Training For GPs Who Have Patients Affected By Gambling

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Training for GPs

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General Practitioners supporting patients affected by gambling can be more effective with the right training.

In your capacity as a General Practitioner, gambling harm minimisation is probably not your area of expertise. There’s no question, it can be challenging to talk to someone about how gambling impacts their life and the people close to them – especially when mental health may be a factor. The knowledge you gain from evidence-based training will help your conversations and interventions to have positive outcomes.

Public Health Approaches to Preventing Gambling Harm in NSW Course is designed for practitioners to educate on the risks and harms associated with gambling, its importance as a public health issue and ways to manage the impact at an individual and community level.

This course aims to help:

  • Identify the factors that influence gambling and develop strategies to support people experiencing the negative impacts of gambling.
  • Increase awareness of how gambling harm can be prevented from a population perspective.
  • Increase understanding of responsible gambling paradigms, and why they are no longer considered best practice in helping to prevent or reduce gambling harm.

Venue: Online

Format: Zoom

Cost: Free

General Practitioners (GPs) can play an important role in identifying people experiencing issues with gambling and referring them to the information and support they need.

This webinar can help you to improve your awareness of gambling harm, and be better equipped to offer solutions to patients in need.

You’ll learn:

  • about gambling harm and gambling as a public health issue
  • how to identify co-morbid conditions and gambling problems
  • to use a range of tools for screening for gambling in the general consultation
  • strategies for providing psycho-education to patients to reduce gambling harm
  • how to refer to gambling support services.

This webinar is available on-demand. It was developed by the Royal College of Australian General Practitioners and funded by the Responsible Gambling Fund.

Venue: Online

Format: Zoom

Cost: Free

This webinar provides an overview of the prevalence of gambling harm in NSW. It explores how to provide psycho-education to patients experiencing gambling harm, as well as strategies for management and referral resources.

You’ll learn:

  • how to identify psychosocial factors and co-morbid psychological conditions
  • how to provide psycho-education for problem gambling
  • strategies for management and referral resources.

This webinar is available on-demand. It was developed by the Royal College of Australian General Practitioners and funded by the Responsible Gambling Fund.

Cost: Free

These podcasts provide insight into how to assist patients experiencing gambling harm.

Podcast 1

Dr Hester Wilson and Dr Jenny James discussed why it is important for GPs to ask the question about gambling and provided some tips on how and when to ask the question. Ned, a person with lived experience also shared his experience with his GP in dealing with his gambling issue.

Podcast 2

In this podcast, Dr Hester Wilson, GP and Dr Kate Fennessy, Senior Clinical Psychologist discuss a range of scenarios in providing support to patients who are experiencing gambling harm.

These podcasts are available on-demand. They were developed by the Royal College of Australian General Practitioners and funded by the Responsible Gambling Fund.

For free, confidential advice and support, call GambleAware on
1800 858 858 24/7, or go to I need support.

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