Gambling Help Services Screening/Training Pilot Program

The Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services is seeking a supplier to develop and test a pilot program that will enable the early identification of gambling problems or risk among people who are not actively seeking help from Queensland’s stand-alone Gambling Help services
Stage 1 of this pilot program will involve:

• developing a client screening tool as an early identifier of problem gambling or using an existing validated screen such as the Problem Gambling Severity Index and embedding this in client assessment systems in a State-wide drug and alcohol counselling and support service.
• developing a training program for implementation in a State-wide drug and alcohol counselling and support service to improve counsellors’ capacity and knowledge in regard to responding to problem gambling and the use of best practice problem gambling interventions.
• delivering face-to-face training in all service locations in major regions across the State (e.g. South-East Queensland locations such as Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Central Queensland, Northern Queensland). It is anticipated that face-to-face training will be provided to all counselling staff where possible. Other delivery methods may also be developed (e.g. training manual, online training modules, training videos). Training would be delivered to counsellors at no cost.
• conducting a stakeholder map of drug and alcohol services operating across the state and working with these organisations to explore the use of a problem gambling screen and training needs within their service delivery model.
• delivering a problem gambling training program in other drug and alcohol services. Various delivery methods may be employed. Training would be delivered to counsellors at no cost.
• having a robust evaluation framework in place to enable evaluation of the initiative. Evaluation of the Stage 1 will be carried out by DJAG

The service will be allowed two months establishment period prior to the commencement of service delivery on 1 September 2016 to employ appropriate staff to conduct a literature review to ensure that screening and training models are consistent with best practice approaches and to develop resources and client/IT processes to support the initiative.