The Dorothy Pearce Address is an annual TasCOSS event which started in 2003 in honour of Dorothy Pearce, who is a  founding member of TasCOSS and for many years its Honorary Secretary.  She devoted enormous amounts of time, energy and commitment to TasCOSS at a time when it was struggling for resources and for recognition. In December 1961, it was Dorothy who, as President of the Tasmanian Branch of the Australian Association of Social Workers, joined with the Director of the then Department for Social Welfare, Mr G.C. Smith, in convening the inaugural meeting of the Tasmanian Council of Social Service in the Hobart Town Hall. It was not until 1975, fourteen years later, that TasCOSS was in a position to employ its first Project Officer, Ann Hughes who, along with Dorothy, Cecily Gilson and Rev. Dr Bob Raynor, is an Honorary Life Member of TasCOSS. 

2007 - Social Innovation: Light on the Hill to Tackle Disadvantage or Just Another Fad? by Professor  David Adams. Click here for slides of Professor Adams' presentation

2006 - Making Human Rights Matter: How can Rights Frameworks Help us create a Better Community? by  Larissa Behrendt - Click here to download

2005 - Poverty in Tasmania: an Economist's Perspective by Saul Eslake - Click here to download

2004 - Poverty in Australia: Whose Problem? Are there Solutions? Whose Responsibility? by Andrew McCallum  - Click here to download

2003 - Inaugural Dorothy Pearce Address by Robert Fitzgerald AM - Click here to download