Gambling in a remote Aboriginal setting - the good, the bad and the ugly

Abstract

In 2009 the Ceduna Koonibba Aboriginal Health Service, an Indigenous-specific service, and Statewide Gambling Therapy Service joined together to investigate the impact that gambling was having on the Aboriginal people living in this region. Both organisations were funded through the state-based Office for Problem Gambling to provide gambling intervention. A number of signs indicate that the community development approach has proven effective. Towards the end of the first year of the project six people signed up for one-on-one therapy to address gambling; a small group of women met regularly to learn more about how to overcome gambling and provide support to each other. In general, there has been a notable improvement in the level of engagement with the program amongst health and welfare workers in the town, with the Project Officers regularly meeting with staff across agencies.