Wesley Mission Financial Literacy Training-Program Operated for The Office of Responsible Gambling

The Wesley Financial Literacy Program's evaluation In Charge of My Money was conducted as a collaborative project between Wesley LifeForce Suicide Prevention Services and Western Sydney University. Australia has the most significant losses per capita in the world due to gambling; it also causes significant economic and social harm to the gamblers, their families, and the local communities. Wesley Financial Literacy Program tries to adjust people’s relationship with money and educate and empower them to make better decisions with their money, hoping to limit gambling harm in the future. Financial literacy is the ability to understand and effectively use financial skills, including personal management, budgeting, and investing. Having adequate financial literacy is the basis of a healthy relationship with money. The study involved a survey of the In Charge of My Money Wesley Financial Literacy Program participants. Participants were surveyed pre-program and at a three month follow up. Response rates at the pre-program were strong; however, difficulty was had to gain access to the post-program follow up due to the transient nature of the participants and the COVID-19 pandemic, which made follow up difficult without face-to-face contact. The program had many interruptions due to the lockdowns in NSW; the program was developed to be delivered face-to-face and needed to be adapted to be delivered in an online environment. Whilst the program was still effective, this caused many different disruptions and distractions as people could not focus on the program due to other distractions at home. Surveys were optional; however, there appears to be a good response rate during the pre-workshop period (n= 267), whereas the post-workshop numbers were substantially lower (n= 99). The majority of participants are reportedly from low socioeconomic or vulnerable circumstances. This is thought to have had a compounding effect on the likelihood of follow up responses (i.e., post-survey), particularly within the context of needing to move all aspects of the program to an online platform during the COVID-19 pandemic. The workshops appear to positively affect participant knowledge and awareness about gambling risks and financial challenges in society. Further evidence developed from the survey has shown that significant risk factors impact the individual's ability to control their spending. Factors such as level of education and gender play a role in the person's ability to manage budgets, stick to goals, and pay bills. As a result, attendees are more likely to make a conscious decision about their spending practices in the context of gambling. However, this presumption would require further follow up (i.e. focus groups or subsequent surveys) to be valid. Future endeavours may seek to capitalise upon this burgeoning behavioural change by designing a targeted approach to workshop delivery. The Wesley Financial Literacy Program, In Charge of My Money, has been shown to be an effective and beneficial educational program through the data analysis. It enhances people's understanding of their financial situations and empowers them to seek support if they feel they cannot cope. Further implementation of the program and ongoing data analysis through Western Sydney University and the Wesley LifeForce Suicide Prevention Services would provide longitudinal data and robust information regarding the program's long-term outcomes