The Gambling Impact Society has been busy this year working with people affected by gambling harms to bring their stories to the community to make a difference. Our project team including: Barbara, Kate, Joan and Alisha have been recruiting, training and supporting a team of Consumer Voices/Lived Experience peer educators across the state. We now have a diverse and dynamic team of 21 speakers, working together with our partner Gambling Help counsellors, sharing their personal journeys with gambling to a wide range of audiences.
In South West Sydney and Hunter/Newcastle regions the Consumer Voices program has successfully delivered 31-community education sessions to over 740 participants. These have been hosted through 30 different community and welfare agencies over the past six-months and many more sessions are planned for early next year (January – April).
The Lived Experience (Online Gambling) program has successfully recruited from the Northern Rivers, Mid-North Coast, Greater Sydney, Southern Tablelands, Illawarra and Shoalhaven. The program has recently commenced delivery and will be taking the program into these areas between January and May next year.
As Kate Roberts, Executive Officer of the Gambling Impact Society says, “sharing personal stories of gambling harms is a powerful way to increase community awareness, promote understanding and break down barriers to help-seeking. Hearing about the issue, told from the heart, cuts through with audiences at so many different levels. It is also proving an empowering activity for many of our speakers as they tell their stories to make a difference.”
For further information or to book a 1-hour FREE community education session for your staff or client group please contact us: info@gisnsw.org.au