The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney are at the forefront of their commitment to their diocese, actively providing support to families, youth, and the vulnerable through their organisation, CatholicCare, who have many initiatives supported by the Charitable Works Fund (CWF).
One such service available is in a bid to conquer a new addiction which is seeing families and lives torn apart: gambling addiction. CatholicCare have launched their Gamble Aware program to help countless people rebuild their lives, through the CWF.
The program supports individuals and their families affected by problem gambling. The responsible gambling counsellor for CatholicCare Sydney, Ilona Santa, works with people in the Fairfield area in Sydney’s southwest, which has one of the highest percentages of gambling losses in the state. In the six months from December 2021 to May 2022, the Fairfield LGA sustained $214 million in losses to poker machines alone, according to a report by the Centre for Western Sydney in February. Ms Santa has seen how gambling can result in people risking losing their relationships, jobs, and homes. “It’s really easy to put large amounts of money into poker machines, and people can go through hundreds of dollars in five minutes,” Ms Santa said.
“The worst example is when they’ve lost everything, lost their house, lost their family, job loss as well. One person’s gambling can affect 10 other people, family and friends, employers, co-workers, they’re borrowing money from people and end up eroding the trust of everyone around them.”
The problem of gambling has been exacerbated by the availability of sports and race betting online, which is easier to hide. According to Ms Santa, people are using cryptocurrency to gamble in online casinos, which is not legal in Australia, but people can still access them. It is a dangerous practice because people are not covered by Australian consumer law, so if the casino does not honour the payments, they can lose all their money, even if they technically win. Â
Ms Santa explains that gambling is an addiction and that, like any other addiction, it requires professional help to overcome. CatholicCare’s GambleAware program provides people with access to qualified and experienced counsellors who can help them address the underlying issues that led to their gambling addiction. The program also offers free and confidential counselling and support for those involved in gambling and their families who are experiencing social, emotional and financial difficulties.
According to Monica Doumit, chair of the Charitable Works Fund, the Church is called to go to the peripheries and particularly those who are on the margins in our society. “CWF allows large ministries like these, as well as CatholicCare, The Aboriginal Catholic Ministry, our chaplains and catechists to reach so many more people than we ever could on our own,” says Ms Doumit.
The Reverend Seminarian Adrian Suyanto, a sixth-year seminarian for the Archdiocese of Sydney, echoes the sentiments of Ms Doumit, and his gratitude for the support he receives from parishioners and donors as he prepares for a priestly life. “I hope to make sure that I bring the presence of Christ to each person I meet,” Mr Suyanto says, “one person at a time, by spending time with them, listening to their troubles, listening to their questions and being there for them just like Jesus was. If that makes even a little positive change in someone’s life, for me that’s enough.”
WHAT IS THE CHARITABLE WORKS FUND?
The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney’s Charitable Works Fund (CWF) plays a significant role in providing support to various charitable and pastoral works. Through your donations, CWF supports six critical ministries that assist numerous individuals facing crises, facilitate advocacy, training, and access for people with disabilities, strengthen people’s faith, and prepare future priests.
A special committee appointed by Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP manages CWF to ensure that funds are distributed to the areas where they are most needed. Donations not only allow CWF to achieve its objective, but they also directly benefit your local parish. Every year in May, August, and November, all parishes conduct three collections to help CWF meet the needs of the Archdiocese’s charitable works.
Donations to CWF are tax-deductible and make a significant difference in the lives of those in need throughout our community. Â
