Page 1540 - Week 05 - Thursday, 7 April 2005
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In 2003-04, Lifeline answered a staggering 20,635 calls. Telephone counsellors spent 475,000 minutes providing counselling and listening to people of the ACT and the region, 3,250 counselling shifts were filled by at least one telephone counsellor and 77 new telephone counsellors were inducted into the service, as I have said. This is a huge contribution to the health and wellbeing of our community.
The ACT government provides important financial support to Lifeline. The funding provided recognises the quality of the service and the valuable role that Lifeline Canberra plays in strengthening our city and our community. In 2004-05, the 24-hour crisis telephone counselling service received funding of $175,000 from the ACT government. Lifeline also receives funding of $165,000 a year to provide Gambling Care, a free gambling and financial counselling service.
That is another vital service. ACT residents who experience gambling addiction are helped to develop skills and supported to manage debt and financial commitments. I understand that Lifeline negotiates with creditors on behalf of clients, exploring options such as reducing payments, loan consolidation, bankruptcy and improving general financial management skills. In 2003-4, Lifeline provided 1,053 hours of counselling and support to problem gamblers and their families.
Clearly, Lifeline Canberra is an important player in understanding the causes and impacts of gambling on individuals and families of the ACT. I am pleased to note that Lifeline Canberra is represented on the ACTCOSS gambling reference group and the National Association for Gambling Studies. These groups partner with the ACT government in working towards a better understanding of the causes and effects of, and responses, to gambling addiction.
Throughout 2003-04, Lifeline provided community education in relation to gambling at 46 events, including 11 sessions on gambling being provided to Lake Tuggeranong College. That was a first for the college system and it demonstrates Lifeline’s recognition that working with young people on early intervention as prevention is a front-line response to alleviating the impacts of problem gambling.
Gambling Care has recently undertaken a six-month project to develop and strengthen relationships with service providers and clients from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The project aims to reduce social isolation amongst people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds who may be facing hardships resulting from problem gambling.
I think it is worth talking about Clubcare. Clubcare is an innovative partnership between Lifeline Canberra and more than 20 licensed clubs across the ACT to ensure that gambling venues offer responsible environments for patrons who gamble. Club patrons can call Lifeline during business hours and speak to a Clubcare counsellor about anything to do with gambling for themselves or a family member or friend. Participating clubs have put up signs around gambling areas offering tips about responsible gambling. In 2003-04, Clubcare trained 800 club staff in the provision of responsible gambling services and launched the inaugural responsible gambling awareness week.
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