MGHP is listening
Multicultural Gambler's Help Program (MGHP) is funded by the Department of Justice to build capacity with Gambler’s Help (GH) services and to support strategies in prevention and intervention in problem gambling with migrant and refugee communities.
Annually, we align our operational plan to the work that GH services undertake, specifically looking for partnership opportunities to support those services. MGHP actively seek to hear what it is GH services need to better service their culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) clients. In May, we visited Latrobe Community Health services in Morwell, and this month we stopped by Ararat to visit with Grampians Community Health, Relationships Australia and Wimmera Uniting Care.
To discover how MGHP could continue to best support GH services in 2011-12, we sent a brief survey to all GH offices requesting feedback. If you would like to return the survey, or arrange for us to visit your service, please contact program manager Cinzia Bonciani on (03) 9342 9719 or email cinziab@ceh.org.au
Social Outings: Don’t gamble with your group – new resource
Social Outings: Don’t gamble with your group is a response to the findings from the Casino Bus Trip Project, an awareness raising project undertaken amongst community groups about the potential risks of bus trips to Crown Casino. The resource aims to provide information on low-to moderate cost non-gambling alternatives to these organised bus trips.
Launched at the Darebin Intercultural Centre by the Mayor of Hume, Helen Patsikatheodorou, approximately 70 people from ethnic senior citizens groups, local government and partner agencies attended. Developed in consultation with communities from Melbourne’s inner and northern suburbs, the resource is part of the problem gambling prevention work that Peer Connection Program Northern have been carrying out in conjunction with Gamblers Help Northern, MGHP and Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre.
Picture (L to R): Cr Helen Patsikatheodorou (Mayor, Hume City Council), Meni Stefanovski (Acting CEO Banyule Community Health), Renee Barbaro (Department of Justice) and Ayse Koksuz (President of the Turkish Women’s Association)
New MGHP resources
If you are interested in information on how to plan strategies for working with CALD communities on problem gambling issues, check out our free MGHP resources!
Community profiles
Find out the behavioural attitudes in CALD communities toward gambling and how to plan an appropriate response by visiting our Community Profiles page. Presently, you will find research and recommended strategies for working with the Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodian and international student communities.
Literature Review
Problem Gambling in CALD Communities is a summary of studies that explore CALD communities’ participation in gambling, the prevalence of problem gambling and the factors that put CALD communities at risk of developing problem gambling. A useful resource for gathering evidence supporting your health promotion interventions, Problem Gambling in CALD Communities can be found here.
Sudanese brochure
Designed in consultation with Sudanese community members, we have a powerful new brochure in Dinka and English which imparts a strong message on the dangers of problem gambling.
Coming soon
Afghani brochure
MGHP is currently working with community leaders in the Afghani community to produce a new brochure in Dari and English. This marketing tool focuses on the trouble problem gambling can bring to the family, and is currently being assessed by the Afghani community for comment.
Karen community DVD
Following discussions between The Western Region Partnership Project and the Karen community in the western suburbs, a new DVD resource in language is planned for release in the second half of 2011. A workshop is planned for Wednesday 22 June with Karen community members in Werribee to develop a script and to scout for actors! If you’re a member of this community and would like to be involved, call Siri on 9342 9727 or email sirig@ceh.org.au
The Western Region Partnership Project is a partnership project involving MGHP, GH Western, New Hope Foundation (NHF) and Health West PCP.
MGHP on the air
A campaign aimed at helping the Dinka and Dari speaking communities with problem gambling issues recently took to the air on SBS Radio. Interviews were held on the SBS Sudanese (Dinka) and Afghani (Dari) programs, as well as on two community radio stations, giving MGHP a wide audience for the Gambler's Help message. MGHP would like to acknowledge and thank Tracey Collins from GH Southern for her work and assistance with these campaigns, Ambrose Mareng from the Dinka community, and The Afghan Australian Philanthropic Association.
Cambodian Problem Gambling Project a first
For the first time in Victoria, a number of Cambodian organisations have come together to tackle problem gambling in their community.
Cambodian Buddhist Association of Victoria (CBAV), GH Southern and the MGHP undertook a problem gambling prevention project in the southern metropolitan region of Melbourne, which included instructing Buddhist Monks how to support people with gambling issues. A highly popular problem gambling DVD was also produced in Khmer and was shown to a wide cross-section of the community. Now complete, the project continues to benefit the Cambodian community with CBAV providing spiritual blessings for problem gamblers and distributing Gambler’s Help information.
Picture (L to R): Siri Gunawardana MGHP, MyTien Lam GH Southern, Muntha Crowe CBAV, Than Thon CBAV, Venerable Ol Sam CBAV, Noroth Som CAV, Absent: Vymala Yim Khmer Wellbeing Fund