Tenants Queensland

Testimonials

• Liisa Kuru

  Case Worker - Tenants Queensland - 2025

  I found myself first volunteering at Tenants Queensland in my gap year between travelling, work and university, which eventually turned into various paid positions from admin and reception, moving into advice work and case work. I was trained entirely inhouse - residential tenancy is not generally covered in law school.

  What drew me to and kept me in the community sector for 8 years was being surrounded by capable, passionate people dedicated to the work and the people who came to us for help. Working with them and sharing a passion for tenancy rights and a hatred for unlawful and predatory real estate practices has been an honour and a privilege.

  Working in a community legal centre allowed me to get to know Queensland communities much better and broadened my fairly privileged perspective. Most clients I assisted genuinely were trying to do the right thing and follow their legal obligations but had given up rights and privileges under pressure from property managers, for fear of losing their housing. Matters only progressed after COVID-19, and the number of eviction callers significantly increased. Advice could only do so much with simply not enough housing or homelessness resources to go around. One woman during an out-of-office community engagement event proudly informed me that the Council 'hadn't found her tree yet', where she has been living for the past number of months.

  It was through the first-hand experience of helping people with their renting issues, that I understood the impact that receiving a legal education can have in helping those that need it. It is practically impossible for everyone to self-educate themselves on every aspect of law that affects them, and many cannot afford to pay for legal services. That is why the community sector is so valuable, and why I decided to study law.

• Kurt Maroske

  Tenancy Advocate (Tenants Queensland); Policy and Law Reform Lead (LGBTI Legal Service) - Tenants Queensland + LGBTI Legal Service - 2024

  I returned to uni in my late 20s to pursue law as a second degree, after previously working in the community welfare and not-for-profit sectors. I was drawn towards law by my passion for justice, equality and social inclusion, but had misgivings from the outset about finding a career which would align with my values and personality, and which would feel culturally safe for me as a queer person. This uncertainty continued into my final year of study, where most of the placements, internships and career opportunities were pointing towards corporate law firms.

  I was fortunate enough through my previous work in homelessness to have some contacts in the community legal sector, and shortly before graduation I secured a project and policy role in what was then known as LawRight's Homeless Person's Legal Clinic. This provided the perfect opportunity to blend my social science, community advocacy and legal skills, and allowed me to undertake a wealth of rewarding and satisfying projects which aligned with my values. I particularly appreciated the opportunity to appear before Parliamentary Committee hearings relating to poverty and homelessness, to deliver weekly legal outreach to crisis accommodation services during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to supervise and mentor UQ Pro Bono Centre clinic placement students.

  While the funding uncertainties and resourcing constraints of the community legal sector continue to be a challenge, this is balanced by the comradery and supportiveness of my colleagues, and the satisfaction of working together to challenge and reform unjust systems.

  I'm currently splitting my time between two roles in the community legal sector - as a tenancy advocate at Tenants Queensland, and as the policy and law reform lead for the LGBTI Legal Service. Both jobs allow me to reckon with the daily injustices facing everyday Queenslanders, and to advocate for legal and administrative systems which are more accessible, fair, and inclusive.