Support Services in Australia for People Affected by Gambling
There are a variety of free and confidential services available to help support individuals affected by gambling, including sufferers themselves, families and friends.
State based
State Based Counselling Services
If you would like to speak to a qualified and experienced counsellor on the telephone, contact numbers are provided for each state below. These telephone helpline services are in operation 24-hours, 7-days a week, and provide crisis counselling for problem gamblers, their families, friends and others. They can also assist you to access face to face counselling and cater for callers from non-English speaking backgrounds.
| State | Services Offered |
| Australian Capital Territory |
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| New South Wales |
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| Northern Territory |
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| Queensland |
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| South Australia |
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| Tasmania |
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| Victoria |
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| Western Australia |
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Australia Wide
Australia Wide Counselling Services
Gambler's Help
You can contact Gambler's Help, on 1800 858 858, 24 hours a day / 7 days a week to talk to someone and access a range of free and confidential services for people affected by gambling. As well as the 24 hour phone service Gambler's Help offers face to face problem gambling counselling for individuals, couples, families and groups; financial counseling; group counselling; peer support programs, self-help information; professional development and training services; and community education and information. These face to face services operate during business hours Monday to Friday, however they also provide some after hours counselling support in selected locations (contact the Central Intake Service on 1800 858 858 for further information about this). Gambler's Help cater for individuals from non-English speaking backgrounds.
Gambler's Help now offer online help and support. Go to www.gamblinghelponline.org.au for live counselling, email support and self-help tools.
LifeLine
You can also contact the 24-hour telephone counselling service Lifeline on 131 114, for crisis support and referral information concerning other available services.
Private psychologists
If you would like to speak to a psychologist in Australia, you can contact the Australian Psychological Society on (03) 8662 3300 for information and referral. Additionally, in Melbourne, the Swinburne Psychology Clinic on (03) 9214 8653 provides a low cost counseling option.
Student Support
Free and Low Cost Student Counselling Services
Most universities offer free or low cost counselling and health-related services to current students. If you are at student at Swinburne, Deakin or Bond Universities and have gambling or non-gambling related issues you would like to discuss with a counsellor you can call one of the following services, listed below. Students from other universities need to contact their student service centres.
Swinburne University Students Services
- The Health (medical) Service provides low cost or free medical and health consultations and information: for further information about available services see http://www.swinburne.edu.au/stuserv/health/ or phone Hawthorn campus on 9214 8483, Lilydale campus on 9215 7106.
- The counselling service provides free support for currently enrolled students in terms of personal/relationship issues, academic/study problems and specific issues international students may face adjusting to the culture and university. See http://www.swinburne.edu.au/stuserv/counselling/index.html or call Hawthorn on 9214 8025 and Lilydale on 9215 7070.
- Swinburne student financial services information is located at http://www.swinburne.edu.au/stuserv/finance/index.html or call Hawthorn on 9214 8882 and Lilydale on 9215 7105
- International students can also contact an International Student Advisor on 9214 6741.
Deakin University Student Services
General information about health, medical, financial and counselling services available to Deakin students can be found at http://www.deakin.edu.au/current-students/services.
Alternatively, ring Student Life Reception to access:
- free or low cost health/medical services
- free and confidential counselling services
- financial assistance
Call Burwood 9244 6300, Geelong Waurn Ponds 5227 1221 or 5227 1223, Geelong Waterfront 5227 8400, Warnambool 5563 3256
Bond University Student Services
General information about a range of support services including counselling, medical, study support and help for international students can be found at http://www.bond.edu.au/student-resources/student-support/index.htm or
- For assistance with counselling, advocacy or academic issues contact Mark Stringer, Juliet Baxter or Kate Bartlett at Student Services on 5595 4002
- For low cost health care contact the medical centre on 5595 4043
- International students can also call 559 51036 for specific issues
