Brand Tas

"That's what social work does to you. It opens your eyes to the world, how it is. Not a glossy brochure of life. And I think that helps you to want to change things."

"You can’t just sit back and expect something to happen. You have to influence that yourself, or with a group of people. Sometimes, if you believe in something, you have to put yourself out there, even if you wouldn’t ordinarily."

"The people you get to work with are just inspirational. It’s just the best profession. I still wake up every morning going, 'I can’t believe they gave me a job with Ambulance Tasmania.'"

"If I walk down the street and see someone wearing something from the Spotted Quoll, it still fills me with elation. It’s always a pinch-me moment."

"It was a big shock coming to Australia, especially at 15. You leave all your friends behind and you don’t know a word of English. And in 1972, Australia was still very anti-migrant. We didn’t have the cultural diversity that we have now."