Multicultural – CALD – Gamblers Help – Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District

Settlement Services International (SSI) is glad to announce that the Multicultural Gambling Harm Prevention Services (MGHPS) program is now up and running. The program offers a variety of free services for individuals and families experiencing negative effects from gambling in Victoria. Specific counselling support will be designed for individuals from Middle Eastern, Iranian, Afghani, Burmese, Indian, Sudanese, and Pasifika backgrounds.

New multicultural support for people experiencing gambling harm

A new multicultural service provided by Settlement Services International and funded by the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation will support individuals, families and communities experiencing gambling harm.

Multicultural Gambling Harm Prevention Services aims to provide confidential, in-language counselling support that is informed by culture. MGHPS is available to all, but designed especially for migrants and their communities, family, and friends.

Specific counselling support will be designed for individuals from Middle Eastern, Iranian, Afghani, Burmese, Indian, Sudanese, and Pasifika backgrounds.

The services are part of the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation’s ongoing commitment to provide treatment and support to people affected by gambling harm.

“Through both face-to-face and online services, we aim to provide a safe environment for migrant, refugee, and multicultural community members to overcome the challenges associated with gambling and recover from the related harm,” said Jaynelle Samuels, Therapeutic Counsellor for Multicultural Gambling Harm Prevention Services.

“Multicultural Gambling Harm Prevention Services considers the whole person, while aiming to address harmful gambling behaviours. The service uses culturally informed planning to meet clients’ full needs. “Culturally informed planning involves the encouragement of a person’s connection to culture, religion, language and community,” she said.

Multicultural programs such as Multicultural Gambling Harm Prevention Services are of particular importance as migrant communities, much like any other Australian community, are at risk of the harms associated with gambling. The effects of gambling within migrant communities are compounded by unique stressors such as language barriers, isolation from family or community, and stigma.

Tailored gambling harm support fills critical gap for CALD communities
This counselling service is for people who:

are struggling to manage their finances
feel they spend too much time or money on gambling
know someone who is gambling and are affected/hurt financially or personally
borrow money to gamble
feel guilty or stressed about gambling
have financial problems because of gambling
have problems within their family due to gambling
struggle with maintaining friendships due to gambling.

To learn more about Settlement Services International’s Multicultural Gambling Harm Prevention Services, visit the website here, or call our hotline on 1800 329 192.

Services include:

1:1 counselling
referral support
online, mobile and in-person group and family therapy
other supports

Intake and referral contact details are:
Intake Line: 1 800 329 192
Email: gamblingharmprevention@ssi.org.au
Multicultural Gambling Harm Prevention Website

Additional Gambling Resources: Adults and teens

	The Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District acknowledges the Yorta Yorta People of the land which comprises the Goulburn Valley. We pay respect to tribal Elders, past, present and emerging and we celebrate their continuing culture and acknowledge the memory of their ancestors.
	The Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District is a peak body whose mission is to promote and represent the social, cultural and economic well-being of ethnic communities in the Goulburn Valley Region through the provision of quality and innovative settlement, refugee support, community development, and information and advocacy services.