Anglicare Victoria is confident its financial literacy programs will have an impact on long-term problem gambling in the community.
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The organisation held sessions with five Bendigo secondary schools and prisons in the region with the aim of improving financial awareness.
Anglicare Victoria case management services manager for the St Luke’s region, Tracey Granter, said the initial feedback from schools had been positive.
Anglicare Victoria was the only organisation exploring the links between poor financial literacy and problem gambling, she said.
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The organisation is also helping develop training, screening tools and resources to build the capacity of workers in the criminal justice system to both identify and appropriately respond to clients affected by gambling harm.
Anglicare Victoria presented its work to a Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation board meeting – held in Bendigo on Friday.
The negative effects of poker machines in the community has been well documented, with $25.6 million lost by punters across Bendigo’s 11 poker-machine venues from July 1 – December 31, 2017, according to data from the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation.
Minister for Gaming and Liquor Regulation Marlene Kairouz launched the VRGF’s prevention grants for regional and rural Victoria in Bendigo this week.
Grants of up to $50,000 will be made available for regional organisations to develop gambling harm prevention initiatives, and commence research projects from June 2018 to June 2019.
Applications for funding under the prevention grants for regional and rural Victoria program close on May 3.