Australian gambling research priorities: summary findings from consultations conducted by the Australian Gambling Research Centre

This paper on gambling research priorities is intended to assist researchers and policy makers to develop research focused on improving the short- and long-term health and wellbeing of Australians who gamble and who are affected by gambling. Overview The Australian Gambling Research Centre (AGRC) conducted consultations with individuals and groups in the gambling sector in 2013-14. The priority areas helped inform the development of the research directions for the AGRC as well as priorities for knowledge translation and exchange. They should also assist researchers and policy makers to develop research focused on improving the short- and long-term health and wellbeing of Australians who gamble and who are affected by gambling. The national research priorities are to: understand gambling harm more broadly; determine ways to reduce or minimise harm from gambling; understand the ways in which community and gambling environments influence gambling; explore how new and emerging technologies influence gambling; examine the short- and long-term effects of marketing strategies on gambling; determine effective means of support and recovery for those harmed by gambling; and improve gambling research design and methodology

Communication needs and the Australian gambling field

Effective frameworks for communication can bridge gaps between research, clinical practice, and policy. The gambling sector in Australia comprises a number of stakeholder groups with diverse interests, objectives, and professional skills and resources. The diversity of the sector can present challenges in developing communication strategies that are accessible, and adequately meet the needs of the audience. This report provides insight into ways in which these challenges may be addressed. In 2013-14 the Australian Gambling Research Centre (AGRC) interviewed and surveyed government officials, service providers, researchers, and community and industry representatives involved in the gambling sector to identify their principal information and resource needs. The findings informed the development of the AGRC\u27s research communication plan. The key findings are: professionals often find it difficult to access important resources; summaries and key messages of longer documents are valued for their time efficiency; simple, cost-effective electronic dissemination methods increase accessibility; and active exchange of resources and knowledge between professionals is valued. To maintain and improve the professionalism available across the field of gambling in Australia, organisations must ensure good accessibility to information and resources. Organisations may use the findings of this summary to inform practices around information and resource access, and communication practices that are suitable to their audiences

Evaluation of a pilot of legally assisted and supported family dispute resolution in family violence cases

Evidence of the prevalence of a history of past and/or current family violence among separated parents, and the presence of ongoing safety concerns for themselves and their children as a result of ongoing contact with the other parent, has created an impetus for the family law system to find more effective ways of dealing with families affected by family violence. In July 2009, the Federal Government announced funding for a pilot program to provide assistance, including family dispute resolution (FDR), to such families. Subsequently, Women’s Legal Service Brisbane (and other consultants) were funded by the Attorney- General’s Department (AGD) to develop a model for coordinated family dispute resolution (CFDR). CFDR is a service for separated families who need assistance to resolve parenting disputes where there has been a history of past and/or current family violence. It is being implemented in five sites/lead agencies across Australia: Perth (Legal Aid Western Australia), Brisbane (Telephone Dispute Resolution Service [TDRS], run by Relationships Australia Queensland), Newcastle (Interrelate), Western Sydney (Unifam) and Hobart (Relationships Australia Tasmania). TDRS made adaptions to the model to accommodate its telephone-based service. The pilot commenced operation at most sites in the final quarter of 2010. Implementation in one location (Brisbane) was delayed until mid-2011 to allow time to finalise the composition of the partnership. This report presents the findings of an evaluation of this process

The AIFS evaluation of the 2006 family law reforms : a summary

In 2006, the Australian Government, through the Attorney- General\u27s Department (AGD) and the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA), commissioned the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) to undertake an evaluation of the impact of the 2006 changes to the family law system: Evaluation of the 2006 Family Law Reforms (Kaspiew et al., 2009) (the Evaluation). This article provides a summary of the key findings of the Evaluation.<br /

Family violence : key findings from the evaluation of the 2006 family law reforms

The different types, prevalence and consequences of family violence, as demonstrated by the Australian Institute of Family Studies\u27 Evaluation of the 2006 Family Law Reforms, are discussed. Family violence is shown to be an extremely complex phenomenon, which affects the mental and social well-being of the children. Hence, different measures that can be adopted to deal with pre- and post-separation periods and child care problems are also analyzed.<br /

Research as professional development : 'appropriate topic content' research projects

This article explores the professional development (PD) dimension of teacher involvement in two research projects that focused on developing appropriate topic content for two specific target groups of learners in the Adult Migrant English Programme (AMEP). The experience of this project demonstrates that, even when teachers have a different agenda to that of researchers, a collaborative research project can nevertheless provide a productive basis for teacher professional development. We identify and discuss five issues – context relevance, collaboration, different reactions to similar events, conceptualising theory and practice, and formal presentations to peers – where research and PD outcomes interconnect in mutually beneficial and sometimes unexpected ways. Our data suggest that understanding and creative management of the tensions between research and professional development agendas can lead to productive outcomes for both.19 page(s

Responsible gambling codes of conduct: lack of harm minimisation intervention in the context of venue self-regulation

Responsible Gambling Codes of Conduct (CoC) are used around the world to describe electronic gambling machine (EGM) operator commitments to reducing harm from gambling. In addition to the provision of passive product information and warnings, CoC describe how venues should assist EGM users displaying signs of problematic gambling. The focus in this paper is on venue adherence to the active strategies described in these documents relating to supporting ‘responsible gambling’ and discouraging harmful, intensive and extended gambling. The paper triangulates data from aspirational statements by EGM operators published in CoC documents; structured, unannounced observations by the research team in 11 EGM venues; and interviews and focus groups conducted with 40 gamblers and 20 professionals in Melbourne, Australia. Results showed only isolated evidence of supportive interactions between staff and gamblers to address gambling harm. The weight of evidence demonstrated that venues often fail to respond to signs of gambling problems and instead encourage continued gambling in contradiction of their CoC responsibilities. Signs of gambling problems are a normalised feature of EGM use in these venues. To genuinely address this public health and public policy challenge, improved consumer protection for gamblers may be achieved through legislation requiring venues to respond to signs of gambling problems. This may include a range of measures such as banning food and beverage service at machines and limiting withdrawals of cash by gamblers, as well as using behavioural tracking algorithms to identify problematic gambling patterns and binding universal pre-commitment systems to complement supportive interventions by venue staff. © 2017 Australian Institute of Family Studies