Gambling Help - QLD

Gambling Help Services in Queensland

Our Gambling Help Service provides the following FREE services to people with gambling problems:

• confidential face-to-face counselling services for people with a gambling problem and/or to the partners or relatives of people with a gambling problem (individual, relationship and financial counselling available)
• education and prevention activities in relation to problem gambling
• resourcing for other community agencies to better meet the needs of those affected by problem gambling
• liaison with the gambling industry and assistance in the development of responsible gambling/consumer protection/harm minimisation strategies
• information for students and the general public about problem gambling.

All people who access our service are supported by qualified counsellors. As a minimum requirement of employment, all counsellors are tertiary qualified and they undertake, upon employment, additional training in their specialty area (in this case, addictions) in order to be accredited by the organisation. An ongoing, regular process of supervision also forms part of our quality assurance / accountability procedures.

How we can help?

Gambling Help counsellors can help you to:

• understand what counselling options are available and access appropriate resources and information
• understand factors, such as false beliefs and motivations for gambling, which trigger the behaviour and encourage its continuation
• gain an increased knowledge of strategies available for controlling gambling behaviour and avoiding relapse
• obtain a better understanding of why you gamble and counselling to address the underlying issues linked to motivations to gamble - for example, depression, anxiety, and relationship problems
• relationship counselling to address the impact of gambling on relationships and family life and to address any relationship problems that may have contributed to the motivation to gamble
• financial counselling to address debts; cope with creditors, reorganise financial affairs, understand legal rights and responsibilities around financial commitments, learn money management strategies, understand options available in a financial crisis, and to learn planning solutions and budgeting skills.

Through these and other options, counselling can help you to regain a sense of control over yourself and your decisions in relation to gambling. It can help you to understand why it is that you cannot seem to control yourself when it comes to gambling, understand how gambling might be related to difficulties in your life, and help you to practically address these issues.

Where to get help

To access counselling or other services offered, contact a Gambling Help Office in Queensland. (In some branch offices, group work may be available in addition to individual counselling).

For anyone requiring immediate assistance, the Gambling Help Line provides a FREE confidential crisis counselling and referral service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Phone: 1800 222 050.

Gambling Help Offices in Queensland