Assisting regional Victorians to reduce gambling harm

Young Victorians, Aboriginal communities and culturally and linguistically diverse groups are the focus of five new projects awarded funding under the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation’s Prevention Grants for Regional and Rural Victoria program.

The Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Marlene Kairouz, has announced the outcomes of the $247,000 funding round, which encouraged proposals from local organisations to collaborate on gambling harm prevention activities in their region.

The grants have been awarded to:

• South Gippsland Shire Council for its project, Community champions go gambling free, which will work with the rural communities of Mirboo North and Leongatha to develop policies and activities to reduce harm from pokies and other forms of gambling
• Bethany Community Support Inc. to work with 15–25 year-olds in Hamilton, Warrnambool and Geelong to develop local, targeted information about gambling harm that will resonate with young people
• Mallee Sports Assembly Inc. to engage with local sporting clubs in the Northern Mallee region to investigate the prevalence of gambling in these venues and the impact on the community, especially Aboriginal and young people, and to provide support through information sessions
• Bendigo Family and Financial Services Inc. to conduct a pilot education program in the Bendigo region for people under 25 years who receive Centrelink Newstart or Youth Allowance to learn about risks of gaming, such as micro transactions and loot boxes, and the normalisation of gambling through gaming
• Mungabareena Aboriginal Corporation to develop a ‘Koori Event Kit’ to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, and members of the Aboriginal, African, Nepalese and Filipino communities in Wodonga to run 'Cultural Festivals' the heart of community health – events that increase local knowledge of gambling harm risks and raise awareness of Gambler's Help services.

Find out more about the Foundation's Prevention Grants for Regional and Rural Victoria program.