Lessons from tobacco control for the reform of gambling regulation
Gambling reform has gained considerable attention over the past year. To help inform the reform of gambling regulation, Monash University will host a conference in Melbourne, 10th February 2012.
Efforts to prevent or reduce harm from gambling have been fragmented. Public understanding of the need for gambling reform may have been compromised by campaigns from gambling vested interests, who have run well-funded campaigns opposing proposed reforms.
A number of leading public health researchers and gambling reform advocates will participate in the conference and workshops, which will focus academic, political and advocacy expertise on issues confronting gambling reform. Professionals in public health and public policy will consider and discuss how to apply lessons from successful public health reforms to gambling reform, and provide participants with ample opportunity to engage with and apply these lessons to the gambling reform process.
Three concurrent workshop sessions will provide opportunities for those interested in advocating for gambling reform to participate in the development of new ways to progress this issue:
- Research: What is the role of researchers in supporting this? How do we ensure research is conducted away from the influence of those with vested interests in gambling?
- Advocacy: What is the role of various groups interested in public health in supporting gambling reform? How can different community groups work together to advocate for gambling reform?
- Policy: What should prevention-focussed gambling reform look like? Why is gambling regulation reform necessary?
This conference will provide a valuable networking opportunity for a broad group of social and public health interests, including researchers and public health advocates ranging from those working in child health to addictive consumptions such as tobacco, alcohol, and gambling. The conference will bring together professionals from these fields as well as people working in local government, community members and groups. Those wanting to engage with the current debate and discussions or those keen to learn more about the reform process in an environment where the only vested interest is promoting public health and wellbeing should attend.
Date: Friday February 10th, 2012Venue: Centre for Regulatory Studies, Monash Law Chambers, 555 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Cost: Free
1:30-2:30 pm Keynote address – Dr Charles Livingstone
2:30-3:30 pm Workshop sessions (select either research or advocacy or policy)
3:30-4:00 pm Break and afternoon tea
4:00-5:00 pm Closing address - Professor Helen Keleher
Please register your attendance and workshop preference by emailing Darshini.Ayton@monash.edu (please advise of any dietary requirements)
Dr Charles Livingstone
Charles Livingstone is a Senior Lecturer and Deputy Head of the Department of Health Social Science at Monash University. He has researched and published numerous articles in the field of gambling studies over the last 14 years, as well as researching and publishing in health financing and public health issues more generally. He was a member of the Australian Government's Ministerial Expert Advisory Group on Gambling (2010-11) and made a number of substantial submissions to the Australian Parliament's Joint Select Committee on Gambling (2010-11), the Senate Committee on Community Affairs Inquiry into Poker Machine legislation (2008), and to the Australian Government's Productivity Commission Inquiries into Gambling (1999 and 2009-10). His qualifications include PhD in Social Theory and Master of Economics degrees.
Professor Helen Keleher
Professor Helen Keleher is the President of the Public Health Association of Australia and a public health social scientist at the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University. She holds a Joint Chair in Health Equity with Inner South Community Health Service. She is editor and author of several books on the determinants of health, health promotion and health systems, and dozens of journal articles and book chapters. From 2005-8 she was a member of the Women and Gender Equity Knowledge Network of the Commission on the Social Determinants of Health.
