1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,360 Speaker 1: We know that it is Responsible Gambling Awareness Week. It 2 00:00:03,440 --> 00:00:06,600 Speaker 1: runs from October five to eleven, and joining me on 3 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:08,399 Speaker 1: the line to tell us a little bit more about 4 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:13,960 Speaker 1: it AMITE Community Services. Well the chief executive Officer, NICOLEA. Coulter, 5 00:00:14,120 --> 00:00:17,040 Speaker 1: Good morning to you. Good morning Ncady. Here you going, yeah, 6 00:00:17,079 --> 00:00:18,079 Speaker 1: really well? How are you? 7 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:22,079 Speaker 2: I'm very well, albeit a little bit hot and human here, Katie. 8 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:25,560 Speaker 1: I know always is in the territory. We're all hoping 9 00:00:25,560 --> 00:00:29,080 Speaker 1: for a bit of a storm now. Now, obviously it 10 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:33,000 Speaker 1: is Responsible Gambling Awareness Week. We know that there are 11 00:00:33,080 --> 00:00:35,440 Speaker 1: still a lot of people around the nation, and the 12 00:00:35,479 --> 00:00:39,479 Speaker 1: Northern Territory is no exception, who are dealing with a 13 00:00:39,520 --> 00:00:40,519 Speaker 1: gambling issue. 14 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:45,800 Speaker 2: Look, Katie, gambling harm cuts across more than just the individual. 15 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:49,120 Speaker 2: It cuts across to family and friends and more broadly, 16 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:52,200 Speaker 2: our whole community experiences the harm from gambling. 17 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:56,160 Speaker 1: And I mean what, I guess you know, what are 18 00:00:56,240 --> 00:00:58,800 Speaker 1: some of the concerns that people have got when it 19 00:00:58,880 --> 00:01:01,840 Speaker 1: comes to gambling. Yes, it seems very obvious that it 20 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:04,960 Speaker 1: would be a situation where you know, you're involved in 21 00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:07,800 Speaker 1: in gambling and you don't sort of know how to 22 00:01:07,840 --> 00:01:09,440 Speaker 1: get out of it. But what are some of the 23 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:12,200 Speaker 1: types of issues that people are dealing with. 24 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:15,679 Speaker 2: Yeah. Look, Katie, it's a really good question. And I 25 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:19,080 Speaker 2: think at the moment this year, we've all been under 26 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:23,480 Speaker 2: a huge amount of pressure and stress, and when humans 27 00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:26,440 Speaker 2: are trying to manage our stress, we often reach out 28 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:29,400 Speaker 2: for coping mechanisms, and as we know, sometimes that those 29 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:33,119 Speaker 2: coping mechanisms are less than helpful. Like gambling. People can 30 00:01:33,160 --> 00:01:36,480 Speaker 2: often think about the harms just being financial, but Katie, 31 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:40,160 Speaker 2: they extend so much more than just the financial harms 32 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:43,800 Speaker 2: that people experience because of gambling loss. We start having 33 00:01:43,959 --> 00:01:48,919 Speaker 2: arguments within our family, We start missing out on important events, birthdays, 34 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:52,400 Speaker 2: picking kids up from school, We lose track of time, Katie, 35 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:57,200 Speaker 2: and over time and money starts to impact more than 36 00:01:57,280 --> 00:01:58,240 Speaker 2: just ourselves. 37 00:01:58,720 --> 00:02:01,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, and that's that's the whole concern, isn't it. 38 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:01,800 Speaker 2: Then? 39 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:04,920 Speaker 1: Realistically it's no longer just an issue for yourself, but 40 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:08,000 Speaker 1: it becomes an issue that's a real worry for everybody 41 00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:08,640 Speaker 1: in your family. 42 00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:12,680 Speaker 2: It certainly is. And this year's campaign for US is 43 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:16,040 Speaker 2: asking the question gambling is it worth the risk? And 44 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:18,320 Speaker 2: some of the calls to actions we're asking people to 45 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:21,120 Speaker 2: think about this week, and that's not just the individual 46 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:24,800 Speaker 2: who may be gambling. We're talking about the industry, government 47 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:30,440 Speaker 2: operators out there, people who make different forms of gambling products. 48 00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:32,840 Speaker 2: We're asking them all to be responsible, not just the 49 00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:35,800 Speaker 2: individual who chooses to gamble, but some of the calls 50 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:37,880 Speaker 2: to action for this week that we're asking people to 51 00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:41,600 Speaker 2: really think about us. Spend time connecting with what matters 52 00:02:41,639 --> 00:02:44,600 Speaker 2: most to you. Step out of the game and connect 53 00:02:44,639 --> 00:02:49,239 Speaker 2: with your family and friends, and if you can reach out. 54 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:52,720 Speaker 1: Well, they're really important things I think for people to 55 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:57,280 Speaker 1: stop and make sure that they do. Nicola, have you 56 00:02:57,320 --> 00:02:59,880 Speaker 1: found that there's been an increase or a decrease in 57 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:04,800 Speaker 1: people gambling over the COVID period and over some of 58 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:06,640 Speaker 1: those lockdowns that we saw. 59 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:12,600 Speaker 2: Look internationally, researchers are catching up and there appears to 60 00:03:12,639 --> 00:03:16,000 Speaker 2: be a whole range of evidence coming through now that's 61 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:19,480 Speaker 2: suggesting that we're gambling more and different arenas. I was 62 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:22,720 Speaker 2: just reading a story this morning about the job seeker 63 00:03:22,760 --> 00:03:27,040 Speaker 2: and job keeper payments and people gambling more. So, again, 64 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:28,880 Speaker 2: if we go back to when we're under stress and 65 00:03:28,919 --> 00:03:32,160 Speaker 2: we're reaching out for coping mechanisms, if gambling is one 66 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:35,320 Speaker 2: of our coping mechanisms, chances are we're going to be 67 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:37,040 Speaker 2: overusing it during these times. 68 00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:40,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, goodness me. And then you know, you think you 69 00:03:40,600 --> 00:03:44,440 Speaker 1: just wind up in a more stressful situation. I know 70 00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:48,160 Speaker 1: that obviously, Amity believes that, you know, you can really 71 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:51,240 Speaker 1: help people to help themselves, and you do provide the 72 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:55,280 Speaker 1: counseling services to work with people who are affected. Where 73 00:03:55,280 --> 00:03:57,760 Speaker 1: can people go to for a little bit more information 74 00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:00,800 Speaker 1: about what Amity does and how can they maybe reach 75 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:02,840 Speaker 1: out to you if they do have an issue? 76 00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:06,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, look, Katie, it's really easy to find us. We're 77 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:09,120 Speaker 2: just here in Perrap on the Stuart Highway. Anyone's welcome 78 00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:12,040 Speaker 2: to walk through our doors. You can check online for 79 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:15,320 Speaker 2: Amity dot org dot au and at any time. We 80 00:04:15,360 --> 00:04:18,839 Speaker 2: also support the twenty four hour Gambling Helpline, so people 81 00:04:18,880 --> 00:04:21,840 Speaker 2: can in the territory, throughout the territory at any time 82 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:24,640 Speaker 2: can pick up that phone and call the Gambling Helpline. 83 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:27,680 Speaker 2: It's one eight hundred eight five eight eight five eight. 84 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:30,400 Speaker 1: Now, I know that you said with some of the 85 00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:34,160 Speaker 1: research that has been done over the COVID period internationally, 86 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:37,160 Speaker 1: there's been a rise in gambling. Do you have any 87 00:04:37,160 --> 00:04:40,599 Speaker 1: sort of evidence for the Northern Territory or a sense 88 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:43,320 Speaker 1: of whether there's been an increase in people gambling in 89 00:04:43,360 --> 00:04:44,000 Speaker 1: the territory. 90 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:47,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, look, I think some of the researchers are currently 91 00:04:47,640 --> 00:04:50,320 Speaker 2: looking at some of the stats. But in relation to 92 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:53,560 Speaker 2: that sense, we would usually use this phrase called anecdotal evidence, 93 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:56,240 Speaker 2: so practice evidence. And also a sense that during the 94 00:04:56,360 --> 00:04:59,279 Speaker 2: period of lockdown, when lots of people were at home 95 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:02,920 Speaker 2: trying to work, we were more online and there is 96 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:05,480 Speaker 2: this kind of sense from my counseling team that we 97 00:05:05,520 --> 00:05:08,640 Speaker 2: had an increase in people reaching out for support during 98 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:09,200 Speaker 2: that time. 99 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:11,640 Speaker 1: Well, that is a good thing that people are reaching 100 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:14,960 Speaker 1: out and they are seeking help. I think, you know, 101 00:05:15,040 --> 00:05:18,960 Speaker 1: it's imperative that if you've got an issue, particularly with gambling, 102 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:22,080 Speaker 1: that you do reach out and get that support. You know, 103 00:05:22,080 --> 00:05:24,440 Speaker 1: I hopefully do it as well before it becomes a 104 00:05:24,480 --> 00:05:26,400 Speaker 1: real issue for you and your whole family. 105 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:31,360 Speaker 2: Absolutely, Katie. And on that point, people who have someone 106 00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:34,440 Speaker 2: in a loved one I'm a concerned other, a family 107 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:38,400 Speaker 2: or friend, and they think they've got need some support 108 00:05:38,480 --> 00:05:40,760 Speaker 2: or they think they've got some help, those individuals can 109 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:42,520 Speaker 2: reach out to us as well. We don't just work 110 00:05:42,520 --> 00:05:45,640 Speaker 2: with people who are experiencing the problem behavior, we work 111 00:05:45,680 --> 00:05:48,159 Speaker 2: with their concerned and loved ones. So their family and 112 00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:51,440 Speaker 2: friends can also reach out for some information and support 113 00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:53,200 Speaker 2: from all of these services. 114 00:05:53,240 --> 00:05:56,039 Speaker 1: Also, Katie, Oh, good on you guys. And I know 115 00:05:56,160 --> 00:05:58,480 Speaker 1: that some people, you know, they really do sort of 116 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:01,280 Speaker 1: struggle in silence and they don't know where to go 117 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:04,599 Speaker 1: to get that first bit of help. So I know 118 00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:07,840 Speaker 1: Amity does a wonderful job in terms of helping people. 119 00:06:07,920 --> 00:06:10,919 Speaker 1: So hopefully even by hearing this interview, if there is 120 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:13,479 Speaker 1: somebody out there who is struggling, it can give them, 121 00:06:13,640 --> 00:06:15,640 Speaker 1: you know, that bit of information that they need to 122 00:06:15,680 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 1: make the changes that they maybe require. 123 00:06:19,360 --> 00:06:22,240 Speaker 2: Absolutely, Katie, I'd say to anyone out there, if you're 124 00:06:22,240 --> 00:06:24,640 Speaker 2: thinking that it's about time to start to change some 125 00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:28,039 Speaker 2: of your gambling behaviors, please try and reach out. We're 126 00:06:28,040 --> 00:06:30,040 Speaker 2: only a phone call away and you are most welcome 127 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:31,279 Speaker 2: to walk in well. 128 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:36,240 Speaker 1: Amity Community Services Chief Executive Officer, Nicola Coulter, we really 129 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:37,640 Speaker 1: appreciate your time today. 130 00:06:37,839 --> 00:06:39,840 Speaker 2: Thanks so much, Katie. Thank you have a great week, 131 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:40,960 Speaker 2: stay cool if you can. 132 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:44,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, absolutely, thank you. Talk to you again soon. And 133 00:06:45,080 --> 00:06:47,080 Speaker 1: as you heard there, there is that twenty four to 134 00:06:47,080 --> 00:06:51,000 Speaker 1: seven gambling service in the Northern Territory. There's a twenty 135 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:54,960 Speaker 1: four hour toll free hotline or helpline. It's one eight 136 00:06:55,080 --> 00:06:58,919 Speaker 1: hundred eight five eight eight five eight. You can also 137 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:03,320 Speaker 1: email counsel at habit wise h A B I t 138 00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:07,320 Speaker 1: wy s c habit wise at Amity, which is a 139 00:07:07,720 --> 00:07:11,120 Speaker 1: M I t y dot org dot au, and there 140 00:07:11,200 --> 00:07:14,560 Speaker 1: are also a range of help resources at emit Amity 141 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:17,560 Speaker 1: a M I T Y. So really, if you if 142 00:07:17,560 --> 00:07:19,880 Speaker 1: you need a bit of help, if you are maybe 143 00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:22,440 Speaker 1: thinking to yourself you've you've got a problem and you 144 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:24,720 Speaker 1: weren't sure where to go in the first instance, I 145 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:27,360 Speaker 1: would say get in contact with Amity. You can also 146 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:30,680 Speaker 1: call them on eight nine double four six five six 147 00:07:30,880 --> 00:07:33,280 Speaker 1: five and always try to gamble responsibly.