Tackling youth gambling

The funding is part of the NSW Office of Responsible Gambling’s Odds on Youth program, which helps youth organisations reduce gambling harm among young people who access their services.
The council has been working actively with the Office of Responsible Gambling as a result of a recent council resolution to minimise gambling harm.
NSW Office of Responsible Gambling Director Natalie Wright said that even though overall gambling participation was decreasing in NSW, young people aged 18-24, are more likely to experience gambling problems and are more vulnerable to gambling harm.
“That’s why programs like Odds on Youth, and other initiatives for young people, are so important,” she said.
“By working with youth organisations we are able to fund projects that engage with young people and their families to stop gambling harm before it occurs.
“We are also looking forward to furthering our partnership opportunities with Inner West Council.”
Some of the projects to share in the funding include Headspace Ashfield: The Longer You Play the More You Lose – a series of psycho-education and harm-minimisation workshops for Inner West high school students and young people at risk of homelessness; Marrickville Youth Resource Centre: Safe Bet on Strengthening Youth, Families & Communities – workshops and community screen-free events for young people aged 12-17 and their parents or guardians; and Youth off the Streets: Youth off the Streets Gambling Intervention – workshops in their specialist homeless service, drug and alcohol centre and the Links to Learning program.