Media coverage - Herald Sun: Owen Craigie warns of gambling pitfalls

Be it horses, trots, greyhounds, poker machines or card games, you name it and former NRL star Owen Craigie used to punt on it. Hardcore.

For 12 years, Craigie wrestled the daily demons of a gambling addiction that ultimately cost him everything that he had earned from playing rugby league.

In total, he lost more than $1.5 million. Houses, relationships, friends, family - Craigie went all in and lost the lot. If ever rugby league needed a reminder about the damage gambling can do, this is it.

Broken to the point where he contemplated suicide, Craigie turned to psychologist Phillip Hilder and Gamblers Anonymous for help.

Slowly, he's confronted his addictive personality and the triggers behind it to the point where he has rebuilt his life to work as a gambling education officer for Mission Australia in Newcastle.

"The topic of gambling in Aboriginal communities is just as big as your drugs, alcohol, domestic violence and your sexual abuse.

"Back in the day, I'd gamble every day. When you've got an addiction and a disease, that's what you do. There's no line, there's no limits; reality is you've got a problem.

Described by Andrew Johns as "the most naturally talented player I played with", Craigie made his NRL debut as a schoolboy aged 16 and won a grand final with Newcastle when he was 18.

During his 10-year, 153-game NRL career with the Knights, the Wests Tigers and South Sydney, he pocketed more than $1.5 million in earnings.

In between training and game days, his life was built around TABs and pubs in Newcastle, Rozelle and Redfern, always chasing the next big collect.

These days, instead of rushing to his local every Saturday to settle in for an afternoon of punting, you will find Craigie preaching the value of education.

As part of Mission Australia's Gambling Smart project, he has travelled to 11 Aboriginal communities in the past eight months and has nine communities still to go.

As far north as Tweed Heads, as far south as Nowra, west to Brewarrina and then in the Sydney suburbs of Redfern, Mt Druitt and Campbelltown, Craigie talks about everything from the stolen generation and alcoholism to the awful habit of sniffing petrol and glue.

Read the full article here

New ACT problem gambling service
Last week Mission Australia officially opened its new office in Canberra from where it is providing the ACT’s nation leading Problem Gambling Support Service, which commenced on 1 July 2011.

This service is an Australian first, with a focus on both preventing gambling problems and supporting those currently experiencing problems.

Clients can access the support service in a number of ways including face-to-face and over the phone. The number is 1800 858 858.

Read more about the launch here

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

Good luck, Roosters!

The Sydney Roosters have been great supporters of Mission Australia in 2010. Now clients and staff from our Sydney services are getting behind the team as they prepare for Sunday’s NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final.

As charity partners in our Community Engagement Program, throughout the year Sydney Roosters players have mentored clients and visited our Community Services in the city and eastern suburbs.

Over winter the players donated their time to train Mission Australia clients from the Liverpool Centre, Harris Park Hostel and the Mission Australia Centre in Sydney’s inner city.

The Michael Project's Recreation Officer, Adam Bowden – who co-designed the City to Surf training schedule – said local support for the Roosters has been overwhelming.

“The interaction with the Roosters players our clients have had over the year has really endeared the team to our guys,” he said.

“This relationship, coupled with the generous gifts of Roosters paraphernalia provided by the club, has enabled our clients to feel a sense of inclusion in the festive build up to Sunday’s Grand Final.

“Strutting around in the team colours and boasting to all and sundry about them knowing the players, has really elevated the self-esteem of many of our clients. The sensitivity and compassion the Roosters players have displayed when interacting with our clients, has been nothing short of inspirational.

“What ever the outcome of Sunday’s game, the Roosters are all ready winners in my eyes.”

Mission Australia wishes the Sydney Roosters all the best for Sunday. Go Chooks!

Stand up and speak out - response to Timana Tahu's Origin resignation

For those of you in AFL States, the eastern seaboard has been rocked over race related statements by Andrew Johns at the training camp for the State of Origin.

Over the weekend, Timana Tahu quit the NSW State of Origin team, accusing Andrew Johns of sledging other races.

In a statement released yesterday Timana said "I believe I am a role model for children and I did this [quit the team] to show my kids this type of behaviour is wrong.

"This isn't about me or Andrew Johns, it's about arresting racism and standing up for my beliefs.

"Leaving Origin was a really big decision for me and I'd like to clarify that it was not just one racial comment directed at one individual that offended me. The remarks were directed at various races and the situation I encountered was totally unacceptable,” said Timana.

So, you may ask why I lead this blog with the story of racism in the NRL, well racism exists every where, in cricket, in the AFL, and in the workplace.

Some hide behind a stance of freedom of speech, yet forget the human and citizen rights of those whom they attack to live in a country free of racial vilification.

I have met Timana on a number of occasions and I guarantee his stand is not to make himself a hero; it is to bring to the attention of the average person how confronting the language we use can be, and how much pain can be inflicted. In the NRL and the AFL nearly one third of players are of Aboriginal background.

If you are offended by language that is used you have a right to state its impact on you, without this stand we are allowing the comment-makers to assume support. Remember that up to 30 per cent of Mission Australia clients are of Aboriginal background.

If you hear someone making racial comments you too can stand up and speak up.

Today's piece is from Steve Cochrane - Mission Australia's National Aboriginal Advisor. 

Read more about Steve's work at our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander page: www.missionaustralia.com.au/community-services/aboriginal