Youth advocacy

The Salvation Army submitted a response to the ACT Government's consultation on Limiting child and youth exposure to gambling advertising in the ACT. In the ACT, The Salvation Army interacts with young people impacted by gambling harm predominantly through our Monyecare financial counselling service, as well as our Oasis youth services, Doorways emergency relief and our corps (churches).

The submission emphasised that there is no safe level of gambling advertising for children and young people to be exposed to, and that the most effective way to address the harms caused from gambling advertising is to implement a national, comprehensive ban. The Salvation Army recommended that:

• The ACT Government work with the Commonwealth Government to implement a national, comprehensive ban; and,
• The ACT Government take immediate steps to ban all gambling advertising, within its power, in the ACT.

The Salvation Army awaits the ACT Government’s Listening Report, due to be published February 2025, and will continue to advocate for the reduction of gambling for all people nationally.