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In Week 2 of Gamble Aware Month, we are raising awareness of the need to ‘support the supporters’ of people experiencing a gambling harm.
Our Social Action and Research Centre report ‘What’s the Real Cost’ explored some of the far reaching and intergenerational impacts of gambling harm on the Tasmanian community.
During this week we are holding Support the Supporter events in both the north and south of the State. These events feature the voices of people with lived experience from the Three Sides of the Coin Project.
Anglicare Tasmania provides important supports for family and friends. Join us in raising community awareness of this free service.
When a person who gambles loses more than they can afford, the harm ripples out to the wider community.
Children in a household impacted by gambling harms are more likely to experience financial and emotional deprivation, family conflict and violence, inconsistent supervision and discipline, hostile parenting, parental neglect or abuse and decreased stability and security.
The impact of gambling harm on their development affects both their current wellbeing and future potential, creating a cycle of disadvantage in education and employment.
Charlie is 6 months old and lives with his parents, Mitchell and Courtney. The first two years are critical in shaping a child’s future and Charlie needs a stable home, free from conflict, with people providing loving care and attention.
Charlie’s primary caregiver is Courtney and together Mitchell and Courtney are ‘renting to buy’ their home from Courtney’s mother. Mitchell is just starting a new job and Courtney receives part parenting income support.
Mitchell recently admitted to Courtney that he had been gambling. He had gambled away his pay on a number of occasions and had then taken out short term loans to hide the lack of funds. It was out of hand and now he had debts of over $12,000.
This was a shock to Courtney and has caused issues in their relationship. Mitchell agreed to close his bank account and have his pay go into Courtney’s which he could not access. While these arrangements helped to control his gambling losses, they have created new issues in their relationship. This is affecting their capacity to provide Charlie with their full attention and a conflict-free home.
Courtney’s dad helped them out financially so that they could provide basic material needs for Charlie, such as nappies and food. They were fortunate that Courtney’s mother was their landlord and that she was willing to load them the money they owed on rent.
Mitchell and Courtney sought help from a Financial Counsellor, who helped them negotiate with the creditors, and eventually Courtney paid off the remaining debts. However, Mitchell has declined counselling from Gambler’s Help.
Although Mitchell and Courtney have started to get things back on track financially, gambling has reduced their lifetime savings. It will also take some time to rebuild trust in their relationship with each other and with Courtney’s parents. The strain in their relationship, their anxiety and their preoccupation with their financial crisis are likely to have impacted both Charlie’s development and Mitchell’s performance at work.
If Mitchell’s gambling problem continues, family dysfunction is likely to have a lifelong impact on Charlie’s behavioural development, educational outcomes, relationships and future potential.
This week we are hosting a free luncheon for supporters of those experiencing Gambling Harm in two locations, one in the North and one and the South of the state.
This luncheon will feature guest presenters Three Sides of the Coin. They will share two lived experience Recovery Gamble video stories (one of a gambler and one of an impacted family member), followed by Q and A.
Numbers are limited so you must RSVP to reserve your place.
Three Sides of the Coin is theatrical story-telling with people who have experiencing gambling harm to creatively express their journeys into darkness and their process of healing and recovery. To learn more about their work visit www.threesidesofthecoin.org.au
Anglicare Tasmania provides a range of free support services for family and friends affected by gambling harm.
The ‘What’s the Real Cost?’ report was published by Anglicare Tasmania’s Social Action and Research Centre in October 2022.
It explores the real cost of gambling in Tasmania, drawing on data from Anglicare Tasmania’s services and real life case studies.
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