Sorted Whānau Study: Financial Capability Education and Problem Gambling

Research organisation: Malatest International
Primary contacts: Dr Debbie McLeod, Dr Lana Perese

Summary of project/aims

Background

Financial difficulties are one of the greatest types of harm associated with problem gambling. Māori and Pacific peoples are over-represented in problem gambling. However, there is a lack of research and evaluation of programmes that specifically address the financial difficulties associated with problem gambling, especially in these ethnic groups.

Aims

• Explore the financial capability needs of Māori and Pacific problem gambling clients.
• Use information from the needs assessment to develop, in partnership with the Commission for Financial Capabiliity (CFFC) and Raukura Hauora o Tainui (Raukura), a financial capability education programme for Māori and Pacific gambling clients in the recovery phase of their treatment.
• Implement the financial capability education programme in partnership with CFFC and Raukura.
• Evaluate the programme to identify its impact on financial capability understandings and behaviours for Māori and Pacific gamblers and their family/whānau/aiga.
• Review and revise the financial capability education programme in response to evaluation findings and consider its transferability to other gambling service providers.

Key findings

• Clients improved in financial capability knowledge.
• Clients improved in terms of managing their gambling.
• Three weeks after the programme, the majority of clients had maintained improvements.
• Counsellors improved their financial planning skills, setting financial goals, balancing cultural and financial priorities, and sharing financial learnings with others.