More financial counsellors to help problem gamblers
Fifty new financial counselling positions across Australia will increase access to free counselling for people affected by problem gambling.
The Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, and the Minister for Community Services, Julie Collins, today announced the successful organisations that will deliver these services as part of the Gillard Government’s $22.6 million funding boost.
“The Gillard Government understands that many Australians enjoy gambling responsibly. But for others it can have devastating consequences,” Ms Macklin said.
“Many problem gamblers are in severe financial difficulty by the time they seek help, and financial counsellors can help them get back on their feet.”
The financial counsellors will work closely with existing state government funded gambling help services when they run community outreach, work with gaming venues and make referrals to existing services, including Emergency Relief and microfinance.
“Problem gamblers across every state and territory will be able to access these new services, with 17 positions in New South Wales, 10 in Queensland, nine in Victoria, four in South Australia, three in Tasmania, three in the Northern Territory, two in Western Australia, and two in the ACT,” Ms Collins said.
“We know that problem gambling affects up to five million Australians, including friends, family and employers of people with a gambling problem.
“That is why we are working hard to deliver genuine, long-lasting reforms to help problem gamblers and their families.”
This investment in additional financial counsellors to tackle problem gambling is part of the Gillard Government’s funding of more than $490 million for the Financial Management Program.
|
Organisation |
Area |
|---|---|
|
Care Inc |
ACT – North |
|
Mission Australia |
ACT – South South Eastern (NSW) |
|
Creating Links Cooperative Ltd |
Canterbury-Bankstown (NSW) |
|
Wagga Wagga Family Support Service |
Murrumbidgee-Murray (NSW) |
|
Wesley Mission |
Fairfield-Liverpool (NSW) Inner Sydney (NSW) St George-Sutherland (NSW) |
|
Granville Multicultural Community Centre Inc |
Central Western Sydney (NSW) |
|
Anglicare North Coast |
Richmond-Tweed (NSW) |
|
Kempsey Neighbourhood Centre Inc |
Mid-North Coast (NSW) |
|
Wyong Neighbourhood Centre Inc |
Central Coast (NSW) |
|
CentaCare Willcania Forbes |
North Western-Far West (NSW) |
|
CatholicCare |
Inner Western Sydney (NSW) |
|
Samaritans Foundation |
Hunter (NSW) |
|
CatholicCare Social Services |
Blacktown (NSW) |
|
The Salvation Army Moneycare |
Northern (NSW) Sunshine Coast (QLD) Caboolture – Pine Rivers – Redcliffe (QLD) Far North (QLD) |
|
Illawarra Legal Centre Inc |
Illawarra (NSW) |
|
Lifeline Central West Inc |
Central West (NSW) |
|
Anglicare NT |
Darwin (NT) Alice Springs (NT) Katherine (NT) |
|
UnitingCare Community |
Mackay (QLD) Northern-North west (QLD) Wide Bay – Burnett (QLD) Ipswich City (QLD) Gold Coast (QLD) |
|
Youth and Family Service (Logan City) Inc |
Logan City (QLD) |
|
Lifeline Darling Downs and South West Queensland Ltd |
Darling Downs – South West (QLD) |
|
Anglicare SA Inc |
Eyre – Northern (SA) |
|
UnitingCare Wesley Country SA |
Yorke and Lower North – Murray Lands – South East (SA) |
|
Relationships Australia (South Australia) Health Promotion Services |
Adelaide (SA) Outer Adelaide (SA) |
|
Anglicare Tasmania Inc |
Mersey-Lyell (TAS) Southern – Greater Hobart (TAS) Northern (TAS) |
|
Springvale Community Aid and Advice Bureau Inc |
Greater Dandenong City (VIC) |
|
Lentara UnitingCare |
Hume City (VIC) Moreland City (VIC) |
|
ISIS Primary Care |
Western Melbourne (VIC) Melton-Wyndham (VIC) |
|
Latrobe Community Health Service Inc |
Gippsland – East Gippsland (VIC) |
|
Victorian Aboriginal Health Service Co-operative Limited |
Northern Middle Melbourne (VIC) |
|
Odyssey House Victoria |
Inner Melbourne (VIC) |
|
Diversitat |
Western District – Barwon (VIC) |
|
Centrecare Inc |
Perth (WA) |
|
Ngaanyatjarra Council |
Remote WA |