Responding to gambling issues and problems for Aboriginal communities in NSW, translating research i

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Responding to gambling issues and problems for
Aboriginal communities in NSW, translating
research into practice.

• Sofia Lema, AHMRC Public Health Policy Officer
  (Gambling)
• Jenny Hunt, AHMRC Public Health Medical officer

We acknowledge the financial support of the
Responsible Gambling Fund for this information
session and the work described
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Aboriginal Health Medical Research Council
(AHMRC) who are we?

• Peak organisation representing 60 Aboriginal
  Community Controlled Health Organisations in NSW
• NSW Affiliate of National Aboriginal Community
  Controlled Health organisation (NACCHO)
• AHMRC business units include
• Public Health
• Aboriginal Health College
• Member Support
• Ethics Committee
• The Coalition for Research to Improve Aboriginal
  Health

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An Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service
is

• An incorporated Aboriginal organisation.
• Initiated by a local Aboriginal community.
• Based in an Aboriginal community.
• Governed by an Aboriginal body, which is elected
  by the local Aboriginal community.
• Delivers a holistic and culturally appropriate
  health service to the community that controls it.
• AMS Redfern established in 1971

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Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services

• Largest employers of Aboriginal people nationally
  
• Important centres of activity and sources of
  pride for Aboriginal communities

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AHMRC NSW Regional Boundaries
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17 year gap

• Close the Gap context

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Aboriginal population

• In NSW in 2006
• 128,688 Aboriginal people in NSW.
• Just over 2 of the total NSW population
• Approximately 29 of the total Aboriginal
  population in Australia.

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Caps on number of electronic gaming machines
(FACSIA 2008)
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How did AHMRC get involved in gambling issues?

• Brief history 2005 - Now

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Aims of AHMRC Gambling Research Project

• Gain perspectives about gambling and its impacts
  for NSW Aboriginal communities
• Identify acceptable and effective measures to
  minimise negative impacts of gambling
• Assess accessibility, appropriateness and
  availability of gambling education, prevention
  and treatment programs for Aboriginal people with
  gambling problems

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AHMRC Gambling research project Methodology

• Literature review
• Aboriginal Community consultations in 9
  communities via ACCHSs
• Formal informal consultations
• Stakeholder interviews
• Gambling treatment service Fact Finder
• Pressing Problems report

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Gambling and Aboriginal people what did
people tell us

• Gambling activities are common in Aboriginal
  communities and a part of life
• Cards (card circles)
• TAB
• Bingo
• Pressing - EGMs
• Inventive ways of gambling throwies.

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Reasons for gambling

• Social
• Relieve boredom, escape
• Belief going to win - to make money
• In response to grief and loss
• Appeal of venues long opening hours, air
  conditioning
• To get away from difficult home environments eg
  overcrowded houses, family tensions or violence

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Problems caused by gambling

• Common
• Often not acknowledged by individuals or at a
  community level
• Impact on a persons self-esteem, trust,
  relationships, children, families and community
• People who gamble lie to the people they are
  close to, and steal from themthey dont mean
  tothey hate themselves afterwards.

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Are Aboriginal people accessing gambling
treatment services?

• Not often stigma is an issue
• If you see a gambling counsellor its saying
  youre a loser
• Many gambling treatment services reported seeing
  only a few Aboriginal people as clients
• We identified only a few Aboriginal-specific
  gambling programs or workers
• Partnerships with Aboriginal groups and
  Aboriginal workers helped improve access

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What would help in the community?

• Breaking down stigma
• Raising community awareness family camps,
  education and awareness raising campaigns etc etc
• Building the Aboriginal workforce
• Developing alternative recreational activities,
  particularly for young people

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Research translated into practise

• Recommendations RGF funded
• Established an Advisory Committee
• Raising community awareness
• Gambling Information Sessions across NSW
• Aboriginal people meeting gambling treatment
  services
• Developing Culturally appropriate resources
• Posters series, Fact Sheet, Webpage, local
  resources
• RGAW Working Party 2008 2009

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Practice AHMRC current activities and plans
Through the Aboriginal Health College

• Developing workforce
• Delivery of Diploma of Problem Gambling
  Counselling key focal point for 2009/2010
• Competency development for non-gambling specific
  Aboriginal community workers about gambling
  issues (e.g. AOD Workers, Mental Health/SEWB,
  AHWs) being able to identify and refer and
  support
• More effective mainstream service provision
  through cultural competence education for
  gambling/financial counsellors Cultural
  Competence Training
• Developing and facilitating partnerships

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Developing services
Building capacity

• Including gambling in other services
• Youth Off The Streets, DOCS, AG Dept, Corrective
  Services, MERIT,
• Screening tool
• Improve identification and referral pathways
• Working with mainstream gambling treatment
  services
• Facilitating local partnerships eg Wagga, Bourke

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Community Report light reading
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Any questions?

• Sofia Lema
• Phone [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• Sofia slema_at_ahmrc.org.au