A WORKING partnership and increased funding will help The Anglican Counselling Service for the Diocese of Armidale and Centacare New England North West to help combat problem gambling throughout the region.

Yesterday the two services welcomed the announcement of the successful tenders for problem gambling contracts over the next four years.

The $737,952 funding will be used to allow the offices of both services to work in partnership in a number of areas from Quirindi north to the border and west to Moree.

Between the two services’ nine offices the successful tender of the existing Responsible Gambling programs will increase the collaboration between the services and benefit families and individuals suffering from the effects of problem gambling.

Centacare NENW general manager Jim Booth said he believed one of the reasons the services were offered continued contracts was because of the desire to to increase the collaboration between the two organisations.

“ In addition to the therapeutic interventions already in place we are planning a new system of early intervention,” Mr Booth said.

Mr Booth said the services were also involved in establishing community development and education strategies to raise problem gambling awareness throughout the region.

The funding from the allocation represents a 5.8 per cent increase over the 2007/2008 Responsible Gambling program provisions for the region.

Executive director of the Anglican Counselling Service Larry Apthorpe said the funding was, at the present time, the tip of the iceberg.

“Until people seek help they will find it difficult to bring about change,” he said.

Independent Member for Tamworth Peter Draper welcomed the funding announcement and said the funding would allow both organisations to undertake gambling counselling and related services for people with gambling problems and their families until 2012.

The grant is part of $31.2 million allocated from the State Government’s Responsible Gambling Fund which provides funding for projects, activities and services relating to problem gambling.