The cultural diversity of Fairfield was on full display on Wednesday, 19 May, when local agencies hosted a Faith Leaders Forum on Gambling Harm. This NSW-first event brought together over 18 religious leaders and representatives to learn about the devastating impacts of gambling on individuals, families, and the wider community.
Diverse Faith Representation Across Fairfield
The forum included representatives from a wide range of faiths, reflecting Fairfield’s multicultural landscape:
Christian Faiths
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Assyrian
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Chaldean
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Antiochian Orthodox
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Coptic Orthodox
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Agape International Church Inc
Other Faith Communities
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Alvi faith
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Buddhist faith from Cambodian and Lao communities
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Islamic faith from the Turkish community
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Sabean-Mandaean faith
The Role of Faith Leaders in Community Change
Guest speaker Rev. Tim Costello, Chief Advocate for the Alliance for Gambling Reform, highlighted the importance of unity and leadership across cultures and faiths in addressing community-wide issues such as gambling harm.
Marie Saliba, Stakeholder Engagement Manager at CORE Community Services, explained that the forum aimed to support faith leaders in understanding gambling harm, sharing information about local support services, and exploring ways to work collaboratively to support affected community members.
Lived Experience and Professional Insights
Faith leaders heard from expert counsellors who work with multicultural communities, as well as individuals with lived experience of gambling harm.
A Story of Harm and Recovery
One speaker from a refugee background shared his experience of being introduced to gambling soon after arriving in Australia. What began with early wins led to addiction, family breakdown, and estrangement from his children. His story also highlighted recovery through counselling support and his commitment to sharing awareness within the community.
Kate De Costa, NSW Campaigner for the Alliance for Gambling Reform, noted that gambling harm is a common issue among new migrants and refugees, particularly due to a lack of awareness around the accessibility and addictive nature of poker machines.
Gambling Harm Statistics in Fairfield
Data from NSW Liquor and Gaming (July–December 2020) shows:
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$1.57 million lost per day to poker machines in Fairfield LGA
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3,861 poker machines operating locally
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$20.4 million lost per day to poker machines across NSW
Faith Leader Reflections
Rev. Fr Younan Dawood from the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East described the forum as highly informative and motivating, noting the powerful impact of lived experience stories and his intention to share the information with other faith leaders and community members.
Collaborative Effort to Reduce Gambling Harm
The forum was delivered through collaboration between:
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CORE Community Services
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Alliance for Gambling Reform
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Assyrian Resource Centre
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Multicultural Problem Gambling Service for NSW
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NSW Department of Communities and Justice
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NSW Police
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Oakdene House Foundation
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Fairfield City Council
This event forms part of a broader effort to raise awareness and encourage coordinated action to reduce gambling harm in Fairfield.
Gambling Harm Support Services
24/7 Support
Gambling Helpline: 1800 858 858
Free and confidential support available 24 hours a day.
Multicultural Support Services
Multicultural Problem Gambling Service for NSW
Accessible counselling and support for culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
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Business hours: 1800 856 800
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After hours: 1800 858 858
Gambling Harm Working Party
The Gambling Harm Working Party includes representatives from CORE Community Services, Alliance for Gambling Reform, Assyrian Resource Centre, Multicultural Problem Gambling Service for NSW, NSW Department of Communities and Justice, NSW Police, and Fairfield City Council. The group works collectively to initiate and implement strategies to minimise gambling harm within Fairfield.