INSIDE THIS EDITION…
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Voice Bellarine
RIDING HOOD, INSIDE
October 2017
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Leading Senior Constable Chris Anderson, Senior Sergeant Shane Madigan, Sergeant Mark Gray and Sergeant Tim Bennett from Bellarine police are supporting Blue Ribbon Day. 173175
In the line of duty
Blue Ribbon Day is on Friday 29 September. The day honours the ultimate sacrifice that police officers have made in the line of duty. A total of 159 Victorian police officers have been killed while doing their jobs with 30 being murdered, which underlines the dangers faced by police on a daily basis. Victoria Police invites all Victorians to pause on Friday to remember those members of our police force who have paid a price beyond measure for safety in our community. To donate to the cause, go to www.remember.org.au/donate
Winning insights A one-time pokies addict who turned her harmful habit into gambling research will represent Victoria University in an international contest for PhD students. Drysdale’s Gabriela Byrne beat five other VU finalists for a $1000 top prize in the university’s annual Three-Minute Thesis competition. Contestants are judged on how well they present the essence of their doctoral research to a non-academic audience. Her win means she will compete at Brisbane’s University of Queensland next month against champions from other universities across Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong for a shot at a $5000 first prize. Gabriela explained her PhD thesis entitled
Preventing Problem Gambling Relapse through Social Inclusion by associating the experiences of gamblers to a ride on a never-ending rollercoaster that participants are desperate to get off. Since beating her own addiction several years ago, Gabriela has been developing and managing projects that support other problem gamblers. Her Free Yourself Program has sold more than 10,000 copies since its publication in 1997, while her Dare to Connect relapse-prevention program now helps problem-gamblers across Melbourne’s west and north through volunteer support and weekly social outings. Her programs address the reason many problem gamblers relapse: they are so consumed with gambling they have lost the skills to socialise and
the ability to enjoy other recreational activities. She said about 70 per cent of the estimated 200,000 Victorians who suffer from problem gambling relapse after quitting or cutting back because they are not socially connected. Gabriela is in the final year of her PhD candidature in VU’s College of Business. She is supervised by VU’s Dr James Doughney, also an academic expert in gambling, and the University of Melbourne’s Professor Alun Jackson. Three-Minute Thesis or 3MT was launched at the University of Queensland in 2008. Since 2011, the popularity of the competition has increased, and 3MT competitions are now held in over 600 universities and institutions across 59 countries worldwide.
Gabriela Byrne
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