Jennifer Pittorino
Young people in Maribyrnong and Brimbank will be able to attend a free webinar about gambling and gaming run by IPC Health’s Financial Counselling and Gambler’s Help team.
The webinar is being run in support of Gambling Harm Awareness Week running from Monday, October 16 to Monday, October 22.
The webinar will be held on Tuesday, October 17, in partnership with Brimbank and Maribyrnong councils.
Community engagement officer Sarah-Jane Blunt said Brimbank and Maribyrnong are partners with the Young Leaders of the West program funded by Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation.
“Our Gambler’s Help program provides service to the local community who are experiencing gambling harm in Brimbank and Maribyrnong,” said Ms Blunt.
“This webinar will provide information to parents about the relationships between online gaming and gambling.
“We will be looking at topics such as what is safe gaming, ways of purchasing things to advance to the next level, like loot boxes or skins, and risk and harms of gambling.”
One of the webinar’s main objectives is to increase parents’ awareness of the relationship between in-app purchases and gambling later in life.
“Also, to make parents aware of the signs and risks of gambling harm and gaming harm, as well as how to seek help for anyone impacted by gambling harm.”
Ms Blunt said gambling can easily become normalised among young people because they have grown up in a world where gambling is seen to be normal.
“People can gamble 24 hours a day, 7 days a week without leaving their homes, there are 948 gambling advertisements shown on free to air TV in one day.”
For every person experiencing gambling harm there are 6-10 other people also impacted.
Ms Blunt said some signs to look out for which might mean someone close to you is experiencing gambling harm can be their increasing social isolation, friends borrow money but never returning it, and friends who are unable to watch a sports game without gambling.
Gambler’s Help provides free counselling for everyone impacted by gambling harm. Help is available 24/7 on 1800 858 858.
Registration: www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1097283
