ANGLICARE BEYOND GAMBLING CAMBODIAN ART EXHIBITION

Mrs VLAHOS (Taylor) (15:28): Today, I would like to speak about the Anglicare Beyond Gambling Cambodian Art Exhibition that I attended on Monday night. It was wonderful, once again, to visit the Wat Khmer Santipheap Temple in Paralowie for the launch of the Anglicare Beyond Gambling Cambodian Art Exhibition, which is in the middle of National Responsible Gambling Awareness Week. Problem gambling is an important issue for many people in my electorate. With me at the temple were, minister the Hon. Ian Hunter, who opened the exhibition, Mr Savonn Ly, the Wat Khmer Santipheap Temple president, the venerable Mom Sochenda, the venerable Nou Soung, the venerable Prom Saluon, the venerable Sieng Vuthol, Ms Zoe Bettison, the member for Ramsay, and the first member for Taylor, Dr Lynn Arnold, who is the current CEO of Anglicare South Australia.

About 1.6 per cent of our population in South Australia can be said to be classified as having a serious gambling problem. This is around 30,000 South Australians. As we all know, problem gambling has a severe effect on families, relationships, workplaces and communities. We also know that people from all backgrounds and cultures can develop problems with gambling. It is a problem that knows no social boundaries and it is a problem that is widespread across the community regardless of economic or educational outcomes.

Problem gambling can have a devastating effect on families and people often require professional help to overcome their problems and restore their lives and wellbeing. The message to be responsible when it comes to gambling is one that we all have a duty to communicate. In truth, the government cannot do this alone. I was heartened to see that this is exactly what the Cambodian community and Anglicare South Australia are doing—getting this message out.

Anglicare has been at the forefront of assisting problem gamblers and their families for many years and it should come as no surprise that they are greatly respected within the community and by other community organisations for the work they do to help individuals and families across cultural and religious boundaries. Anglicare understands that problems with gambling are usually accompanied by difficulties in other areas of relationships, such as finance, mental health, alcohol, drugs, violence and crime. This is why their Gambling Help Service line really works in a holistic way, supporting community members in a range of ways they can overcome these problems.

Today, the Beyond Gambling art exhibition is a testament to the relationship between the Cambodian community in my area of Paralowie and Anglicare. It was a wonderful partnership that developed an early intervention program targeted at young people. The aim was to engage and raise awareness within the community, focusing on life beyond gambling through a series of art workshops. The project uses art as a therapy technique and encourages people to discuss and build their resilience while developing skills and interests that are an alternative to gambling.

Participants were empowered, with the support of their family, friends and the wider community, to have opportunities to share and express their artistic experiences and life journeys. The exhibition is a result of community engagement and facilitation through the Anglicare SA Cambodian Gambling Help Service and through funding of the state government's Gamblers Rehabilitation Fund.

Projects like these are the result of the hard work of very many dedicated people, and I would also like to particularly congratulate all those who helped and brought the projects to fruition: Vira Thach of Anglicare, Ming Seng Suon, Phea Chhem, Christine Bell and all my friends at the Wat Khmer Santipheap Temple at Paralowie for the continuing work that they do in this area within the community in the north.