GambleAware
Free training to empower conversations about gambling
Mental Health First Aid International has partnered with the Office of Responsible Gambling NSW to deliver free Conversations about Gambling and Talking about Gambling courses.
INTERVENE EARLY
Recognise the signs that indicate someone may be experiencing harm from their gambling.
OFFER SUPPORT
Learn the skills to have an open, supportive conversation about gambling harm.
RESPOND IN A CRISIS
Respond to a person who may be at risk of experiencing gambling harm.
REDUCE STIGMA
Reduce stigma and increase support for adults experiencing harm from their gambling.
Make a difference in your community
Do you want to learn the skills to have safe, informed conversations to support someone who may be experiencing gambling harm?
Funded by the Office of Responsible Gambling NSW, Mental Health First Aid is offering free Conversations about Gambling and Talking about Gambling courses to residents and communities in New South Wales.
The free training is available to any adults in NSW seeking to help family, friends, co-workers or others in their community who may be experiencing gambling harm or a gambling-related mental health crisis.
For individuals who support Aboriginal and Torrres Strait Islander peoples, the Talking about Gambling course grounds the material in social and emotional wellbeing from a First Nations perspective, equipping participants with the skills to provide mental health first aid in a culturally safe and informed way.
Whether you’re an individual or part of a group or organisation that supports people experiencing gambling harm, these courses provides the essential skills to support those in need.
Register for a course or share information with members of your community to help make a difference to those experiencing gambling harm.
Watch this short video to learn more about the course.
Course information
Course format
Face-to-Face
Course duration
4 hours
Cost
Free
Available to
NSW residents
Program duration
September 2024 – April 2024
Build confidence in addressing gambling harm
Gain the knowledge, skills and confidence to recognise, understand and respond to a friend, family member, co-worker or other person, experiencing harm or a mental health crisis related to their gambling.
What you will learn
Course participants learn how to provide initial support to someone who may be experiencing gambling harm or a gambling-related mental health crisis, until professional help is received or the crisis resolves.
You will learn about:
- the signs that may indicate a person is experiencing harm from their gambling
- how to recognise and respond to suicidal thoughts and behaviours
- the interventions and supports available to encourage pathways to professional help.
Using a practical, evidence-based action plan, you will learn how to approach someone you are concerned about and initiate a conversation about those concerns.
You will also learn how to offer initial support and information and how to encourage the person to seek professional help or other supports.
Program information
Below are the Mental Health First Aid instructors that are delivering the Conversations about Gambling course as part of the GambleAware program.
Please select the course that best suits you and register your interest.
If you have any questions about these courses, please email gambleaware@mhfa.com.au
Please note: Dates may be subject to change.
Michelle Hillier
Blue Mountains and Western Sydney
March 2025
Selina Thomas
Murrumbidgee, Illawarra
Wagga Wagga
25 November 2024
Corrimal
20 November 2024
Thomas Pulleine
Hunter New England
Feb/Mar 2025
Mark Smith
Mid and Northern NSW
February
Caroline Haines
Mid and Northern NSW
February
Robyn Rottinger
Northern Sydney and Central Coast
Feb/Mar 2025
Philippa Cameron
Central Sydney, NSW
Campsie
6 November 2024
Roisin Trainor
South Eastern Sydney
Zetland
3 February 2025
Damien Burke
South Western Sydney
Mount Annan
8 March 2025
Jennie O'Hara
Far and Western NSW, Illawarra
Online course
11 February 2025
Why MHFA?
Evidence-based: All Mental Health First Aid courses are based on guidelines that are informed by people with lived experience, their caregivers, and mental health professionals.
Rigorously evaluated: Evaluations consistently show that Mental Health First Aid training improves participants’ knowledge of mental illnesses and their treatments, and confidence in providing mental health first aid to individuals.
Skills-based: Teaches the practical skills, knowledge, and confidence to make a difference.
Internationally recognised: Over 7 million people trained in Mental Health First Aid across 30 countries.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course participants will be able to:
- Recognise the signs that indicate someone may be experiencing harm from their gambling
- Understand the prevalence of gambling problems in Australia
- Understand the continuum of gambling and the risk factors associated with harmful gambling
- Understand the motivations for gambling and the relationship between harmful gambling and mental health problems
- Use an evidence-based action plan to initiate a mental health first aid conversation
- Know how to recognise signs of and provide initial support to someone who may be at risk of suicide
- Know the barriers to help seeking and how to overcome these
- Understand risk factors and treatments and supports available for people experiencing harm from their gambling
- Understand relapse in the context of harmful gambling
- Apply self-care practices as a Mental Health First Aider.
Suitability
Suitable for individuals, workplaces of all sizes and volunteer and community-based groups.
Any adult (aged 18+) can attend.
Course Content
Participants in this course will learn how to apply mental health first aid to a person experiencing harm from their gambling.
Duration & Format
This half-day course is delivered face to face by an MHFA trained and Licensed Instructor.
Accreditation
There is no accreditation for this course.
Course Fees
These courses are fully funded and are completely free of charge.
Read our article
GambleAware flyers from NSW Government’s Office of Responsible Gambling
Other useful links
The clear steps – ALGEE (action plan) for crisis support – that I can follow when talking to someone are helpful.
I love Mental Health First Aid courses like this one because of the degree of research that goes into it. It has a lot more research than a lot of other products out there.
Pleased to say not only did I learn a lot, but I also found the style of presentation and the content very easy to understand and helpful.
