The Financial Counsellors’ Association of Western Australia (FCAWA) is the peak body and voice of financial counselling in WA. We advocate for financial wellbeing and support financial counsellors so they can provide free, independent and confidential help to people facing financial hardship.
The release of the Australian Gambling Research Centre Report confirms what our members are seeing daily; gambling harm is widespread and growing.
“Financial counsellors are working with many people impacted by gambling,” said FCAWA CEO, Melanie Hopkinson. “New, sophisticated online platforms are targeting people and ads for gambling are everywhere. We know the compounding effects of gambling harm are real, including intimate partner violence and significant impacts on mental health. The recommendations of the Murphy report need to be implemented by Governments including more investment in frontline supports, such as financial counsellors, and a stronger regulation of gambling advertising.”
A particular concern is the impact of gambling on young people. In WA, demand for financial counselling already outstrips supply, leaving too many people waiting until they are in crisis before they can access help. Awareness and more access to financial counselling is vital to reduce harm and help prevent debt spirals. Having financial counsellors available where young people are, such as in TAFEs and universities and embedded into youth services would make support easier to access and prevent problems from escalating.
“Research in Victoria shows every $1 invested in financial counselling saves $5 in avoided social costs such as homelessness. In WA, gambling participation rates in WA are among the highest in the country, yet WA has very few financial counsellors who specialise in gambling harm nor investment by the State Government into the specialist role or the training of generalist financial counsellors for this specialisation.”
FCAWA will continue to advocate for systemic change, including increased investment in specialist financial counselling, so that people impacted by gambling can get timely support before harm deepens.
If you are one of the hundreds of thousands of people who are struggling financially, please contact the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007 or visit ndh.org.au