THE Shoalhaven based Gambling Impact Society (GIS) is preparing to do more work in the community and hopes to raise further awareness about gambling addiction.
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Allison Keogh has been the chairperson for the past 12 months and said the group had many successes this year with more progress to be made..
“I think really building our consumer voice program has been one of our major successes,” she said.
“This program has true value in it and shows gambling addiction can happen to anyone.”
She said the value of the program comes from the experience and role of people affected by problem gambling have in being peer leaders in individual recovery and community education programs.
The project aims to increase community awareness and education about problem gambling and its impacts.
It’s now, after starting in the South Coast, being rolled out to other areas in NSW.
Ms Keogh also wants the society to build on the momentum gained from the ABC documentary Ka-Ching:Pokies Nation.
She said documentary exposed the technologies involved with poker machines that makes them so addictive- right down to the music, how losses are made to be wins and how near misses encourage people to keep on playing.
“Poker machines are labeled as having just a bit of a flutter. However, putting in just $1 can lead to addiction,” she said.
Ms Keogh wants more people to see the documentary, which will be shown locally on Wednesday December 9 from 2pm to 4.30pm at the Nowra Showground Pavilion Committee Room followed by a general discussion and afternoon tea.
Go to www.pokiesplayyou.org.au/647/ka_ching_pokies_nation_community_impacts_discussion?recruiter_id=647 to book your spot.
Because she wants the role to be shared she will stand down as GIS chairperson at the December 9 meeting but will still be connected with the group.
Ms Keogh is the the GIS’s representative on the board of the Alliance for Gambling Reform a recently formed alliance of about 50 community agencies nationally who are pressing for the reform of poker machine technology and a public health approach to gambling in the community.
She wants all gambling support groups to work together.
Ms Keogh is also a strong supporter of the dangers of gambling being taught in schools, but added the program must be the correct one.