GAMBLING, PROBLEM

Mr O'BRIEN (Napier) (15:04): My question is to the Minister for Families and Communities. How is the state government improving services to problem gamblers?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Minister for Families and Communities, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Housing, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability, Minister Assisting the Premier in Cabinet Business and Public Sector Management) (15:04): Last Friday I launched the statewide gambling therapy service, made possible with an annual funding of $1.34 million from the Gamblers Rehabilitation Fund. This service is a statewide expansion of the Flinders problem gambling intensive service, a service that has proven to be extremely successful, with something like an 85 per cent success rate for those who have completed the course.

The service is in the process of now being rolled out to eight regional areas, those being Port Lincoln, Ceduna, Whyalla, Port Augusta, Port Pirie, the Riverland, Murray Bridge and Mount Gambier. At the same time that I launched the problem gambling state-wide service I also launched the Problem Gambling Services Action Plan, and this is a plan which will guide the government's work in delivering problem gambling services. It is true to say that we have now grown our offering in relation to gambling services from a miserable $900,000, that I think the previous government used to supply to the Gamblers Rehabilitation Fund, to now something in excess of $5.5 million. There is now a capacity, for the first time, to really provide a service system, and so we have sought to do that with a set of priorities.

The five priorities are, first, a unified service system across South Australia. We will be able to respond quickly, use agreed assessments, share referral protocols and offer treatment plans tailored for each client, and service providers will work together to ensure that problem gamblers receive the service that best fits their needs.

Secondly, we will involve consumers in the development of the services and in evaluating them. We need to know what works and, in particular, to encourage people with problem gambling to get help. For instance, we have consumer spokespeople such as Elsie Cairns, who was at the launch, who told us so powerfully of her story of struggling to find a service that helped her, before coming across the Flinders Program. One of the important elements of the Flinders Program is that it is carefully evaluated and we are able with some confidence to look at longitudinal studies which point to the success of that program.

Third, we will be evaluating problem gambling services to identify the effective programs and interventions so that we can be confident in decision making as to future services. We have really gone beyond just providing funding to some charities and expecting them to do good works. We really now need to rigorously analyse these services to make sure that they are actually making a difference, and we know that the Flinders Program in which we have invested heavily is having those successes.

Fourth, we aim to develop a specific treatment and support service to address the needs of particular communities, in particular Aboriginal people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and also young people. It is not the case that every group in our society is easily going to be engaged with some of the mainstream services.

Fifth, we want to target early intervention and prevention activities. Early intervention is critical in limiting the damage that problem gambling can wreak on families and communities. We also know that problem gambling also presents itself at the same time as other issues, such as depression, anxiety and drug and alcohol problems, and so connecting with those other service systems is crucial. The Problem Gambling Services Action Plan is an important part of ensuring that services which are successful in providing positive outcomes for problem gamblers are promoted, and this plan is available through the Office for Problem Gambling within the Department for Families and Communities.