As a nation Australians spent more than $240 Billion last year across all forms of gambling.

Current research shows that lower socio-economic community members including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are the most at risk from the harmful effects of gambling.

Since retiring, rugby league and Newcastle Knight’s Ex player, Ash Gordon has been researching and working with Indigenous communities highlighting the harmful impact that gambling has upon First Nations people.

With more than 20 years’ experience as a gambling counsellor and six years researching gambling impact upon First Nations families and individuals, Ash now heads the Aboriginal Safe Gambling Services organisation in Australia.

The Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH), best known for their incredible work within Indigenous communities promoting the Deadly Choices programs, facilitated a recent workshop in Cairns.

The Deadly Choices’ Cairns workshop was the seventh in a program of ten, to be presented statewide, highlighting the harmful impact gambling can have to individuals, households and communities.

Cory Kirk, IUHU’s Head of Commercial Operations for Deadly Choices understands the negative impact families experience because of gambling.

“With the assistance of government funding we have been able to conduct a series of regionally based workshops.

“The workshops are aimed at educating and assisting Indigenous healthcare and community workers understand how to raise the issue of gambling with their community members and take steps to empower them to make better choices in life,” he said.

The workshop in Cairns was attended by Wuchopperen’s Health Services Social and Emotion Wellbeing (SEWB) team members.

In 2009 after retiring from rugby league Ash Gordon spent almost three years in the Far North Queensland Indigenous community of Yarrabah. Working with and yarning to gain a greater understanding as to the impact gambling has on communities.

“The best solution for Indigenous communities and the best way for them to tackle gambling is from within, using local programs and services”, he stated. “Community based support and rehab is what will work best, Mob looking after Mob.”

“Unfortunately, as a community we all share an erroneous belief that we can directly influence the outcome of our gambling.

“I’m wearing my lucky shirt, or I have my lucky friend with me today, but that’s a distorted belief and just does not work”.

Ash’s presentation focused on developing strategies.

Several years ago, after extensive research and discussions, Ash created specific Indigenous discussion and training tools designed to open discussion in an honest and trust-building way.

“Yarning cards are a great tool to use, building confidence and trust, and letting the solutions come from the participants and not to be dictated by the trainer or facilitator.

Yarning cards open discussions, first about the effects of gambling. The cards are designed move the group into a yarn about what they can do as individuals. Empowering the community to tackle gambling, using resources and assistance available to help them.

“Yarning cards unlock the knowledge held within the circle. The knowledge is already in the room. The cards open conversation in a non-judgemental way, empowering the individuals within the group to make better choices.”

Gambling has a devastating impact upon Indigenous communities. Access to gambling has exploded. Gambling companies spent more than $184 million on advertising last year.  You can gamble online from the comfort of your lounge, in a hotel or casino, or even whilst you are watching your local team play.

Poker machines are perhaps the most addictive of all forms of gambling.

The Deadly Choices program has worked with Indigenous communities since 2010 and are more than aware of the harmful impact gambling has on First Nations people.

“Traditionally our people learn best visually. Poker machines are highly visual, exciting and very addictive,” stated Cory Kirk.

“But we can do something about the problem. The solution lies in our communities, in supporting and fostering open and honest conversations about what is happening. The solutions are there, we need to be more open, honest and take the time to sit down and yarn.”

“Yarning creates recognition of the issues, and acknowledgement of the problems. Without recognition and acknowledgement, we cannot start the healing process,” Corey said.