Public Health Approach to Asians in New Zealand

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Public Health Approach to Asians in New Zealand

• John Wong
• Dip.M.S., BCom, M.Ed.(Couns)(Hons)
• MNZAC, MANZASW
• Hyeeun Kim
• M.Ed.(Couns)(Hons), M.Theol (Hons)
• MNZAC

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History of Asian Services, PGF1998-2004
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History of Asian Services

• 1. The Beginning
• 3hrs/week Hotline
• Mandarin, Cantonese Korean
• Why Asian Services?
• Majority groups participating in casino gambling
• Population change

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2001 Asian Population in NZ

• 1 in 15 in NZ Asian ethnicity
• 2/3 of total Asians live in Auckland
• Chinese 44
• Indian 26
• Korean 8
• Filipino 5
• Japanese 4
• 1 in 8 in Auckland Asian ethnicity
• (Statistics New Zealand, 2001)

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Population growth in 10 years

• Groups 1991 2001
• NZ-born Chinese 12,264 25,473
• OS-born Chinese 18,401 78,519
• Total Growth 233
• NZ-born Korean (less than 1 )
• OS-born Korean 980 19,026
• Total growth 1,946

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History of Asian Services (Cont)

• 2. The Stage of Rapid Development
• Period of challenges
• Funding, resource material
• Knowledge of foreign counselling concept
• Help seeking pattern
• Community attitude

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Increase of Clients numbers

• 1st time Hotline Callers (Jan.-Dec.)
• 2001 to 2002 34 increase
• 2002 to 2003 17 increase
• 2003 to Today continues increase
• New Face to Face Clients (July-June)
• 89 increase by June 2003
• Already 62 increase (10months) by April 2004
  waiting list
• New Group Clients
• 0 (by June 2003) to 271 (July 2003-April 2004)
• Workshops in Demand
• Waiting list 2004 (min. 1 month 2 months)

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History of Asian Services (Cont)

• 3. Present operation
• Extended to 3 major cities
• Auckland, Christchurch Hamilton
• Counselling Hotline, Face to Face
  Group
• Public Health Community development,
  educational workshops
• Training Student placement, other agency
  training
• Research - National strategic plan

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Issues Related to Problem Gambling
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Background and Triggers of Problem Gambling

• Popular traditional games e.g. Mahjong, Go-stop
• Majority no previous casino gambling experience
• Legalized casinos available in NZ
• Majority Asian new migrants
• Cash available e.g. whole life savings
• Difficulties in migration process

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Difficulties in Migration Process

• Language
• Culture
• Employment and low self-esteem
• Lack of accessibility to social services
• Boredom (no usual entertainment)
• Lack of support networks
• Confusion with ones own ethnic identity
• Sudden shifts in their family relationships
• eg. couple relationships, children and parent
  relationships

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Asian Gamblers

• Gambling as an escape from problems
• No understanding of gambling harm
• Blur boundary of gaming and gambling
• No information about gambling harm
• Majority - Casino table
• Trend of clients younger
• At risk groups

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Asian Model The Balance Approach
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The importance of Prevention Public Health
Approach to the Asian Community

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Development of Future Current focus and future
direction

• National Development
• Intensive Case Management
• Asian Symposium
• Intervention between clients and gambling
  industry
• Working with at-risk-groups
• Educational Video and manual
• Research and data collection
• Care of international students

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Thank you!

• Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand
• P O Box 26 533, Epsom, Auckland, NZ
• Phone [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• Asian Hotline 64 0800-To-Be-Happy
• john.wong_at_pgfnz.co.nz
• hyeeun.kim_at_pgfnz.co.nz