Fairfield comes together to battle gambling addiction

Dozens of community groups brainstormed ideas intended to curb the harm of gambling on those plagued by the addiction in Fairfield City.

Pam Batkin, the chief executive of Woodville Alliance, addresses about 100 forum attendees. Pic: Fairfield Community Action Group on Gambling Harm

Dozens of community groups brainstormed ideas intended to curb the harm of gambling on those plagued by the addiction in Fairfield City.

The forum – ‘Gambling harm in Fairfield: Starting the conversation’, held on April 4 at Fairfield Community and Youth Centre – included advocacy groups, NSW Health and UNSW representatives and case studies.

People lose about $1.38 million each day on poker machines in Fairfield City, Pam Batkin said, the chief executive of Woodville Alliance.

Gambling Harm in Fairfield Starting the Conversation April 4 2019. Pic: Fairfield Community Action Group on Gambling Harm

“(We are) very concerned about the impact of gambling harm on our community in South Western Sydney,” she said.

Removing the shame and stigma surrounding gamblers was a key first step, the collective concluded.

The forum was the by-product of a newly formed organisation, Fairfield Community Action Group on Gambling Harm. An invitation was extended to local organisations interested in joining.