It’s Responsible Gambling Week

#900 for broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 1 Jun 2014.

Commenting on Responsible Gambling Awareness Week, Warren Cardwell, CEO of HopeStreet, a Baptist organisation serving inner-city Sydney, said:

It is so easy for a person to start gambling, and most of the time it is not recognised until the compulsion has had major impacts on the person’s life. The warnings are discrete but the effects on the individual, family, friends and the community are huge.

Mr Cardwell said, “If someone in your workplace is struggling with gambling, take them aside for a cuppa and let them know that help is available and that they don’t have to suffer alone. Helping your colleagues or employees address their problems before they reach crisis point, you can make a real difference in their lives.”

HopeStreet is one of more than 50 agencies delivering the NSW Government’s Gambling Help counselling programme to communities through free and confidential face-to-face and telephone counselling.

I’m Rod Benson for the NSW Council of Churches.