Lifeline-Annual-Repo.. - Lifeline Darling Downs

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presentation of information sessions and workshops with schools and community groups
around issues of responsible gambling and negative impact of gambling for individuals and
communities.
regular visits and communication with local gambling providers, to network, create
relationships, share information and improve clients’ access to support services through the
gamblingvenues;and
promotion of responsible gambling at local community events, particularly other community
educationalevents,suchasDomesticViolenceWeekevents.
buildingpartnershipsacrossthegamblingsectorinrelevantlocationstoensureclearpathways
forclientswhomaybeexperiencingmultiplecomplexissues,includinggambling;
buildingknowledgeofhumanservicesorganisationsandgamblingprovidersabouttheissues
associatedwithproblemgambling;
fosteringexpertisewithinhumanservicesorganisationstoeffectivelyrecogniseandrespondto
problemgambling;
sharingskillandknowledgewithinthehumanservicessystemandgamblingprovidersofthe
existingservicesystemforproblemgamblers;
ensuring a consistent, bestpractice approach to problem gambling across the
GamblingServicesSystems;and
achievingacoordinated,integratedservicesystemforproblemgamblers.
This program provides specialist services to assist individuals, families and groups who are
experiencingproblemsrelatedtogambling.Specialistservicesincludegeneralandcrisiscounselling,
andresponsestofinancial,relationshipandaddictionissuesresultingfromproblemgambling.
Specificservicesinclude:
facetofacecounsellingtoindividuals,familyorcommunitymembersinrelationtoaddictions,
relationships,financialoracombinationoftheseissues;
telephone counselling to respond more effectively to the needs of individuals, family or
communitymembers;
other personal support services to support individuals and families affected by problem
gambling,includingfinancialinformation,generalinformation,referralandindividualadvocacy
case management services to support individual clients requiring longerterm support to
addressissuesunderlyingproblemgambling,includingneedsassessmentandmanagementof
caseplansforallclients;and
mutual support & selfhelp groups, with a focus on education, awareness raising and group
support.
KeyDevelopments
This program has beenbusy this year and has supported 75 new clients with their gambling
problems.Thisisanaverageof6.25newclientspermonth,continuing sessions held with these 75
clients was 286. This program has always struggled with attracting clientsbecause of the stigma
attached to gambling however these numbers are healthy considering there is only 1 part time
gamblingcounselor.
ThechangeofnewtelephonenumbersforLifelineDarlingDownsmeantthatallofouradvertising
materialneededtoberedesignedanddistributedtoallCommunityAgenciesandthe134Gambling
Venuesinourregion.Thiswasahugechallenge,howeveritwascompletedbydedicatedstaffinthe
promised 6 months, this included designing and printing two new Gambling Help posters and
physicallyvisitingtheservicesinToowoombaandSouthWestQueensland.