Kate Roberts (GIS Executive Officer) &

Members of the Consumer Voices Team

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Create Supportive Environments Strengthen Community Action Reorient Health Services Build Healthy Public Policy Develop Personal Skills Can feel a bit like mountain climbing …but the CV project is one of our peaks

The promotion of health requires community empowerment and inclusiveness. This means those affected are involved in setting priorities, planning and implementing strategies to achieve better health

Responsibility for health promotion services should be shared among individuals, community groups, health professionals, health services and governments

….to accept the community as the essential voice in matters of its health, living conditions and well-being.

http://www.who.int/healthpromotion/conferences/previous/ottawa/en/index2.html

Uptake of problem gambling treatment services is low (Sprotson 2012)

Recommendations for the need to develop more flexible and innovative programs (Hare 2012)

Shame and stigma are significant barriers to help-seeking (Carroll, 2013)

“Responsible Gambling” messages are negatively contributing to this (Carroll, 2013).

The benefit of consumer operated services has been recognised as important for both consumers and the providers of more traditional social services (Hardiman, 2007)

Australia government policy embodies a clear expectation that consumers should be participants in all aspects of mental health services (Heppell & Roper, 2006)

Although a commitment to this has not been evident in gambling policy to date, consumer focussed programs are emerging from the “bottom up” in SA, Vic & ,NSW.

Reissman (1990 as cited in Salzer, 1997) discussed the need to restructure how help is conceptualized in human services.

He recommended that:

… human service agencies move away from traditional professional-centred service delivery models to a consumer-centred model. The change in service delivery philosophy is necessary for consumer-run activities to be truly valued as acceptable interventions that enhance the mental health system (Salzer 1997, p.431)

…the paradigm shift from consumer ‘participation’ to consumer ‘leadership’ may be more fruitful in realising the considerable benefits that result from effective consumer involvement in mental health services (p.365).(as (cited in Happell and Roper,2006,p.6)

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To increase community awareness and education about problem gambling

To create an informed and empathetic community to reduce stigma

To reduce barriers to support for those affected by problem gambling

To promote self-help and professional support to those affected

To value the experience and role of consumers (those affected by PG) in being peer leaders in individual recovery and community education.

Those affected by problem gambling have expertise that is of value to others.

Many want to contribute their experiences to the cause of helping others.

People who may be affected by the consequences of problem gambling want to hear these personal stories.

Agencies working indirectly with problem gambling are likely to increase their knowledge and understanding by exposure to the personal narrative.

Increasing community education will reduce barriers to support

Promoting a public health and consumer protection approach to gambling in the community reduces the pathologising and victimizing of those affected.

The Gambling Impact Society actively promotes consumer participation in its programs and embraces participatory decision making in their management.

Consumers should be paid a nominal fee for their time, and reimbursed their travel costs

Engagements should be provided free of charge

Consumers should be continually supported to move through the project into other activities and goals

Relapse support and referral should be provided to ensure the ongoing health and safety of participants.

Prepare CV recruits to present their own personal story of the impact of gambling in their lives within safe boundaries

Increase speakers’ skills and knowledge in relation to public presentation

Enable speakers to be involved in education initiatives

Provide people living with problem gambling the skills and knowledge to improve their sense of well being and quality of life

Provide participants opportunities to identify

their own strengths and develop resilience and self-esteem to continue living a fulfilling life.

Introduction to the Gambling Impact Society and the CV Program (5 mins)

Gambling Quiz (context of Gambling and PG in Australia) (10 mins)

Consumer Voices Personal story (10 -15 mins)

Participant questions (10 mins)

PG Counsellor - overview of treatment services and where to get help (10 mins)

Participant questions (10 mins)

Distribution of information resources

Three residential W/E training programs conducted April 2012, August 2012, Sept. 2013

21 CV’s trained including representatives of CALD & indigenous backgrounds

12 PG counsellors are actively engaged with the program and several others interested to do so

124 individual CV sessions delivered to 1852 participants

115 individual agencies have engaged with the program (not including multi-agency forums, conferences, seminars where CV session included).

A range of community/welfare/health services, service groups, industry staff training.

Quantitative and qualitative evaluations are overwhelmingly positive

Consistently high scores on Likert scale measures of perceptions of increased understanding of gambling problems, where to get further information/self-help and referral pathways to Gambling Help Services

Positive verbal and written feedback indicating high satisfaction with sessions and specific valuing of the personal story

Ongoing requests for repeat sessions from agencies

Increased community education KPI’s for PG counsellors which assists their own service goals

Increased self-confidence and self-esteem along with strengthened recovery for CV speakers

The personal testimony was very powerful

Articulate, insightful, very educational

Thank you, I have a friend that I feel I can help now

The group has become more aware of the issue effect

people and families from gambling.

The book in the bag is a very helpful resource and some

have shown interest in using it to talk to friends

The personal approach in the small group made it very

accessible and targeted to the needs/interest of the group

Training programs were very insightful and it was an honour to

witness the change process of speakers as they confidently delivered their stories to community

It is a powerful way to educate the public and bring about community awareness through hearing someone’s personal journey

Accompanying CV speakers has further reminded me of the importance to really tap in to the ‘inner strength’ of a client when they are in a counselling session

It has enhanced the working relationship and helped further clarify the Public Health aspect of my role

Relief in acceptance of my story with praise instead of

negativity from listeners, sensitivity from the different

groups

Confidence that my story was relevant and beneficial to

help others understand the effect gambling can have on

family members.

It has given me focus and drive toward my future goals,

taught me confidence I didn’t believe existed, knowing what

I was doing with my life was purposeful and needed.

The core training; personal approach in organisation of sessions; convictions of telling the truth accepted by the audience

Community awareness through word-of-mouth education and

mutual enlightenment through the question/answer format; the tremendous support of counsellors and project staff

The reality that taking part has changed our lives. Positively empowering for me and gave people opportunity to

reflect and then make comments on how they previously viewed gambling and types of people who would be involved in it.

The support given by leaders and counsellors .

Funding support from Dept. of Social Services (Australia) - formerly FaHCSIA.

The RGF funded Problem Gambling Counsellors who have partnered with the CV project and in particular Mission Australia.

The GIS Management Committee and CV Project Officers Reina French and Barbara Bicego

Relationships Australia (SA), Rosemary Hambledon in particular, who shared resources from their CV program

All the members of the Consumer Voices team who have courageously shared their stories for the benefit of others