About Us
The Australian Pensioners’ and Superannuants’ League, Qld Inc. (APSL) is a voluntary support, referral, information, advocacy and lobby group with members of varying ages but with one thing in common: we are people who are receiving various types of pensions with some living partly on superannuation funds.
We support all pensioners, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, culturally and linguistically diverse persons and disadvataged persons.
APSL provides a voice at local, state and federal levels of government on all issues of importance to the well being, security and dignity of people who are receiving a pension or superannuation payments.
The APSL State Office provides members and the community with advocacy, information and referral services.
The League is predominantly run by volunteers
A TOUCH OF HISTORY
The League was formed in 1945 by women who were widows, both war and civilian. This was at a time when such a thing as the “widows pension” was not available. If you were widowed, you were expected to get manual work such as washing floors, cooking or cleaning schools or else you would have to take in borders. Married women were not expected to work after the war ended. This group of women, headed by a very radical woman named Mary Noonan, lobbied the government and rallied in front of parliament, until the widows pension was introduced.
It was a humble start to the organisation. Meetings would be held in the house of one of the members. When the objectives and aims were finally developed, it fired people’s imagination and the organisation rapidly grew in strength throughout the state. As news spread throughout Queensland, the League grew with Branches being formed in many cities, towns and regional and rural areas. Other pensioner groups throughout Australia also formed around this time. Later people realised that a National Body should be formed to protect pensioners’ rights at a national level.
The League’s first headquarters at Red Hill burnt down in 1984. All equipment and records of the organisation were lost in the fire. Since then, the State Office of the League has been based at Kurilpa Hall in West End. The desire to do something for the aged and the deprived people of the state spurred members on to achieve the impossible.
Some of our achievements over the years include:
- upgrading the wife’s allowance to a pension
- the electricity rebate
- rail concessions card
- telephone concessions
- wheel chair access to toilets
- user rights in nursing homes
- Police liaison committee task force
- elder abuse
- Seniors’ advocacy, information & legal services (SAILS)
- represented on numerous other committees including AVEO retirement village - sub committee
Over the years, the League has been able to help a large number of people with a varied range of problems. The major aim of the League is to improve the rights of the welfare user, not only pensioners but those on lower incomes and superannuation payments.
STRUCTURE OF THE LEAGUE
The League operates by members joining a local branch where they enjoy social activities and a meeting where problems affecting pensioners are aired. From there, more complex problems are taken to the annual conference. All branches are allowed two delegates to conference. The State Management and Executive Committee are elected at this forum.
At the State level, the League receives substantial State Government funding to run its operations throughout Queensland. This is also supported with contributions by members of the League. All the elected positions of the League are still on a voluntary basis.
We hold a State Conference once a year in different locations throughout the State. Delegates from all over Queensland attend. Typical issues that get raised at our conferences include a wide variety of health issues including oral health, patient transit schemes, transport, the nursing home legislation, home and community care, concessions, healthy ageing, pensions, superannuation and banking.
THE PRESENT
These days we have come a long way with the work we do. Our primary purpose is still that of a lobby group.
We hold information seminars/speeches on a range of issues including:
- Abuse of older people;
- Older people and supermarkets;
- End of life decision making;
- Retirement issues; and
- Housing for older people.
In addition, we obtain many grants to run a variety of projects. Some of the activities that we have run in recent years include:
Another aim of our organisation is to try and create a positive attitude to ageing through events like Seniors Week.
Australian Pensioners’ and Superannuants’ League Qld Inc. receives funding from the Department of Communities , Queensland.