Craigie passes on smart gambling message

Mission Australia has teamed up with former NRL player Owen Craigie to present a series of two-day workshops aimed to help NSW Aboriginal health and community workers fight problem gambling.

The former Rabbitohs and Knights player is delivering a series of 20 intensive workshops with Mission Australia’s Training Coordinator Sheree Drylie as part of Gambling Smart Project, which is funded by the NSW Government through the Responsible Gambling Fund.

Having experienced the detrimental effects of gambling personally, Owen feels strongly about helping to educate frontline workers about the warning signs of problem gambling:

"It's always good to try and get people in the early stages of gambling because the long-term effects are family break downs, divorces, mental abuse and even suicide,” said Owen.

"A lot of people take their lives each year, which is related to problem gambling. So suicide is probably a major factor there and we just trying to steer people in the right direction so we can help save lives."

He said gambling had become a major issue around the country, not just in rural NSW: “Our program is out there reaching people that have got problems. We're not trying to tell them to stop gambling, just be smart about it.”

This month Owen and Sheree will run two-day workshops at the Awabakal Newcastle Aboriginal Co-Operative in Hamilton (6 to 7 June) and Lismore Workers Sports Club (15 to 16 June). A further 12 workshops will be held throughout NSW in the second half of 2011.

These two-day workshops will cover a range of issues associated with gambling such as forms of gambling activity, signs and symptoms of problem gambling, risk and protective factors, impacts on health and relationships, types of therapeutic interventions and treatment programs, the role of gambling counsellors, assessments and where to find help.

Participants will receive a certificate and resource manual, and food and beverages will be supplied.

To find out more call Sheree Drylie or Owen Craigie on (02) 40334941 or email drylies@missionaustralia.com.au If you or someone you know needs support to overcome a gambling addiction visit www.triplerservices.com.au.

Further reading:

• ‘Online gambling causing real problems’ - ABC.net.au
• Previous MA news - gambling

Rise in betting on the net a concern

Sports gambling is the fastest-growing form of betting in Australia, according to Southern Cross University researcher Dr Sally Gainsbury, who is conducting a major survey of the nation's gamblers.

Dr Gainsbury told The Sunday Mail that the rise of smartphones with mobile internet access is fuelling betting on sports matches.

"Within Australia and internationally these online gambling companies are increasing their expenditure on marketing, anywhere from 30 to 50 per cent in the last year alone,” Dr Gainsbury told The Sunday Mail.

"For problem gamblers there's that trigger, that impulse to gamble. For children… there is this link between the celebrity or sporting figure endorsing a gambling site. Kids look at that as something to aspire to. That certainly is of concern."

Mission Australia's Queensland State Director Penny Gillespie said there was a growing sense that sport could only be enjoyed if a bet was placed.

"For children, they're going to grow up thinking sport goes hand-in-hand with gambling."

The comments in the past weekend’s Sunday Mail echo those made earlier this month by University of Sydney Professor of Psychology Alex Blaszczynski, an addiction expert who believes faster internet speeds and the rise of smart phones has created a generation of young predominantly male gamblers who can bet “anywhere, anytime”.

The Age reported that Prof Blaszczynski was concerned more people could literally “lose a fortune without even leaving the comfort of their own home".

The number of people with sports betting-related problems attending the university's Gambling Treatment Clinics has surged by around 70 per cent in three years.

"Problem gambling has certainly moved away from the traditional picture of a person sitting for hours on end at a poker machine," he said. "These young men are reporting difficulties controlling their internet-based sports betting in increasing numbers.”

However, the online problem may also have an internet-driven solution in Mission Australia’s online financial counselling and gambling service.

Launched in late 2010 with the support of Chrisco, the Triple R services website aims to help gambling addicts improve their financial literacy and take control of their financial situation. The online resource includes information on who to turn to for help, lists 16 Mission Australia financial and gambling counselling services (with location maps and contact numbers), as well as resources like the Bet-lie Indicator, the Personal Money Plan Maker and the Money Issues Indicator.

The website is designed to encourage people to meet face to face with either a Triple R service or another support service that can help overcome problem gambling. Triple R stands for ‘reflect, refresh and realise’ as the service helps people to reflect on their situation, refresh their thinking, and realise their own potential.

To find out more about how you or someone you know can overcome a gambling addiction visit www.triplerservices.com.au.


Further reading

• Getup: Petition for Pokie Reform
• Media Release: MA joins campaign to advance poker machine reform
• All gambling related stories from MA 

 

Wollongong benefits from passionate financial counselling volunteer

Following in the footsteps of recent Order of Australia Medal recipient, Don Ward, Sharad Kotwal has been providing financial counselling services to families in need through Mission Australia's Triple R services in Wollongong.

"Over the past seven years Sharad has proved himself to be an outstanding financial counselling volunteer," said John Brett, manager Triple R Centre. "At the end of each financial year he also provides assistance for families completing their tax returns.

"Sharad is always glad to hear his clients report a favourable tax return or financial decision - it proves that when professional skills are shared they can build a stronger community, while contributing to each individual's process of transformation," said John.

As part of Mission Australia's Triple R services, Sharad works with a team of professionals who provide counselling and community education services.  Triple R relies on volunteers like Sharad to enable the service to diversify into four key areas: financial counselling, gambling counselling, youth financial literacy, and youth gambling counselling.

Triple R operates in NSW metro, regional and rural communities.  For more information please see our website, click here for details.