HEALTHY TOGETHER WHITTLESEA
Whittlesea Community Connections worked
with the Healthy Together Whittlesea team
to support activity that increases local
people’s health and wellbeing. Health
Together Whittlesea, is a partnership
between Plenty Valley Health and the City of
Whittlesea. The work included progression
of Council’s Smoking Strategy, support for
how Council can support sporting clubs to
be more inclusive, and other activity aimed
at better coordinating local resources to
support a healthier community.
THOMASTOWN WEST
COMMUNITY HUB
The Thomastown West Community Hub was
given a boost this year with the Ward Ambler
Foundation funding the growth of our
Learning Support Programs and Playgroups.
In the last financial year, a second
multicultural playgroup was established and
we introduced an English as an additional
language class for students of Thomastown
West Primary School who require additional
support and a school holiday art program.
The presence of a hub co-ordinator also
facilitated some early intervention supports
for families from Thomastown West Primary
School. The Cool Leaning Club, delivered
in partnership with The Smith Family
supported students of TWPS with programs
related to the schools curriculum on a
weekly basis and PRACE provided English
conversation classes to support parents
of the school. The partnership with TWPS,
PRACE and The Smith Family have resulted
in the delivery of meaningful programs
that support families of Thomastown
West Primary School in achieving the best
possible educational outcomes.
WHITTLESEA INTERAGENCY
TASKFORCE ON GAMBLING
Gambling is a significant problem in the City
of Whittlesea, with $101 million lost in 201415. This equates to over $700per adult in the
Whittlesea LGA - well in excess of the state wide
average. Approximately $40 million of that is
estimated to come from problem gamblers.
While gambling is an individual choice, there are
enormous costs to individuals, families and the
community. The Productivity Commission has
identified that for every gambler that develops an
addiction, 7-10 other people are impacted by their
gambling. Problem gambling has been shown to
have links with mental illness, drug and alcohol
abuse and family violence. Community agencies
in the area are experiencing the strain that these
losses place on the community through additional
demand for services such as emergency relief and
family support.
The Whittlesea Interagency Taskforce on
Gambling (WITOG) was established in 2012
and WCC is proud of being one of the founding
agencies of this group. Membership includes
WCC , Plenty Valley Community Health, Kildonan
UnitingCare, The Salvation Army Crossroads,
Hume Whittlesea Primary Care Partnership,
Whittlesea YMCA, Neami National and Women’s
Health In the North.
WITOG is committed to reducing the impact of
gambling harm in Whittlesea and though its
position is not an ‘anti-gambling’ one, member
agencies believe poker machines are dangerous
products that are programmed to win and
designed to addict and that as such, stronger
regulation as with tobacco and alcohol is
required in order to protect the vulnerable and
their families from the enormous harm that
‘pokies’ create.
WITOG’s place based, community development
approach has been an important reason for its
success in engaging with individuals, groups and
organisations.
For the upcoming year WITOG will push
to improve public policy to protect our
community from the harms of gambling.
This is by no means an easy task and
it will take the collective will and
commitment of not only of WITOG but
also of the community as a whole.
In 2014-15 our work to reduce
the harm from poker machines
included:
Presenting to 25 community groups to
a total of 516 people
Recruiting 12 local volunteers to assist
in the dissemination of information at
meetings an on social media
Fostering partnerships with key local
organisations
Running a joint project with Plenty
Valley Community Health Men’s
Behaviour Change program.
Working with the City of Whittlesea,
including presenting to Council staff
“
We have the right to vote.
We should have the right to
have a say in having gambling
venues in our area. I have seen
lots of issues and family being
affect due to gambling. There
should be more services around.
The Emergency Relief that is
needed is mainly due to the
effects of problem gambling.
I am still affected by gambling.
Emergency Relief Client