COMMUNITY CONNECT

510 Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (9 July 2013). With reference to 2013-14 Budget Paper 4, vol.1, sub-program 6.1, p. 84: Community Connect—

1. How much money is in the Gamblers Rehabilitation Fund?

2. How many staff are currently employed to administer the fund and have there been any changes?

3. How many people are receiving therapeutic treatment through the state-wide gambling therapy service and what treatment and/or intervention to they receive?

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light—Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers): I have been advised:

1. The Gamblers Rehabilitation Fund (GRF) has an annual budget of $6.005 million.

2. There are currently seven FTE staff employed within the Office for Problem Gambling, Department for Communities and Social Inclusion (DCSI). Funding is allocated from the GRF to DCSI for 5.5 FTE for program management and services support. DCSI contributes funding for 1.5 FTE. No changes have been made to the number of FTE or classification of staff employed to administer the GRF in 2012-13.

3. In 2012-13, the Statewide Gambling Therapy Service registered 325 new treatment clients.

The Statewide Gambling Therapy Service is a specialist treatment service funded to provide cognitive behavioural and exposure therapy for problem gamblers. The service has a specific clinical focus on the treatment of a client's urge to gamble and on extinguishing this urge through a program of cognitive behaviour therapy.