Help from the pros

Help for Problem Gambling.

Counselling services are provided by many community organisations. 

Counsellors aid problem gamblers by helping them develop ways for coping with the immediate problem and helping them to work out the underlying factors that contribute to the problem in order to deal with it in the longer term.

Visiting a counsellor gives people with gambling problems the opportunity to talk to someone in confidence. The counsellors are qualified to help a person to deal with a range of issues that may have resulted from a gambling problem. Counsellors are able to give problem gamblers guidance and assistance to deal with emotional, financial, relationship and work issues.

Some counselling services are provided free, others charge fees for their services. The counselling services listed below are offered at no cost and specialise in assisting problem gamblers around the ACT region.

Mission Australia offers a free counselling service provided to members of the community who are experiencing problems with gambling and the associated financial difficulties that are often encountered as a result. For further information call Mission Australia on 1800 858 858.

For the first time ever, Australians are able to access qualified gambling counsellors online who can provide support either through live counselling or email.  The service operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and can be accessed anywhere from within Australia.  People will have the option to seek assistance anonymously or to register with the service in order to keep a record of their discussions. To find out more click on the logo and visit the website.

The national free call "1800 Gambling Support Number" will also connect you to a counselling service nearby, just dial 1800 858 858.

For assistance with matters other than problem gambling some more general counselling services are listed on the Links page of this website.