Thursday, 22 March, 2018

The Andrews Labor Government is stepping up the fight against gambling harm in regional and rural Victoria with $250,000 in prevention grants to be provided through the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation (VRGF).

Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Harriet Shing today announced that local organisations will be able to apply for the VRGF’s Prevention Grants for Regional and Rural Victoria.

Grants of up to $50,000 will be made available for regional organisations to develop gambling harm prevention initiatives, and commence research projects from June 2018 to June 2019.

The funding is part of sweeping measures taken by the Labor Government to tackle gambling harm in Victoria and to support all Victorians, regardless of where they live.

Grant applications are welcome from not-for-profit organisations, social enterprises, local government and community or public health organisations based in regional and rural Victoria.

The Labor Government has invested $148 million over four years (2016-2019) in the VRGF, one of the largest funding commitments to address problem gambling in Australia.

Applications for funding under the Prevention Grants for Regional and Rural Victoria program close on Thursday, 3 May 2018.

For more information, visit responsiblegambling.vic.gov.au/regional.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Gaming and Liquor Regulation Marlene Kairouz:

“This is part of our ongoing efforts to prevent gambling harm – which includes freezing the total number of pokies across the state and imposing strict withdrawal limits at venues.”

“This is about combatting gambling harm at a local level and giving rural and regional communities the support they need.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Harriet Shing:

“These grants are an important part of supporting community-driven initiatives to tackle problem gambling and related harm in regional and rural areas.”

“We know that Victorians from rural and regional areas are affected more significantly by gambling harm than people in the city – that’s why prevention initiatives are needed here in Gippsland and it’s why we’re providing this funding.”