Helping students stay ahead of the game with a free gambling education program

This article is contributed by the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation (VRGF).

Kids are growing up in a world where gambling is widely available and heavily marketed.

Be Ahead of the Game is a gambling awareness program for young people that has been developed in response to growing community concern about the impact of gambling on vulnerable young people.

Backed by the latest research it aims to help students cut through the myths and develop critical thinking skills, with information about:

• the social costs of gambling
• how the gambling companies always win
• the blurred line between gaming and gambling
• the types of harm that gambling can cause (not just financial)
• how to get advice and support when gambling becomes a problem.

Free, one-hour workshops are available to help secondary students explore the facts about gambling with fun activities and engaging discussions. Delivered online or face-to-face by skilled local community educators, schools can choose to host one or more of these interactive workshops:

• Know the score (years 7–12)
• When gaming meets gambling (years 7–12)
• Your money matters (years 9–12)

In addition to the student workshops, Be Ahead of the Game also offers:

• one-hour info sessions for parents/carers and teachers
• curriculum-aligned units of work across a range of subject areas including VCE and VCE-vocational major
• practical resources for parents and teachers.

Find out more and book a free student workshop at beaheadofthegame.com.au.

If you have any further queries, please email [email protected].