A key government priority in South Australia is preventing and minimising gambling harm. The community lost around $1 billion to gambling in 2018–2019 and similar patterns remain today. In response, the government developed the Minimising Gambling Harm: Investment Plan 2021–2026 as a coordinated and strategic response to gambling harm in South Australia.
Gambling Harm Support SA (previously the Office for Problem Gambling or OPG) is in the process of implementing six key projects under the Investment Plan. These reflect outcomes of its consultation process and are consistent with recently reformed legislation. New elements will be developed in each year of the Investment Plan (2021–2026).
Gambling Harm Support SA engaged the University of Adelaide to develop a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (MEF) to ensure implementation and impact of the six key projects can be measured. As subsequent projects are rolled out, they too can be mapped onto the Framework.
Monitoring and Evaluation Framework
The framework establishes key result areas, performance indicators and measures to track progress across four strategic priorities: increasing community understanding of gambling harm, improving access to support services, strengthening prevention and early intervention, and building an agile, evidence-based gambling harm system. It provides a structured approach to monitoring outcomes through surveys, service data, stakeholder feedback and research, ensuring that future gambling harm prevention and support initiatives can be evaluated and continuously improved.The Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (MEF) will be used to evaluate progress made in achieving objectives within each Strategic Priority of the Investment Plan.
Monitoring and Evaluation Progress Report
The Monitoring and Evaluation Progress Report 2021–2022 provided a baseline assessment of the Investment Plan. It found strong community awareness of gambling harms and support services, positive outcomes for many people accessing gambling help services, and successful public awareness campaigns. The report also highlights ongoing challenges, including reducing stigma, improving early intervention, and increasing awareness of specialised support services, to strengthen efforts to minimise gambling harm across the state.