If you or someone you know is experiencing harm from gambling, there are free and confidential supports available. Meeting with a qualified, professional counsellor face to face is just a phone call away. To make an appointment with Gambler’s Help Southern call 9575 5353 or visit www.gamblershelpsouthern.org.au

Take a look at the final Gambling Harm Prevention and Minimisation Policy that was endorsed by Council in the July Council Meeting.

Thank you to the community groups and members, licenced gaming venue operators, local health and social services for providing feedback and shaping the development of Cardinia’s Gambling Harm Prevention and Minimisation Policy.

The first round of community engagement for the Gambling Harm Prevention and Minimisation Policy occurred between June and July 2023 through the Household Liveability Survey.

The second round of community engagement consisting of key stakeholder surveys and interviews occurred in November 2023. A number of in person and online opportunities were available for the community and relevant organisations to provide feedback, which included:

• Creating Cardinia website
• Community groups and sporting clubs
• Licenced gaming venue operators
• Local health and social services

The third round of community engagement to obtain feedback on the draft policy occurred in April 2024. The draft Policy was available to view on Council’s website and a survey provided to all stakeholders contacted during the second round of engagement. Further to this, direct engagement with key advisory groups and networks took place including:

• Financial Wellbeing and Resilience Action Team
• Mental Health and Wellbeing Action Team
• Safer Communities Partnership
• Seniors Network
• Multicultural Advisory Group
• Access and Inclusion Advisory Group

Key themes arising through engagement were advocacy, capacity building and to strengthen Council’s policy position to reduce gambling related harm. We heard that the community continues to support work on reducing gambling related harm including identifying and implementing harm minimisation measures. Whilst also acknowledging the effects gambling-related harm has on an individual, families, friends, and the wider community.

Feedback from the engagement processes has been considered and incorporated into the Policy and is reflected in the four policy pillars:

• Planning and regulation
• Leadership and advocacy
• Partnership and capacity building
• Research and engagement

The final Gambling Harm and Prevention and Minimisation Policy will be presented for adoption at the next Council meeting on Monday 15 July 2024. For further information, please visit Council meetings – agendas and minutes | Cardinia Shire Council

If you have any queries or if you would like more information, please contact Council's Health and Social Planning team on 1300 787 624 or email mail@cardinia.vic.gov.au

Reducing harm from gambling is a key objective within Cardinia Shire’s Liveability Plan 2017-29 and is a legislative responsibility of council.

Council’s Responsible Gambling Policy was out of date and needed to be reviewed to ensure it reflects Cardinia Shire’s current demographics, community aspirations and recent regulatory reforms.

We wanted to understand community perceptions and aspirations related to preventing and minimising harm from gambling. Your participation in this engagement process has helped to inform Council’s updated Responsible Gaming Policy, which has been renamed as the 'Gambling Harm Prevention and Minimisation Policy'. The draft policy has been informed by stage 1, 2 and 3 of the community engagement. It outlines Council’s roles and responsibilities in minimising and preventing the health, social and economic harms associated with gambling in our community.

Privacy Statement

We are collecting your feedback to inform the Draft Gamling Harm Prevention and Minimisation Policy. To see our complete Privacy Policy please see cardinia.vic.gov.au/site/scripts/terms.php#

Cardinia Shire Council privacy collection statement

Personal information collected by Council, its external service providers or contractors, is used for municipal purposes as specified in the Local Government Act 2020. The personal information will be held securely and used solely by Council for these purposes and/or directly related purposes. Council may disclose this information to other organisations if required or permitted by legislation, and who are bound by substantially similar obligations. The applicant understands that the personal information provided is for the above purpose and that he or she may apply to Council for access to and/or amendment of the information. Requests for access and/or correction should be made to Council’s Privacy Officer on 1300 787 624 or mail@cardinia.vic.gov.au