Pause Off The Pokies Public Information Day

It was with much celebration that the GIS(NSW) Inc. launched their latest community education resource—Less than Even : the hidden costs of gambling (a community education video funded by the CCBF) at a major public event in Nowra on 13 May 2005

The day succeeded in attracting a variety of community service providers, members of the public, local councillors and gambling industry representatives. This was an opportunity to premiere the video and facilitate some community consultation on points raised within it. The program commenced with an indigenous “welcome to country” and great Didgeridoo performance by a Kristian Jarrett young member of the local aboriginal community. Shortly followed by the official opening by Ms. Susan Kelly Acting Manager of the Casino Community Community Benefit unit (DGR). After watching the video the audience split into small groups to complete both individual and group qualitative feedback exercises. This yielded considerable useful feedback which will form part of a final project report. questions considered the impacts of the video on both the audience members and perceptions of it usefulness in the community. Ideas for change were also discussed along with how to get stated.

Impacts of the video seemed to have been wide ranging with general consensus being that this had been an enlightening experience and the video considered a valuable resource for a variety of target audiences. This was extremely good to hear, after what has been a major project for the past 8-months.

After a delicious lunch we went on to welcome Streetwize Communications who had joined with us to launch their own community education resource “Off the Press” a comic specifically dealing with problem gambling in the Koori community (also CCBF funded). Much of the work for this had involved Shoalhaven aboriginal services.

The afternoon heralded a community panel with members made up of counselling practitioners, people affected by problem gambling and the producer of the video. This was a good opportunity to share ideas, as well as commend those who had shared so much of their personal journey to educate others. It certainly was a day to acknowledge all those who had given some much into the project. A real community effort.

The day concluded with a wry look at gambling through the eyes of Kate Roberts chairperson GIS(NSW) in her poem—an extension of the infamous Walrus & the Carpenter—by Louis Carroll from Through the Looking Glass.

Overall we felt the day was a resounding success and participant feedback certainly upheld this. It had been 6-months planning and hard work but very worthwhile and we had excellent coverage form Win Television who gave us a great article on the news that night.

Including exerts from the video.

This was our major event for Responsible Gambling Awareness Week (May 10-16th) along with a library exhibition, morning tea for the women ‘s More to life Program and a number of radio interviews. We felt we did our bit to create a better awareness in our own community and provide a range of information resources for those looking for support.

So..... We Would like to hear what you did too and ideas/plans for next year . On the grapevine we have heard that the NSW Council of Problem Gambling & the Association Gaming Machine Manufactures will get more involved next year and we hope to make this a national l event. So keep in touch and share your ideas by writing to us.

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