“Poker is a great game and a challenging one at that. But like other types
of gambling, it has to be treated with respect. Players need to remember
to play for the fun of it and don’t get carried away with betting beyond
your means.”
Sam ‘King’ Soliman
RGAW Ambassador and World Boxing title holder
> The Bilingual Services Demonstration
Project, which was launched by
Co.As.It (an Italian language and
community services provider),
Gambler’s Help Northern and the
local Italian community to provide
information about harm minimisation
strategies
2010 Results
A review of the week’s media campaign showed that
community awareness of the initiative was particularly
strong, with results indicating:
> Approximately one in three Victorian adults (33 per cent)
saw or heard about the 2010 Responsible Gambling
Awareness Week campaign (2009: 18.6 per cent)
> An educators’ conference where leading
adolescent psychologist, Dr Michael
Carr Gregg and Professor Alun Jackson,
Director of the Problem Gambling
Research and Treatment Centre at the
University of Melbourne, spoke about the
need for resilience and increased feelings
of self-worth in young people to prevent
risk taking behaviour
> There was a 36 per cent increase in media coverage of the
2010 campaign compared to 2009
> A total of 106 media stories were generated for the week,
particularly in regional and local newspapers
> Overall, approximately 1,404 people attended Responsible
Gambling Awareness Week activities. This is a 44 per cent
increase on 2009
> In May 2010, there was an 8.6 per cent increase in calls to
the Gambler’s Helpline compared with other weeks
> A Women in Mitchell event promoted
health and wellness for women in the
Mitchell shire. The event focused on
raising awareness about responsible
gambling, social isolation and depression,
anxiety and social connectedness
> Almost 60 per cent of Victorians heard about Responsible
Gambling Awareness Week from coverage on television
> More than 44 percent of people heard about the week from
coverage in the Herald Sun and local newspapers
> Don’t let gambling take over your life continues to be the
message most Victorians link to Responsible Gambling
Awareness Week, with 62 per cent of people surveyed in
2010 recalling this message (2007: 38.7 per cent)
> Caufield’s feature race, on 23 May,
the Responsible Gambling Cup,
where ambassador and former
Olympic swimmer Brooke Hanson
spoke at a lunch.
> Around 63 per cent of Victorians who gamble once a day
were aware of Responsible Gambling Awareness Week 2010,
while 41 per cent of Victorians who gamble several times a
week were aware of the campaign.
Many council mayors were also involved in the week, along
with the Returned and Services League (RSL), Racing Victoria,
Harness Racing Victoria, Greyhounds Racing Victoria, the
Victoria Racing Club, gaming venues, local Gambler’s Help
services, Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health, and the
Victorian Aboriginal Health Service.
The results are a great endorsement of the guidance
provided by the Steering Committee under the patronage
of the Council.
Launch of the Gambler’s
Help Venue Support
Program
In 2010, the Gambler’s Help Venue
Support Program was introduced
in Victoria.
This program supports responsible
gambling practices through liaison between
a Venue Support Worker and nominated
gaming venues to assist and advise the staff
on how to identify patrons who might have
a problem with their gambling. The Venue
Support Workers are employees of Gambler’s
Help. They focus on teaching gaming
venue staff how to respond appropriately
to patrons who show signs of problem
gambling behaviour. Another key aim of
this program is to improve the relationship
between local venues and local Gambler’s
Help service providers.
How the Program Works
> Twenty Gambler’s Help Venue Support Worker positions
have been funded across Victoria to provide ‘custom built’
advice and support for gaming venue staff.
> In order to provide a tailored service for each venue, the
Gambler’s Help Venue Support Worker establishes contact
with the venue manager and develops a relationship with
them and their staff.
> Such relationship building helps the workers gain a
thorough understanding of a venue, its patrons and its
needs, ensuring that the support and training offered to a
venue’s employees is appropriate.
> It also assists the venue to build meaningful connections
with their local Gambler’s Help service and facilitate
appropriate referral of customers who may need assistance.
The Responsible Gambling Ministerial
Advisory Council, through the Pathways
to Recovery Working Group, advised on
the development and establishment of
the Gambler’s Help Venue Support Worker
Program.
16
Responsible Gambling Ministerial Advisory Council Annual Report 2010
“I’ve learnt that whilst I was good at my job, I could have been a lot better.
When asking a self-excluded patron to leave the venue I never once
considered that person may need additional assistance, that breaching a
self-exclusion was a cry for help or considered problem gambling as a
health issue. I’ve learnt that responsible gambling is an extension of good
customer service and needs to be a core component of operations.”
Tenile Thorburn
Gambler’s Help Venue Support Worker
Training the Trainers
> Venue Support Workers come from a range of backgrounds,
including industry and the community sector. The one thing
that they all have in common is that they enjoy working
with people.
> To ensure each worker had the required skills and
knowledge needed for the position, all workers undertook
training to strengthen and develop their skills in readiness
for their new roles.
> A five-day induction program in September introduced
the new Gambler’s Help employees to the duties and
responsibilities of the position.
> The induction included a workshop run by Janine Robinson,
a Therapist and Training Specialist from Canada’s Centre for
Addiction and Mental Health, on identifying and responding
to patrons showing signs of problem gambling.
> The training also included seminars on Responsible
Gambling Codes of Conduct and each support worker had to
complete a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.
Gambling Research Grant Round
Three Projects
Through the Research Working Group, the Council
facilitated round three of the Gambling Research
Grants Program. Applicants to this program apply
for funding for research projects that address
the themes under the Victorian Gambling
Research Agenda.
The 2009–10 research agenda was developed and endorsed by
the Responsible Gambling Ministerial Advisory Council and
approved by the Minister for Gaming. It is the main vehicle
via which the Victorian Government commissions gambling
research.
The agenda’s themes for round three of the grants
program were:
> Risk factors and patterns of safe-level gambling
> Gambling consumption and behaviour
> Effective treatments and interventions
> Gaming machines and their effects on recreational and
problem gamblers.
In June 2010, four projects were selected from 22 applications
with total funding of $666,516 provided. A brief description of
each project follows.
18
Responsible Gambling Ministerial Advisory Council Annual Report 2010
A qualitative investigation of
the impacts of socio-cultural
factors, lived experiences
and popular discourses in
conceptualisations of risk
amongst Victorian gamblers
Samantha Thomas, Monash University
Funding: $115,379 over two years
Gambling is one of the most debated and
discussed public health issues in Victoria.
However, we have extremely limited
in-depth information about why some
individuals are more at risk of the adverse
consequences of gambling than others.
This in-depth qualitative study of 50 nonproblem and low risk gamblers, and 50 at
risk and problem gamblers, will provide
detailed understanding about the way
gambling is considered from the gambler’s
viewpoint.
It will investigate the role of socio-cultural
factors in gambling beliefs and behaviours;
how individuals conceptualise the risks and
benefits associated with gambling; and how
individuals interpret and respond to popular
discussions about gambling.
Predicting problem gambling: A prospective
study of the influence of adolescent risk
taking and mental health on gambling
during emerging adulthood
Nicolas Allen and Sarah Whittle, University of Melbourne
Funding: $117,560 over two years
Existing research shows that emerging adulthood is a critical
period for problem gambling. But the risk factors for problem
gambling during this period are unknown.
This project aims to investigate what these risk factors are,
using an existing cohort of approximately 200 adolescents.
The cohort was selected in early adolescence as they showed
a wide range of risk for later emotional and behavioural
problems. They have been involved in a number of multimethod assessments from age 12 to age 17.
The project will investigate whether the risk-taking behaviours
and mental health problems experienced by these adolescents
are likely to predict problem gambling behaviours in emerging
adulthood.
Gamblers tell their stories:
An in-depth exploration
of lifetime patterns of
gambling
Anna Thomas, Swinburne University
Funding: $147,679 over 18 months
This project will take a whole-of-life
approach, using qualitative interviews
with 50 gamblers (social, at-risk and
problematic) to examine gambling over
the course of their lives.
These largely unstructured interviews
will provide a rich source of information
across many factors, but will focus on:
> What factors influence the start and
continuation of gambling?
> How patterns of gambling relate to
lifetime history of gambling?
> What factors influence changes from safe
to risky patterns of gambling behaviour
and vice versa?
Analysis of the interviews will provide
insight into the onset of gambling, when
and why patterns of gambling move
from safe to risky, and vice versa, and
what harm results from risky gambling.
The study will provide insights into how risk-taking behaviour
and mental health problems might act as markers of risk for
gambling problems during emerging adulthood. It will assist
in understanding who and what to target in relation to early
intervention and prevention strategies for adolescents at risk of
exhibiting problem gambling behaviour.
A pilot randomised control trial to evaluate
the benefits of Exposure Therapy and
Cognitive Therapy for problem gamblers
Malcolm Battersby, Flinders University
Funding: $285,898 over 30 months
This pilot will study the impact and outcomes of Exposure
Therapy and Cognitive Therapy to test the efficacy of each
treatment.
The pilot will be conducted within the State-wide Gambling
Therapy Service (SGTS), which runs under the auspices of the
Southern Adelaide Health Service and Flinders University.
Whilst the SGTS treatment is proving to be effective with the
majority of its clients, there is no scientific evidence that the
therapy provided is efficacious compared to an internationally
recognised alternative treatment method.
Working Groups
Industry Best Practice
The Industry Best Practice Working Group examines
best practice approaches in the gambling industry,
which includes the Responsible Gambling
Codes of Conduct and Self-exclusion programs.
Working groups are established by the
Council to progress its work by researching
and debating issues and reporting findings
back to the Council.
The working group met four times in 2010 with the
following participants:
The groups meet regularly and include Council
members and others with specialist knowledge or
relevant experience.
Tracey Collins, Gambler’s Help
Working groups were chaired by the Office of Gaming
and Racing, which also provides secretariat support to
the groups and the Council.
In 2010 there were seven working groups and one
steering committee.
Gavin Dufty, St Vincent de Paul
Jan Farrell, Victorian Local Governance Association
Sue Fraser, Kildonan Uniting Care
Bruce Houston, Tatts Group
Jacqui Hutchison, Clubs Victoria
David Ginnane, Tabcorp Holdings Ltd
Mohan Jesudason, Tabcorp Holdings Ltd
Mark Johnson, Returned & Services League of
Australia
Mike Kelly, Clubs Victoria
Frank Makryllos, Tatts Group
Con Nikitas, ALH Group
Paddy O’Sullivan, Australian Hotels Association
Phil Waren, Victorian Commission for Gambling
Regulation
20
Responsible Gambling Ministerial Advisory Council Annual Report 2010
“I am now more aware of the
range of patrons’ behaviours and
emotions that staff are exposed
to, and I can see an opportunity
to provide support. My hope
is that this new initiative will
help venue managers and staff
identify gambling issues early and
intervene in a way that benefits
the patrons, the venues and
community as a whole.”
Linda Bolton
Gambler’s Help Venue Support Worker
Venue Vouchers
One of the issues referred to this working group by
the Council followed a request from the Minister
for Gaming to investigate the distribution of venue
vouchers by gaming venues and whether they could
be an inducement to gamble.
Advertising by bookmakers
This working group also considered whether
advertising by interstate wagering service providers,
as well as the provision of credit by Victorian and
interstate bookmakers, undermined responsible
gambling practices.
The vouchers are offered to patrons at various gaming
venues and can be redeemed for cash, food or other
goods and services at the venue.
The group met with representatives of the Victorian
Bookmakers’ Association, Racing Victoria Limited
and the Office of Racing and studied the Victorian,
national and international bookmaking industries
during its deliberation.
Changes to gambling legislation that took effect in
early 2010 specifically prohibited any advertising
of gaming or venue vouchers that relate to gaming
machine play. The working group had to ascertain
how these vouchers were being used in order to
consider if venues were in breach of the legislation or
Responsible Gambling Codes of Conduct.
A discussion paper was developed that included
examples of vouchers collected by working group
members. The working group decided that the
majority of vouchers provide benefits for customers
(e.g. they could be exchanged for food) and there
is lack of evidence to show that they undermine
responsible gambling practices or contribute to
gambling related harm.
The group reported its findings to the Council,
who accepted the group’s recommendations and
subsequently advised the Minister for Gaming
of this view.
Given the changes in technology that allow
individuals to wager with a provider interstate or
overseas, the group found that a national approach
was required to develop consistent regulation and
standards.
The Council noted this advice and that the
Australasian Racing Ministers’ Conference had
formed a working party to consider a national
approach to wagering advertising regulation.
Following these deliberations, the Council wrote
back to the Minister conveying its concern and that a
national solution is required.
Pathways To Recovery
22
The Pathways to Recovery Working Group explored
initiatives to help problem gamblers with their
recovery. The aim is to strengthen the relationship
between Gambler’s Help services and gaming
venues.
The group met eight times in 2010 with the
following participants:
Sonja Bauer, Crown Ltd
Sanja Cosic, Gambler’s Help Southern
Kate Earl, Crown Ltd
Gina Faba, Tabcorp Holdings Ltd
Bill Horman, Consultant
Jacqui Hutchison, Clubs Victoria
Prof. Alun Jackson, Problem Gambling Research
and Treatment Centre
Conny McLaughlin, Peer Representative
Paddy O’Sullivan, Australian Hotels Association
Simone Rodda, Turning Point Drug & Alcohol Centre
Prof. Shane Thomas, Problem Gambling
Research and Treatment Centre
Johnnie Walker, Clubs Victoria
Responsible Gambling Ministerial Advisory Council In 2010, the working group’s major focus was
the provision of advice on the development and
implementation of the new Gambler’s Help Venue
Support Program.
This initiative enables Venue Support Workers to
liaise with nominated gaming venues and provide
tailored advice and support to the venue’s staff
on how to deal with patrons who might have
a problem with their gambling (see page 16 for
detailed information on this program).
The working group contributed to the
implementation of the program by advising on:
> specification of key competencies needed
to develop position descriptions for Venue
Support Workers
> the recruitment process to attract and employ
20 full time equivalent positions across Gambler’s
Help regions
> the communication strategy to ensure the gaming
industry and Gambler’s Help agencies had an
understanding of the new program
> the induction program for the new workers.
Annual Report 2010
Pre-commitment
Product Safety
The Pre-commitment Working Group advises the
Victorian Government on implementing its policy
to introduce a feature on gaming machines which
allows people to set time and loss limits before
playing.
The Product Safety Working Group considers the
impact of technology on gambling products and
the way people use them. The group explores how
research findings in this area might be used to
enhance the safety of gambling products and reduce
the likelihood of them contributing to problem
gambling behaviour.
In 2010, the Pre-commitment Working Group met
once with the following participants:
David Baldi, Clubs Victoria
John Bresnan, Crown Ltd
David Curry, ALH Group
Major Brad Halse, The Salvation Army
Mohan Jesudason, Tabcorp Holdings Ltd
Prof. Alun Jackson, Problem Gambling Research
and Treatment Centre
Mark Johnson, Returned and Services League
of Australia
Amanda Lean, Tabcorp Holdings Ltd
Frank Makryllos, Tatts Group
Neill Murray, Community Clubs Association
of Victoria
Paddy O’Sullivan, Australian Hotels Association
Phillip Shelton, Victorian Commission for
Gambling Regulation
Dr Mark Zirnsak, Inter-Church Gambling Taskforce
In 2010, the Pre-commitment Working Group
considered various regulatory options to enable
implementation of the previous government’s
pledge that from 1 December 2010 all ‘next
generation’ gaming machines would require
a pre-commitment mechanism.
The Gambling Regulation (Pre-commitment) Interim
Regulations 2010 came into effect on 1 December 2010.
The regulations involved implementation of the
first stage of the previous government’s precommitment policy.
In 2010, this working group met twice with the
following participants:
Nadine Grinblat, Australasian Gaming Council
Philip Grinter, Banyule Community Health Service
Don Macleod, Momentum Gaming
Frank Makryllos, Tatts Group
Con Nikitas, ALH Group
Phillip Shelton, Victorian Commission for
Gambling Regulations
Cheryl Vardon, Australasian Gaming Council
Dr Mark Zirnsak, Inter-Church Gambling Taskforce
This working group undertook an examination of
issues relating to the regulation of internet gambling
in Australia.
Internet gambling is an area of great concern as it is
widely acknowledged that online gambling increases
accessibility to gambling products. The internet is
available 24 hours a day, gambling products can be
used at a person’s home and at any time.
The working group found that while the number
of people gambling online is comparatively low in
relation to other forms of gambling, participation
rates are increasing.
The group considered whether the current national
prohibition on online gambling has been effective and
identified the major arguments for liberalisation and
for retaining prohibition.
During the year, the Productivity Commission
released its report on gambling and advocated partial
liberalisation of online gambling. The Commonwealth
Government, however, responded by stating that
the current prohibition on the provision of online
gambling services to Australians will continue.
Research
The Research Working Group reviews Australian
and international gambling studies to identify
research gaps relevant to Victoria’s Gambling
Research Agenda.
Based on the gap analysis, the group formulates
research themes and questions that will inform
future commissioning of gambling research by the
Department of Justice.
The following people participated in the work
of the group in 2010:
Meryl Dooley, Tabcorp Holdings Ltd
Dr Nicki Dowling, The Salvation Army and Problem
Gambling Research and Treatment Centre
Phillip Shelton, Victorian Commission for
Gambling Regulation
Cheryl Vardon, Australasian Gaming Council
Dr Mark Zirnsak, Inter-Church Gambling Taskforce
During the year, the Research Working Group
conducted detailed reviews of the following
research reports:
> Delfabbro, P., (2008), A Review of Australian
Gambling Research – Implications for interjurisdictional public policy and regulation
> Hing, N. & Nisbet, S., (2009) Testing the link
between accessibility and gambling problems:
gambling and problem gambling amongst gaming
venue staff
This report was completed by researchers
from Southern Cross University as part of the
Gambling Research Grants Program. It focuses
on the gambling behaviour of staff who work
in gaming venues.
Researchers found that gaming venue staff had
greater access, participated in gambling activities
more frequently, and experienced problem
gambling at higher rates than the Victorian
population overall. Researchers found a range of
risk and protective factors associated with working
in a gaming venue.
> Battersby, M., Pols, R., et al (2010) The Definition
and Predictors of Relapse in Problem Gambling
This review, funded by Independent Gambling
Authority in South Australia, provides a
comprehensive and critical summary of gambling
research within Australia and New Zealand.
This study was conducted by researchers from
Flinders University and published by Gambling
Research Australia. Researchers defined relapse
as: the re-emergence of gambling that may cause
harm to the individual, significant others or
the community after a period of abstinence or
controlled gambling.
The report’s major findings were that problem
gamblers experience substantial co-morbidity,
and exposure and response prevention are
strongly suggested to be effective in problem
gambling treatment.
> Hare, S., (2009) A Study of Gambling in Victoria:
Problem Gambling from a Public Health Perspective
24
Responsible Gambling Ministerial Advisory Council This report was commissioned by the Office of
Gaming and Racing. It is Victoria’s largest study
on gambling and is underpinned by a public
health philosophy and methodology. It provides
new perspectives on a wide range of gamblingrelated issues from a representative sample of the
Victorian population.
Annual Report 2010
Responsible Service of Gaming
Risk Awareness and Reduction
In 2010, the Responsible Service of Gaming
Working Group was established to review the
responsible service of gaming training provided to
gaming venue staff. This training is compulsory for
most venue staff who work in gaming areas of a
venue.
The Risk Awareness and Reduction Working Group
supports the development and implementation of
projects that will increase community knowledge
and understanding about the risks of gambling,
the odds of winning and strategies that encourage
low risk gambling.
The group met three times in 2010 with the
following participants:
The working group met six times in 2010, with the
following participants:
Sonja Bauer, Crown Ltd
Gina Faba, Tabcorp Holdings Ltd
Simon Christopher, Victorian Commission for
Gambling Regulation
Nadine Grinblat, Australasian Gaming Council
Chris Coates, William Angliss Institute
Major Brad Halse, The Salvation Army
Tracey Collins, Gambler’s Help Southern
Dr Nicole Highet, Beyond Blue
David de Vries, Crown Ltd (for Sonja Bauer)
Prof. Alun Jackson, Problem Gambling
Research and Treatment Centre
Elspeth Martin, Tatts Group
Rae Kingsbury
Con Nikitas, ALH Group
Monica Pimentel, Banyule Community Health
Kathy Ryan, Bethany Community Support
Sue Thomas-Mitchell (formerly of Clubs Victoria)
Penny Wilson, Responsible Gambling
Advocacy Centre
During 2010, the Council considered a proposal
to review training for gaming staff in light
of changes to the gaming environment. This
included changes imposed by the introduction of
Responsible Gambling Codes of Conduct.
The group provided advice on a range of areas,
including:
> The evaluation of the Victorian Government’s
school based learning program
> Development and implementation of campaigns
for at-risk groups and broader community
resilience
This working group was subsequently established
to conduct a review of Responsible Service of
Gaming training in Victoria.
> Sharing research focused on education programs
for children and adults
The working group’s Terms of Reference include:
> Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD)
communication strategies
> Assessing the effectiveness of Responsible Service
of Gaming training including course content,
delivery and quality assurance
> Making recommendations to the Council about
how Responsible Service of Gaming training can
be improved.
As part of this review, round table discussions
were held by the Responsible Service of Gaming
Working Group with registered training
organisations that provide Responsible Service of
Gaming training.
Qualitative research was also commissioned to
obtain feedback from gaming venue staff and
managers about how effective the training is and
how it can be improved.
The working group has also examined research
reports about issues involved in identifying and
responding to problem gambling behaviour. Final
recommendations will be presented to the Council
in mid-2011.
> Use of online technology to engage consumers
> The Department of Justice’s review of partnerships
within the Community Education model.
Responsible Gambling
Awareness Week
A detailed report on the work of the
Responsible Gambling Awareness
Week Steering Committee can
be found on pages 12 to 15.
2010 Council Members
Responsible Gambling Ministerial Advisory
Council members are selected for their
expertise and interest in gambling policy
and are not appointed as representatives of
any particular agency or organisation.
26
Responsible Gambling Ministerial Advisory Council Annual Report 2010
Professor Bruce Singh (Chair)
Professor of Psychiatry, Deputy Dean
Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne
Council member since: August 2007
Bruce has been Chair of the Council since 2007 and has recently been re-appointed until
August 2013. Prior to being appointed Deputy Dean, Professor Singh was Cato Professor and
Head of the University of Melbourne’s Department of Psychiatry from 1991 to 2007.
The focus of Bruce’s research activities has been in the area of schizophrenia. One of his
major achievements - together with Professor D Copolov, past Director of the Mental Health
Research Institute of Victoria - is the establishment of the National Health & Medical Research
Council Schizophrenia Research Unit, which he co-directed for eight years. Professor Singh has
consulted for the State and Commonwealth Governments as well as renowned international
psychiatric organisations.
Bruce was awarded the Centenary Medal of Federation in 2003 and Membership of Order of
Australia in 2007 for his contribution to Medicine and Psychiatry. He was also made an Hon.
Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in 2007. Bruce also received the Minister’s Award for
Outstanding Achievements in Mental Health at the 2008 Victorian Public Healthcare Awards.
Mr John Bresnan
General Manager, Investor and Government Relations, Crown Limited
Council member since: 24 December 2004
John has been involved in the gaming and hospitality industries for more than 20 years and has
experience in the hotel and casino sector. He has played a key role in discussions between industry,
government and community groups regarding the development of responsible gambling practices
in the community.
Mr Mark Close
Government Relations Manager, Victoria Racing Limited
Council member since: 5 September 2007
Mark manages the Victorian racing industry’s relationship with government. He supports a
partnership approach to fostering the ongoing development of the thoroughbred, harness and
greyhound racing codes and maximising their economic and social value to the state.
Mark’s role includes coordinating the racing industry’s promotion of responsible gambling
practices. He previously managed the Victorian Government’s Office of Racing.
Ms Cyndy Connole
Community Coordinator, Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union
Council member since: 3 March 2009
Cyndy is the Community Coordinator for the Liquor Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union in
Victoria. Being well versed in the hospitality industry, Cyndy provides a strong voice for the
concerns and aspirations of gaming employees.
Mr Chris Freethy
Council member since: 14 May 2009
Chris is the former Executive Officer of the now disbanded Council of Gambler’s Help Services,
which was the peak body for Victorian problem gambling services.
Chris has been involved in the industry since 1994 and his roles have included managing Victoria’s
largest problem gambling service for 12 years. He has served on numerous government gambling
committees and has made many submissions to government gambling reviews.
A key driver in establishing core service networks, Chris has been an invited presenter and panellist
at a variety of national and international gambling conferences.
He has provided consultation services to industry stakeholders on responsible and problem
gambling issues and continues to pursue his interest in policy development through a contracting
role with the Victorian Government.
Major Brad Halse
Government Relations Director, Australia Southern Territory, The Salvation Army
Council member since: 29 June 2006
Commissioned and ordained in 1981, Brad has served in rural and metropolitan Salvation Army
corps as well as gaining extensive executive management experience in the organisation across
four states.
He brings to the Council his experience in media work, specialist management of social programs
as well as experience in drug and alcohol programs, domestic violence and homeless persons’
services, family support and addictive behaviour programs.
Brad has represented the Salvation Army on various State and Commonwealth committees,
including the Commonwealth Government’s Strengthening Families and Communities Program.
He is a member of the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation’s Responsible Gambling
Project Reference Group and the Commonwealth Government’s Ministerial Expert Advisory Group
on Problem Gambling.
Mr Mohan Jesudason
Chief Executive, Gaming, Tabcorp Holdings Ltd
Council member since: 24 December 2004
Mohan is responsible for Tabcorp’s Gaming and Keno operations.
His professional background includes senior roles in finance, marketing and general management
in the banking, finance, and telecommunications industries in Australia and New Zealand.
28
Responsible Gambling Ministerial Advisory Council Annual Report 2010
Mrs Rae Kingsbury
Council member since: 31 March 2006.
Rae’s expertise and areas of interest include corporate and community governance, local
government, policy development, skills training and community well being.
She has convened the Women’s Advisory Committee for Darebin City Council and is the Chair of
the Advisory Board for the Masters of Politics and Policy at Deakin University.
Mrs Kingsbury also helped establish the nation-wide Australia Timor-Leste Friendship Network.
Major-General David McLachlan AO (Retd)
Returned & Services League of Australia
Council member since: 10 November 2009
Major-General McLachlan was elected State President of the Returned & Services League of
Australia (Victorian Branch) Inc. in June 2002.
He is a Trustee of the Shrine of Remembrance and is the Chairman of Industry Capability Network
Ltd. He also acts as corporate advisor to a number of listed companies and is a Director of the Royal
Humane Society of Australasia.
Mr Frank Makryllos
Chief Executive – Tatts Pokies, Tatts Group
Council member since: 28 March 2007
Frank has worked with the Tatts Group since 1998 and was appointed as Chief Executive of Tatts
Pokies in 2006. He has held various senior management positions with the Tatts Group, covering
product and channel management for gaming and lotteries.
Before joining the Tatts Group, Frank worked in general management and licensee roles in the New
South Wales hotel industry.
Mr Bruce Mathieson Jnr
National Operations Manager, Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group Ltd (ALH)
Council member since: 30 October 2006
Bruce brings to the Council his perspective and operational expertise, which he hones as a senior
manager for Australia’s largest hotel gaming venue operator.
He is also a trustee of the Australian Hotels Association Victoria executive committee and one of
the Victorian representatives to the Australian Hotels Association national committee.
Ms Rhonda Nelson-Hearity
Manager, Counselling and Health Promotion, Banyule Community Health
Council member since: 31 March 2008
Rhonda is employed as a senior manager at Banyule Community Health, which includes a large
Gambler’s Help program that covers the Northern Metropolitan Region.
She has an extensive management background in government and non-government organisations
and the community health sector. Rhonda serves on several government, community and
education committees.
Mr Darren Ray
Director Policy & Public Affairs, Victorian Local Governance Association
Council member since: 3 March 2009
Darren has been the Director of Policy and Public Affairs at the Victorian Local Governance
Association since April 2007 (serving as Acting CEO from September 2008 to November 2009).
He has facilitated and supported the Local Government Working Group on Gambling - a group of
local councils, community organisations and individuals concerned with problem gambling - since
April 2007.
Darren was first elected to Port Phillip City Council in 1999 and twice served as Mayor. He was
Chair of Port Phillip’s Statutory Planning Committee for many years and is currently undertaking a
Masters degree in Planning and Environment at RMIT.
Darren has also been an adviser to State and Federal MPs and Ministers and has worked with
various health-related organisations at a senior level.
Mr Paul Tang
President, Chinese Gambling Concern Inc.
Council member since: 4 November 2009
Paul was the Secretary of Chinese Gambling Concern Inc. (CGCI) for 10 years before he was elected
President in 2008.
His role with CGCI includes communicating with leaders and workers for various social groups
within Victoria’s Chinese community as well as with educational establishments, institutions and
local councils to raise awareness of the negative social and economic impacts of problem gambling
on the Chinese community.
The CGCI works with Gambler’s Help East and Victoria’s multicultural Gambler’s Help program run
by the Centre for Ethnicity and Health. Paul has a legal, counselling and theological background.
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Responsible Gambling Ministerial Advisory Council Annual Report 2010
Ms Debra Tegoni
Executive General Manager, Legal and Regulatory Services, Crown Ltd
Council member since: 10 November 2009
Debra is responsible for all legal and compliance matters, including Crown’s responsible gaming
centre and surveillance operations.
Debra has a professional background as a practicing solicitor, with nearly 20 years legal and
regulatory experience with major law firms and other organisations in the chemical, finance and
telecommunications industries.
Professor Shane Thomas
Director, Problem Gambling Research and Treatment Centre
Council member since: 3 March 2009
Shane is a health services researcher with extensive experience in problem gambling treatment
technologies and services.
He is Professor of Primary Health Care Research and Deputy Dean (International) in the Faculty of
Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at Monash University. He is also the Monash Director of the
Problem Gambling Research and Treatment Centre.
Shane initiated the international Cochrane Collaboration Systematic Reviews in Psychological
and Pharmacological Treatments in Problem Gambling and led the development of the National
Guidelines for the Screening, Assessment and Treatment of Problem Gambling. He is currently
Study Director for the Randomised Control Trial of Problem Gambling Treatments.
Ms Sue Thomas-Mitchell
Council member since: 23 July 2010
Sue has over 20 years experience in the gaming industry, most recently working as General
Manager for Clubs Victoria. In this role, she advised on human resources matters, including training
and recruitment, as well as gambling matters.
Prior to this, Sue used her skills and experience to act as a consultant to the hospitality industry on
gambling issues for many years.
Ms Cheryl Vardon
Chief Executive Officer, Australasian Gaming Council (AGC)
Council member since: 5 January 2007
As the Chief Executive of the AGC, Cheryl is a leader in gambling public policy and education.
She chairs the South Australian Gambling Policy Forum and is a member of various gambling
public policy advisory bodies.
Her diverse career has included several chief executive positions and other senior roles as a
leader of change in education and community services. Cheryl is also a member of a government
education board.
Mr Leon Wiegard OAM
President, Community Clubs Association of Victoria
Council member since: 24 December 2004
Leon has an extensive background in engineering, community work and administration. Before
taking on the President’s role for the Community Clubs Association in Victoria he was President of
Clubs Australia.
Leon has served as President of the Olympians Club of Australia since 2000 as well as President
of the Olympians Club of Victoria since 1996. He is a life member of the AFL, Victorian Olympic
Council, Water Polo Victoria and the Brisbane Lions—Fitzroy Football Club.
Leon was President of the Fitzroy Football Club from 1985–1992 and a Director of the AFL from
1977–1992. He also competed in the 1964 Tokyo and 1972 Munich Olympics (water polo).
Ms Penny Wilson
Chief Executive Officer, Responsible Gambling Advocacy Centre
Council member since: 23 July 2010
Penny established the Responsible Gambling Advocacy Centre and developed the inaugural
strategic work program with the Centre’s Board.
She sits on several committees interested in responsible gambling and has worked closely with
industry, local government and community groups on gambling issues.
Penny’s diverse career has included senior roles leading strategic change, public policy and
communications. As a consultant she worked with many private and non profit organisations.
An active community volunteer, Penny is an alumnus of the Cranlana Colloquium and a
Williamson Fellow (Leadership Victoria, 2010).
Dr Mark Zirnsak
Chair, Inter-Church Gambling Taskforce
Council member since: 24 December 2004
Mark has been the Uniting Church representative on the Victorian Inter-Church Gambling
Taskforce since 1999. Mark has written many of the taskforce’s submissions to government on
minimising harm caused by playing electronic gaming machines.
He is the Director of the Justice and International Mission Unit of the Uniting Church in Victoria
and Tasmania and has a PhD in chemical engineering.
The following member resigned from the Council in 2010:
Mr Johnnie Walker, President, Clubs Victoria Inc.
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Responsible Gambling Ministerial Advisory Council Annual Report 2010