Client seeking help at the Melbourne Counselling Service

The Salvation Army URL has changed to salvationarmy.org.au

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Our services

Our counselling service is free and confidential for individuals, couples and families who are affected by gambling.

Financial counselling

Our financial counselling is available to anyone experiencing financial difficulty because of gambling. If you are in debt, our financial counsellors can help you understand and exercise your rights and responsibilities by providing information, options, advocacy and support.

We can help you:

  • Assess your financial situation.
  • Provide strategies to help protect assets and reduce further financial risk.
  • Explore bill payment options.
  • Negotiate payment of debts to creditors.
  • Plan budgets and manage debts.
  • Access information about various forms of assistance, for example government concessions and entitlements.
  • Arrange referrals to other appropriate services.

Therapeutic counselling

Talk to our counsellors about issues or concerns you have, regarding gambling, in a safe, confidential and accepting environment.

Some areas you might like to explore in counselling:

  • How to manage gambling urges.
  • Issues that can underlie gambling behaviours such as anxiety, anger, boredom, loneliness, depression, or relationship difficulties.
  • Misconceptions about gambling such as the likelihood of winning, randomness, and the programming of poker machines.

Make a booking with us today

Phone 03 9653 3250

Email mcsintake@salvationarmy.org.au

Address 69 Bourke Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000

Open hours

  • Monday 9.00am to 5.00pm
  • Tuesday 9.00am to 7.00pm (after hours appointments available if requested)
  • Wednesday 9.00am to 5.00pm
  • Thursday 9.00am to 5.00pm
  • Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm

For after-hours support, contact Gambler’s Helpline on 1800 858 858

We also offer

Venue support

Here we help gaming staff identify patrons exhibiting gambling behaviours, and equip staff with the necessary skills to respond appropriately.

We do this by raising awareness of statewide and local Gambler’s Help services, self-exclusion programs, and other support services.

This support works towards developing responsible gambling practices and environments in the gaming industry, consistent with approved industry Responsible Gambling Codes of Conduct.

Community engagement

  • Create awareness on the risks associated with gambling harm.
  • Provide capacity building and education around gambling harm.
  • Promote help-seeking behaviours and increase awareness of local Gambler’s Help services.
  • Prevent unhealthy gambling behaviours by addressing the underlying causes.

Our practitioners provide local community education and prevention activities. These are tailored to local communities, and include attending various events and providing presentations to workplaces, community groups (for example, international students, schools, universities, sporting clubs).

Community engagement practitioners work with various agencies and organisations from a wide range of sectors. Working together, these partnerships use a mix of strategies to address priority health and wellbeing issues.

These include:

  • Information and education sessions.
  • Capacity building seminars for workplaces.
  • Psycho-education sessions for school students, teachers, and parents.

Other Moneycare financial counsellors can be contacted at: