Developing Pokies Problem Gambling Literacy for Yolŋu

ARDS has been working with Yolŋu consultants in Darwin to develop radio programs exploring gambling, with a specific focus on pokies – the leading cause of problem gambling in Australia.
We’ve drawn on the expertise of consultants including Gawura Wanambi and Ruth Nalmakarra to investigate Yolŋu concepts about gambling and pokies.
Our aim is to gain an understanding of how and why Yolŋu gamble, how Yolŋu conceptualise the problems caused by gambling, and where Yolŋu solutions to these problems might lie.
We’ve also developed storylines explaining the non-Indigenous story about gambling, including the government’s harm minimisation approach.
These discussions will inform a series of radio programs, to be produced in the first half of 2017.
Support for this project comes from the NT Government Department of Business’ Community Benefit Fund – Gambling Amelioration Grants.
Photo: Gawura Wanambi with Howard Amery and Andrew Pascoe.