A program aiming to disrupt the link between online gaming and gambling-based behaviour which was initially delivered thanks to Altona North Primary School pupils has been named as a finalist in the 2022 Victorian Health Promotion Awards.
Delivered by leading arts and community development organisation Kids Thrive, The Bridge saw pupils and artists collaborate during the COVID-19 pandemic to designing a prevention and early intervention program to raise awareness of the addictive nature of gaming and potential links to gambling harm.
The program involved a series of online prevention and early intervention learning resources designed to help teachers and community educators teach children how to identify risky behaviours, develop self-control strategies and build protection from future gambling harm.
The program was named as a finalist for the Future Healthy Award, which recognises a health promotion organisation or program working with Victoria’s young people facing greater barriers to improve their health and wellbeing.
VicHealth chief executive Dr Sandro Demaio said all of the finalists deserve recognition for their work.
“They have all played a big part in enhancing the health and wellbeing of their respective communities across Victoria,” he said.
“It’s a chance for us to say an enormous thank you for the work they do to improve the health of our communities.”
The winners will be announced on Monday, February 13.
