Member for Barwon Kevin Humphries said the session was part of the Responsible Gambling Fund’s $2.4 million three-year Early Intervention, Prevention and Community Engagement Strategy to reach out to those most at risk of developing a gambling problem.

Mr Humphries said the government was committed to countering problem gambling in the Aboriginal population.

“That’s why we are rolling out the NSW Aboriginal Safe Gambling Program across the state to work with Aboriginal communities about the problem,” he said.

“This campaign directly engages community members such as Aboriginal elders, local professionals and school students to educate them about the potential impacts of gambling and encourage those with a gambling problem to seek help.”

The workshop will be held at the Dharriwaa Elders Centre on Monday August 6 between 10am and 2pm. A NSW Population Health Survey found four per cent of Aboriginal people felt they had a gambling problem and 10 per cent knew someone with a gambling problem.

The NSW Aboriginal Safe Gambling program was being run by Ashley Gordon - an experienced problem-gambling counsellor.

As part of this important initiative Mr Gordon will meet with service providers supporting Aboriginal people in health, education, employment and housing to discuss problem gambling.

Government and non-government agencies and interested community members will also take part through a community workshop.

Since the campaign’s launch in February last year thousands of people have taken part in 20 problem-gambling workshops and community events rolled out across NSW.

After a successful career in rugby league Mr Gordon is now an Aboriginal gambling consultant and works as a researcher with the Centre for Gambling Education and Research at Southern Cross University at Lismore.

“In Indigenous communities gambling can be linked to alcohol and drug abuse, domestic violence, financial hardship, crime and mental health issues,” Mr Gordon said.

“I’ve seen these problems first- hand during visits to more than 100 Aboriginal communities throughout Australia.”

Ashley Gordon played at fullback and wing for the Newcastle Knights and the Penrith Panthers and was named Dally M Winger of the Year in 1990.