The Victorian Multicultural Gambler’s Help Program (VMGHP) assists Gambler’s Help and community organisations to respond to problem gambling issues in culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.

VMGHP is a program of the Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health and funded by the Victorian Department of Justice.

We offer training and resources to help you understand and manage the impact of problem gambling, especially when working with clients from migrant or refugee backgrounds.

We'll have a new website next year. In the meantime, find out more about us here.

News Updates

Problem gambling is a public health issue

Gambler’s Help services are working closely with Primary Care Partnerships (PCPs) to address problem gambling through integrated health promotion strategies.

Problem gambling has been linked to mental health issues such as depression and lack of social connection. Through the PCP framework, Gambler’s Help will work with other health and community services to address these issues.

The Victorian Multicultural Gambler’s Help Program is now working with three northern metropolitan PCPs to build capacity in working with refugee and migrant communities. This partnership focuses on building protective factors, reducing risk factors and raising awareness of problem gambling as a public health issue.

Find out more about Primary Care Partnerships

Statewide problem gambling media campaign

Tony Robinson, Minister for Gaming, has launched a three-year awareness raising program on problem gambling, which will include TV, radio, print and online advertising. The first television advertisements, ‘Take the Problem out of Gambling’ aired on 26 October.

The campaign will also include a range of initiatives targeting people of refugee or migrant backgrounds. Stay tuned for more information.

View the ads and find out more from the revamped problemgambling.vic.gov.au website.

Refugees and problem gambling

VMGHP has recently completed the first Australian study into the impact of problem gambling on Liberian, Somali, Iraqi and Sudanese Dinka communities.

Drawing on the accounts of community members, leaders and organisations, this study shows how the pressures of settlement can make newly-arrived communities vulnerable to problem gambling. It also includes community-devised strategies to address the issue.

VMGHP is about to start a statewide community education campaign with Somali, Iraqi and Eritrean communities. The campaign will involve media, educational resources, outreach activities and face-to-face community education.

Starting early next year, we will hold consultations with community elders and set up reference groups to guide the implementation of the campaign.

Download the VMGHP report

Turkish community benefits from partnership on problem gambling

A partnership between the Meadow Heights Turkish Women’s Association, VMGHP and Gambler’s Help Northern has resulted in a fantastic project to raise awareness of problem gambling.

The project featured interactive workshops, radio interviews and news articles, an in-language poster and brochure campaign, and participation in two Turkish festivals. All activities were identified and driven by the community.

The community and the project taskforce have already reported benefits. Gambler’s Help Northern has seen an increase in the number of Turkish community members accessing their service. Members of the project taskforce also increased their knowledge and skills and feel confident in discussing gambling with community members.

VMGHP would like to thank the entire taskforce for its commitment, enthusiasm and hard work.

To find out more about community partnerships, contact Mary Gavranic on (03) 9342 9719 or maryg@ceh.org.au

It’s been a busy festival season for us! VMGHP had stalls at the North Richmond Moon Lantern Festival, the Turkish Tulip Festival, a Vietnamese student gala event and Eid festivals for the Arabic and Turkish communities.

Festivals present a great opportunity to connect with communities. Our highlight was the work of the Meadow Heights Turkish Women’s Association, which created colourful stalls at the Tulip and Eid festivals as part of a partnership project with VMGHP.

Bilingual worker profile: Meet Ina Tan

In each newsletter, we’ll include a profile of a Gambler’s Help counsellor or bilingual worker, to showcase the diversity of the problem gambling sector.

Ina Tan is based at Gambler’s Help Eastern in Box Hill. She speaks Cantonese and Mandarin and, while she works with a diverse range of clients, her role focuses on the Chinese community.

Problem gambling is a complex issue within the Chinese community as gambling is generally regarded as a recreational and social activity. Ina has a strong working relationship with Chinese Gambling Concern, a volunteer-based group that undertakes education campaigns and runs a telephone-based support service.

Ina says that she is privileged to have clients share their personal struggles with her, and to work alongside them as they rediscover hope and take steps to shape a better future. There are many challenges as well, including working with young people in difficult circumstances with complex personal histories.

On a personal note, Ina loves travelling to places with a rich cultural and historical heritage. She’s hoping to include Egypt in future travels, but is just as happy to return to Hong Kong to see family and friends.

You can access bilingual counsellors by calling Gambler’s Help on 1800 777 706.

Training Opportunities

Training and information sessions for community organisations

VMGHP and Gambler’s Help offer training and information sessions to community organisations around Victoria. These sessions help to increase awareness and understanding of problem gambling and offer ways to assist clients with gambling problems.

Sessions have recently been delivered to AMES, Gippsland Multicultural Services, the Southern Cultural Diversity Network and African communities in the Goulburn Valley.

Participants have been particularly interested to learn about the vast amounts of money spent on gambling in the community, and the signs of problem gambling. They stressed the need to raise awareness of this issue within all Victorian communities.

To organise a free presentation, contact Siri Gunawardana on (03) 93425 9727 or sirig@ceh.org.au

VMGHP provides training workshops to Gambler’s Help services on a range of topics including intake and assessment, working with interpreters, and culturally appropriate health promotion.

To organise a free training workshop tailored to your needs, call Siri Gunawardana on (03) 93425 9727 or sirig@ceh.org.au

The Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health has released its 2009 professional learning calendar. Don’t miss the opportunity to attend interactive and industry-leading workshops on conducting focus groups, developing cultural diversity plans, cultural competency for managers, and several other topics relating to diversity and wellbeing. Workshops cost $150 and are fully catered.

Contact Viv Fox on (03) 9342 9700 or enquiries@ceh.org.au to receive the calendar.

Download the CEH training calendar

Multilingual Resources

Problem gambling brochures

Need information on problem gambling in your language? VMGHP has brochures in Arabic, Chinese, Chin-Lai, Dinka, Khmer, Liberian, Somali, Tigrinya and Vietnamese. Each brochure was developed in close consultation with community leaders and includes targeted information on problem gambling and help seeking.

Contact Mary Gavranic on (03) 9342 9719 or maryg@ceh.org.au to get a free pack sent to you.

Fact sheets on mental health

Multicultural Mental Health Australia has released a series of fact sheets covering depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. Not only are these available in more than 20 languages, they have also been adapted for people with vision impairments.

Download the fact sheets from the MMHA website

COMING UP: Events in the Community

26 NOV 08: Now We’re Talking – a panel on the future of language services
The future of language services is up for debate at this panel discussion at the Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health in Carlton. Panellists from the health, training and local government sectors will discuss the most significant challenges in language service provision, and how they can be met. To RSVP, contact Viv Fox on (03) 9342 9700 or enquiries@ceh.org.au

14 NOV – 15 DEC 08: Women, Wellbeing and Self-Care
Gambler’s Help Southern and the Springvale Indochinese Mutual Assistance Association present a six-week program for Vietnamese women, focussing on body image, self-esteem, mental health and relaxation. For more information, contact MyTien on (03) 8558 9121.

2 DEC 08: Lessons learnt - building the social enterprise sector in Australia
A panel discussion presented by AMES and featuring Cheryl Kernot. For more information contact Irena Miljkovic on (03) 8398 4700 or miljkovici@ames.net.au

7 DEC 08: Health expo at Braybrook
Find out more about local health services at this free family event at the Braybrook Community Centre. Call (03) 9334 6600 for more information.

12 DEC 08: Reclaim yourself – women’s workshops
Gambler’s Help Northern and Banyule Community Health present a series of workshops to explore the issues that impact on isolated women and create social connection. Find out more by calling 1300 133 445.