QBE Big Dry brings in big funds for Triple Care Farm

QBE staff, customers and suppliers who came together as part of this year’s QBE Big Dry have raised more than $60,000 for Mission Australia’s Triple Care Farm – our residential program for young people experiencing homelessness, substance abuse and mental health issues.

The QBE Big Dry, now in its nineteenth year, ended last week at an event held at the international insurance group’s Sydney headquarters.

Among the guests were QBE CEO Frank O’Halloran, Mission Australia CEO Toby Hall, NSW Waratahs team member and Mission Australia supporter Drew Mitchell, as well as Nicholle Sullivan, Supervising Psychologist at Triple Care Farm.

Former Triple Care Farm student Jason also took time out of his studies to attend. He eloquently reassured event guests that their efforts were all for a worthwhile cause. The 22-year-old was referred to the Southern Highlands program last year when he was struggling with alcohol dependence, depression and problem gambling.

Jason flourished during his three-month stay at Triple Care Farm and was awarded a scholarship at the 2010 graduation ceremony. Now studying a Bachelor of Clinical Practice (Paramedics), he said he is eager to give back to the community.

“I really believe in that place – in the structure of it,” he said. “Without the staff there Triple Care Farm would just be a bunch of buildings in the bush. The combination of the place and the people there make it really worthwhile.

“I am happy to speak at any event about Triple Care Farm because they helped me so much,” he said. “I would do anything for them because they’ve done wonders for me – Triple Care Farm changed my life around.”

Mission Australia sincerely thanks QBE for its ongoing and very generous support as well as everyone who participated to raise funds for Triple Care Farm.

For every dollar donated to Mission Australia from The Big Dry, QBE also donated 50 cents to Create Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation that seeks to empower children and young people placed in out-of-home care through direct service provision and systemic advocacy.

Find out more about Triple Care Farm here

Clothes maketh the man at our Fairlight Centre

Hitting the shops for a bit of ‘retail therapy’ is something many Australians take for granted. But for Gary*, a client at our Fairlight Centre in Sydney, buying new clothes is a very new experience.

The 45-year-old has battled with alcoholism and problem gambling for most of his adult life. He’s drifted in and out of homelessness for the best part of a decade, and has also suffered from anxiety and depression.

This time when Gary arrived at Mission Australia’s Fairlight Centre, which supports homeless, alcoholic or drug-addicted men to make the transition back into mainstream society, he was determined to make positive changes to his life once and for all.

“He was in a bad way when he came here,” said Kevin Kingsbeer, the centre’s Team Leader and Case Manager. “He’d been drinking 12 to 14 litres of wine a day and was in and out of our overnight beds. But he was at that stage when he was really open to help.”

Kevin and staff suggested to Gary that they work together to admit him to a detox program. Part of the plan involved Gary working to improve his general hygiene and living skills.

The ‘make-over’ began with a haircut: “I said if you get a haircut and buy some hair and skin products, I’ll bring in some of my old clothes from home – and he was willing to give it a go,” said Kevin.

After a haircut, shower and change of clothes, Kevin took a photo to show Gary the difference – the response was a big smile and a ‘Hey, I look good’.

“From that day on his whole demeanour has changed,” Kevin said. “He has a new-found self-confidence, is walking with his head held high and with a spring in his step.”

With support from the team at Fairlight, Gary managed to curb his gambling and save some money for new clothes.

“I told him that $200 would buy him four new outfits and he was amazed,” said Kevin. “He had literally never shopped for new clothing, so he had no idea what they cost.”

After a visit to the local mall – a new experience after so many years living on the fringe of society – Gary was kitted out with new jeans, cargo pants, shirts, T-shirts, shoes and underwear.

“He was so wrapped and the transformation was absolutely incredible,” said Kevin. “The other residents all commented on how good he looked. The whole process has also been very uplifting and rewarding for our staff.”

Gary recently started walking for an hour a day as part of an exercise program. And since his ‘make-over’ he’s also got back into contact with his parents, who were so overjoyed they emailed the Fairlight Centre to thank them for their support and the photos they sent.

“He looks good after all this time and seems well,” they wrote. “Let’s hope he can overcome the disease and get the help he needs.”

The good news is that Gary is receiving the help he needs. This week he entered a three-month detox program with a new sense of pride, confidence and a willingness to succeed. On completion, he will return to our Fairlight Centre where he’ll be supported to move into independent living.

In Kevin’s words: “It’s amazing what a good pair of pants, shirt, vest and shoes can do!”

Well done, Gary, and all the best over the coming months.

*Name has been changed.

MA supporters favour practical measures in dealing with problem gambling - Online Poll

Since the release of the Productivity Commission's Report into Gambling we can now identify that approximately 100,000 'problem gamblers' are providing around 40 per cent of all poker machine revenue in Australia - a deeply concerning fact when considering the wider implications on gamblers, their families and friends.

Since June we have been polling MA supporters on our Homepage, asking:

"In dealing with problem gambling, which of these strategies do you agree with most?"

The response options were the Productivity Commission recommendations deemed 'most urgent' by our CEO.

It's interesting to see that supporters strongly favour practical measures, similar to the strategies used to deal with binge drinking (click image to enlarge):

As reported by SMH in June:

"The Productivity Commission estimated that about 600,000 Australians - or 4 per cent of the population - play the games at least once a week. About 15 per cent of those players, or 100,000 people, are considered "problem gamblers", the report said. They account for about 40 per cent of total spending on the machines."

With statistics like these our CEO Toby Hall has called on State and Federal Governments to swiftly implement the recommendations of the Report.

Click here and have your say today!

Media Release: Action needed to reduce problem gambling

Mission Australia, one of the nations leading community service charities, has called on the State and Federal Governments to swiftly implement the recommendations of the Productivity Commission's Report into Gambling released on Wednesday, to reduce the impact of problem gambling on Australians.

“Mission Australia sees the human face of problem gambling in our services every single day,” said Toby Hall, Mission Australia CEO.

“Problem gambling causes not only financial crisis and bankruptcy, it contributes to family and relationship breakdown, homelessness, depression and even suicide.

“We would like to see practical measures like $1 bet limits on poker machines and mandatory shutdown times in gaming venues quickly put in place. This will help reduce the number of people with a gambling problem and reduce the impact on those already struggling to cope with their addiction.

“We urge governments at all levels to implement the Productivity Commission recommendations to reduce problem gambling as soon as practically possible.”

Mr Hall welcomed the news that the federal government has indicated it will support further harm minimisation programs for poker machines, but said it was disappointing there has been no commitment or time frame to implement the recommendations.

With poker machines accounting for 75-80 percent of problem gamblers, the Commission was right focus on further restrictions on poker machines, Mr Hall said.

“Poker machines are far and away the most prolific form of gambling by the clients of our gambling counselling services,” said Mr Hall

“We can not tackle problem gambling without looking at further restrictions on poker machines.”

“According to the Commission’s own figures, around 40 percent of the revenue from poker machines comes directly from problem gamblers.

“We can not continue to base such a large chunk of a sector’s revenue on taking money from people with an addiction”.

Mr Hall said that the measures outlined in the report that should be quickly implemented include:

• Lowering bet limits on poker machines to one dollar per button push (equating to losses of around $120 an hour as opposed to the current level of up to $1500) as well as setting limits on how much can be put in a machine at any one time. 
• Mandatory shutdown times for gaming rooms in hotels and clubs, as there is ample evidence that this is when high-risk gamblers are more likely to gamble and they are also often likely to be under the influence of alcohol.
• Removing ATMs from gaming areas. This is regularly cited by problem gamblers as something which would assist them to manage their gambling as it forces them to take a time out and leave the area. This is already being put in place in some jurisdictions.
• Additional funding for further gambling counselling services and improved training and education for counsellors.

Media contact:  Patrick Flynn ph. 0407 411 256