The Andrews Labor Government is providing $170,000 for a project that will focus on preventing gambling harm in the City of Whittlesea.

State MPs Lily D’Ambrosio and Danielle Green congratulated the City of Whittlesea on their successful proposal to look at ways of preventing gambling harm in their community.

The City of Whittlesea has received $170,000 as part of the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation’s Prevention Partnerships Program 2019-21 Funding Round. The program supports community organisations to test new ideas and build evidence to help prevent gambling harm.

The funding will support the Whittlesea Youth Gambling Harm Awareness Initiative -This project will adopt a co-design approach to develop and implement strategies to prevent gambling related harm among young people in the City of Whittlesea particularly those from culturally diverse backgrounds, including a public awareness campaign.

Fourteen community-based, not-for-profit organisations will receive a share of almost $2 million under the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation’s 2019-21 Prevention Partnerships Program.

The grants were announced as part of Gambling Harm Awareness Week (7–13 October) during which communities are encouraged to talk about the issue of gambling harm, share their personal experiences and support those affected as part of the theme TALK. SHARE. SUPPORT.

Around 550,000 Victorians experience harm from their own gambling each year, with up to six more affected as part of someone else’s gambling.

To participate in a conversation about gambling harm on social media, use #GamblingHarm and/or #TalkShareSupport.

For more information about the Prevention Partnerships Program and funded projects, visit responsiblegambling.vic.gov.au.

Minister for Gaming and Liquor Regulation Marlene Kairouz:

 “This investment in local gambling harm prevention projects will ensure our residents within the City of Whittlesea will have support from people within their own community.”

Quotes attributable to Lily D’Ambrosio, Member for Mill Park:

 “Gambling harm is often hidden because people feel uncomfortable talking about it. I commend the City of Whittlesea for tackling this through their innovative project/s.

Quotes attributable to Danielle Green, Member for Yan Yean:

“It is great to see this public awareness campaign focusing on at-risk groups within the City of Whittlesea, particularly young people from culturally diverse backgrounds”

In welcoming the awarding of the $170,000 grant from the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation for a two year project, City of Whittlesea Councillor Sam Alessi said:

“The project will go a long way in raising awareness of the harmful effects of gambling, especially our youth in which research shows that in a 12 month period around two-thirds of teenagers have gambled and up to a quarter of young people have participated in sports betting.”