Annual Report 2012 - Lifeline Darling Downs

Gambling Help
Lifeline Darling Downs & South West Queensland Ltd 2012 Annual Report
by Gayle Sainsbury, Senior Practitioner Cluster 2
& Kate Greener, Manager State Funding
The Gambling Help Program responds to the immediate needs of individuals and families
who have been adversely affected by gambling through the provision of counselling and
referral to other support services. This program also increases the level of community
awareness by providing community education through information and networking sessions
about the adverse consequences and risk of harm associated with gambling in order to
minimize the risk and prevalence and incidence of problem gambling. The staff also liaise
with gambling venues and supports them with adhering to the Responsible Gambling Code
of Practice and also provides venue staff training around the affects that excessive gambling
has on individuals and families. This Program is funded by the Department of Communities.
The Team
Gayle Sainsbury is the Senior Practitioner of this program.
The counselling team consists of Gayle Sainsbury, Lesley Spring, Asha Honeysett and
Sonia Muller.
Our long serving administration person, Joy Cook retired this year and Katrina Marsh has
taken up this position.
Lesley Spring is also the Supervisor of Community Education.
Peter Nightingale is the Community Educator; Linda Maurer sadly resigned last year as
Community Educator.
Mary Mclean is the Financial Counsellor.
Achievements
In spite of changes in some key staff areas, the client service has not diminished in any
way and the program continues to provide high quality therapy and education around
responsible gambling. Client feedback has been consistently encouraging. Client
numbers have also steadily increased during the last six months.
This year the Gambling Help Program has supported 104 people who were
experiencing difficulties due to excessive gambling.
Two informative and high quality newsletters have been published highlighting
interesting stories and useful information for service providers and clients.
The Community Educators have been extremely busy this year visiting:
o 205 Community Agencies
o 74 Health Services
o 225 Gambling Venues
The team has presented information sessions to three Community Groups, set up
displays in three Libraries, held 17 Gambling Awareness sessions to 549 people,
attended 14 interagency meetings, presented Gambling Awareness education sessions
at Mt Lofty High School and held two support groups for clients.
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