I always enjoy catching up with everyone when the regional training forums are in full swing. You may see me during the forums, racing around being IT support attaching microphones and getting presentations up on the screen or timekeeper making sure presentations are not running over time, and the most essential part of the forums which is ensuring the catering has arrived and on time. When I am at the forums, I am always listening to the workforce and gauging their experience. Did people learn something, are they able to put this into practice and did they get the much-needed connection/...

The voices from people with lived experiences in nearby local communities who have been affected by gambling harm were distinctly heard at the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation’s third biennial conference on gambling harm. The three-day event from 13 – 15 August 2018 held in Geelong, Victoria, Australia and organised in partnership with the New Zealand Problem Gambling Foundation (PGF). They had put together a well thought out programme with an array of prominent, diverse and distinguished local, national and international speakers to share their insights and lead discussions within...

‘The biggest personal challenge I’ve faced in my career is not walking away. I could have … many times. Staying was much harder as there was so much against us during those difficult times.’ It’s been quite a journey for Pesio Ah-Honi, Mapu Maia National Director Pacific Services, Problem Gambling Foundation. Starting from literally nothing nearly 20 years ago, Pesio’s career path has led her to managing a team of nine staff, providing a national Pacific clinical and public health service in the problem gambling sector. But as she explains, that path hasn’t always been easily paved. Pesio...

The team from Mapu Maia, Gerhart Berking, Ben Langi, Phillip Siataga and Feleti Piva recently joined Radio 531pi Pacific breakfast show with Radio host Brian Sagala to discuss and raise awareness on problem gambling. The team members who all work in different regions around New Zealand; Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch united recently to speak about the who they are and the work they do. A special mention has to go to Philip Siataga who does not call himself a counsellor now, even though that’s what he is professionally, he instead refers to himself as a ‘Hopester’ when working with...