Experience

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  Polygram international

  Jan 1991 - Jan 1992

  Queensland sales desk staff

  Queensland Sales Desk 20 hours a week supporting sales reps and promo staff with weekly orders for music retailers. I resigned to complete my full-time social work practicum in community development in 1992.

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  Www.tanjastark.com

  Feb 1992 - now

  Artist

  Essentially, I’m curious. About everything. I make art, I write, I read, I wonder. I am intrigued by the way we think and feel, how we live and find meaning. Why we fall apart, and how we hurt and how we heal. Born in Mackay, Queensland, I’ve always created art as part of this pondering and processing, intuitively using oils and acrylics, mixed media and found materials, ink and clay, to express, ground, heal and grow. Along the way I’ve worked in illustration and design, therapeutic counselling, writing and research and have published with Bloomsbury Press and Routledge Academic Press around pop culture and creativity, depth psychology, Jungian archetypes and catharis in 2015. For creative art, writing or research collaborations, residencies or commissions please contact me via my website or email. Show less

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  Department of children, youth justice and multicultural affairs

  Jan 1993 - Jan 1996

  Project worker : youth justice and child protection

  Project Worker employed as a Family Service Officer - Dept of Family, Youth & Community Care(now Child Safety and Youth Justice Departments). Worked as a FSO in Child protection & youth justice case management within a statutory framework; Counselling, evaluation & assessment of families and children at risk; seconded to specialised projects. Youth Justice Project – Intensive Personal Support /Bail Accommodation Project Creation and trial of an Innovative Youth Justice Diversionary Care Model.Consultation with peak bodies, government & community stakeholders to respond to youth incarceration (indigenous focus); Recruitment & training of foster carers & youth workers to support and respond to complex clients. Project was a Queensland response to the findings of the Royal Commission into Indigenous Deaths in Custody 1991. The Far North Queensland was the only region in Queensland to successfully consult, develop, recruit and implement the trial program during this period. Specialised Review of Indigenous Children in Care ProjectProject involved a case review of all Far North Queensland indigenous foster care placements in conjunction with Cairns Aboriginal Child Care Service around cultural heritage & identity, transition from care & community of origin issues; Coordinating action plans & facilitating counselling & cultural support to children and community stakeholder engagement. 1993, 1995–1996, full and part-time Brisbane ( Stones Corner, Beenleigh, Cairns Area Offices) Show less

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  Sfi baptist union papua new guinea

  Jan 1994 - Dec 1994

  Counsellor and creative arts worker

  Counselling & Therapeutic Arts Worker School based counselling and support around complex issues around gender and sexual violence and assault in the context of historical cultural traditions and the convergence with emerging modernity, Creative art workshops, Sexual health workshop delivery, Educational tutoring and support I year deployment (1994). I was in my early 20s, a little too radical for the auspicing body. Highlights include nearly having my visa revoked by the Baptist Union for challenging conservative frameworks and wearing traditional Papua New Guinean dress. It was a learning curve. Show less

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  Cairns regional gallery

  Jan 1997 - Jan 1999

  Art gallery guide and educational workshops

  Casual Art Gallery Tours and Educational Workshops for Primary School to University Groups.

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  Canasta studio

  Jan 2001 - Apr 2018

  Manager

  A fabulous little arts company that creates all sorts of eclectic goodness. -creative consultancy around concept development, marketing and social media strategy, -fine art and illustration projects, -artist in residence, -exhibition design and curating, -research and writing from grant applications to academic research and publishing.

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  Department of child safety, youth and women

  Feb 2002 - Dec 2002

  Victims of Crime Counsellor - [temporarily auspiced by Crisis Care / Department of Child Safety] Counselling, support and referral for victims processing acute and long term trauma after being impacted by crime and violence. 24hr Domestic and Family Violence Counsellor [auspiced by Crisis Care] Crisis & therapeutic counselling (trauma, grief and loss, suicide & mental health) and co-ordinating emergency refuge placements for women Coordination of interventions, evacuations, refuge placements & safety plans for families affected by D&FV; Liaison & advocacy with Queensland wide refuges, police, and support services.

  • Trauma Counsellor - Victims of Crime

    Feb 2002 - Dec 2002

  • Crisis Counsellor

    Feb 2002 - Dec 2002
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  Dvconnect

  Jan 2004 - Jan 2007

  Initially employed as a Counsellor, then Service Development and Fundraising Officer for the Queensland Statewide 24 hour Domestic and Family Violence Service As Development Officer my position involved : Research and Program Development, Marketing and Communications, Innovative program development, corporate and community guest speaking, grant writing, fundraising, establishing corporate & community partnerships, donor support; developing service resources, media liaison and management, “be heard be safe” service branding, photography, public communications, Initiated the award winning DVConnect-RSPCA ‘Pets in Crisis’ state-wide partnership, now going for over 10 years and funded by Queensland Government.Initiated the Statewide DVConnect – Queensland Country Women Association 'Care Package' Partnership with the QCWA now having provided thousands of care packages for families evacuated to refuges and emergency safe houses. Created the DVConnect "Be Heard, Be Safe" service theme brand. Initiated the DVConnect Patron and Ambassador Program ( Dame Quentin Bryce then Queensland Governor graciously accepting the invitation) and liaised with Government House for a Patron BallServed on Queensland Cross Sector White Ribbon Day CommitteeSuccessfully wrote a Grant Application and secured funding for a Mensline Court Support Project to provide male counsellors for men impacted by Domestic and Family Violence (victims and perpetrators). M.C.: Domestic and Family Violence Forum at Queensland Parliament House. (Brisbane 2004-2006) Show less 24hr Domestic and Family Violence Counsellor Crisis & therapeutic counselling (trauma, grief and loss, suicide & mental health) for women & Mensline relief as required. Coordination of interventions, evacuations, refuge placements & safety plans for families affected by D&FV; Liaison & advocacy with support services. (Commenced as a Counsellor in Jan 2004 until promotion to Service Development Officer in 2005, but continued to do occasional casual counselling relief if required by the service). Show less

  • Service Development and Fundraising Officer

    Jan 2005 - Jan 2007

  • Crisis Counsellor - Domestic and Family Violence

    Jan 2004 - Jan 2006
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  Department of agriculture and fisheries (queensland)

  Jan 2007 - Jan 2008

  Communications officer biosecurity emergency response

  Equine Influenza Emergency Response Communication development and Publication; Creating effective art, design and community displays to raise awareness and education around critical bio-security and health issues. Sector consultations, copywriting, photography, illustration, design, resource development

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  University of queensland

  Dec 2008 - Dec 2009

  Academic research [research assistant] uq law faculty

  Research Assistant - HEWS8Criminal Justice project: Coauthoring Academic ReportConducting long form qualitative interviews with women who have experienced severe intimate partner violence and trauma on their experiences with the legal system. Literature review, writing and public launch of report (2009 – 2010)

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  Brisbane river markets karana downs

  Oct 2017 - Mar 2021

  Founder & creative manager

  Director / Event Manager of large creative community events (up to 2000 guests) supporting and mentoring small creative micro-businesses, enhancing community capacity, local economic development of creative enterprises, developing community connection and support.