awarded $43,590 in additional funding from the Australian Government through the Pacific Australian Labour Mobility (PALM) initiative as part of the National Tax Clinic Program.
“In addition to our National Tax Clinic Program grant, the PALM Initiative funding will provide much-needed support for our industries and participants that rely on the PALM scheme to support Tasmanian business and strengthen relationships with our friends from the Pacific Island Region,” he said.