Gambling Harm Awareness Week 2018 will be held in Victoria for the first time from Monday 8 October to Sunday 14 October, replacing Responsible Gambling Awareness Week. The Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation are offering funding opportunities to organisations willing to get involved.

The new name demonstrates the foundation's focus on gambling harm reduction and prevention. A key focus this year is reaching new audiences and engaging the community through local events and activities, and we encourage you all to get involved.

You can get involved by having open discussions about gambling harm to understand it better, in the hope that we may help prevent it from occurring.

To support your efforts, the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation are offering funding opportunities of up to $2,200* (including GST) to organisations interested in engaging with members of their local community during the week, either through on-the-ground events or through digital channels (such as social media).

Applications for funding closes 5pm on Friday 17 August.

If you are a gambler's help-funded agency, please see funding information on the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation website for terms and conditions. Gambling Harm Awareness Week is designed to encourage community discussions about why gambling harm matters. Harm from gambling isn’t just about losing money. Gambling can affect self-esteem, relationships, physical and mental health, work performance and social life. It can harm not only the person who gambles but also family, friends, workplaces and communities. Anyone who gambles, or knows someone who gambles, may be at risk of gambling harm.

Harm from gambling starts earlier and occurs more frequently than people may think, as 85 percent of harm from gambling is among low and moderate-risk gamblers. Gambling harm is often hidden and the impact is not spoken about because it can be sensitive or uncomfortable. That’s why as part of the first Gambling Harm Awareness Week, the focus is on TALK.SHARE.SUPPORT. Talking about gambling harm helps to make it easier for those affected to reach out and share the impact gambling may be having. Talking and sharing can also help alleviate the stigma that is often associated with seeking support.

As a community let’s start talking and together we can help prevent gambling harm. For more information, contact the Gambling Harm Awareness Week Project Manager on (03) 9452 2600 or at [email protected].