On 3 May 2021, the Australian Human Rights Commission released its final report on the Independent Review of Gymnastics Australia.

The review looked into culture and practice at all levels of gymnastics in Australia following the release of the documentary ‘Athlete A’. The documentary caused gymnasts worldwide to come forward on social media with reports of institutional abuse, with many reports coming from former Australian athletes and parents of athletes.

Shockingly, the findings of the report revealed a toxic culture at Gymnastics Australia that enabled serious sexual, physical, and other abuse of young Australian gymnasts for decades across the country.

Law firm Chamberlains is looking into current and historical incidents of institutional abuse in Australia.

The firm is urging victims, witnesses of abuse, or anyone with information about abuse that took place within Gymnastics Australia to come forward.

Many victims are not aware that they could be entitled to compensation, nor that it is possible to lodge a claim against an institution. We hope that by raising awareness among victims of institutional abuse, we can get more to step forth and to share their stories.

Chamberlains have offices in Canberra, Sydney, Perth, and Newcastle where anyone with information on these matters is encouraged to come in to discuss their potential claim.

We are urging witnesses Australia wide to contact us. Our specialists in institutional abuse, Directors Jon May and Alison McNamara are both operating out of our Canberra office, but we can remotely assist clients from anywhere in the nation.

Further Information

To contact a lawyer about your experiences with institutional abuse at Gymnastics Australia, contact Chamberlains Law Firm:

Alison McNamara

• Email: alison.mcnamara@chamberlains.com.au
• Phone: 02 6188 3600

Jon May

• Email: jon.may@chamberlains.com.au 
• Phone: 02 6188 3600

If you, or someone you know, is a victim of sexual or physical abuse contact the following services to seek support.

Lifeline Australia 13 11 14
www.lifeline.org.au

The Australian Institute of Sport Mental Health Referral Network (MHRN) The MHRN provides support to current and alumni athletes and their families, and current and former staff of the AIS and their families.

• Phone: +61 2 6214 1130 (Monday – Friday 9am-5pm AET)
• Email: mentalhealth@sportaus.gov.au
• www.ais.gov.au/mhrn

Beyond Blue 1800 512 348
Mental wellbeing telephone and online support service.

• beyondblue.org.au

Eheadspace 1800 650 893
Online and webchat support and counselling for 12-25 year olds, their family and friends.

• www.headspace.org.au/eheadspace/

MensLine 
Professional telephone and online support and information service for Australian men.

• Phone 1300 78 99 78 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week). 
• MensLine online counselling.

1800Respect
Confidential counselling, information and support for people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse via phone or online chat.

• Phone: 1800 737 732 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week). 
• 1800Respect online chat

Stay home. Protect our health services. Save lives.

This is the public health message used by many governments around the world during the COVID-19 crisis in an effort to stop the spread, flatten the curve, and to prevent a wave of critically ill patients overwhelming the health care system.

But compliance with government restrictions is, perhaps, easier said than done for many Australian women, men, and children experiencing family violence. For these members of the community, staying at home has come at the cost of personal safety.

On average one woman is killed per week in Australia by her current or former partner. According to Impact for Women, nine women have been killed so far this year due to relationship violence.

In a matter of weeks following the implementation of government social distancing restrictions in March this year, Google reported a 75% increase in searches for family violence help. This is the highest number of searches in the past five years. 

Similarly, Women’s Safety NSW reported an increase in clients, the complexity of client needs, escalation in violence, and violence specifically related to COVID-19. Western Australia Police reported an increase of 5% in family violence callouts since mid-March. These trends match an increase in reported incidents around the world – most significantly in China where family violence tripled during the COVID-19 lockdown. 

Lower reported incidents concealing a bigger issue

Not all states and territories have experienced a spike in domestic violence reports since March this year. South Australia, for example, has not seen a significant increase, and Queensland has actually seen a decrease in both family violence order breaches, and applications for protection orders. Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll says, however, that she is concerned by this trend as lower reported figures may not necessarily be reflective of an overall decrease in domestic violence incidents. COVID-19 has meant that victims of domestic abuse are at home more and likely not to be in a position to take out a protection order or to report a potential breach.

Chrissy Leontios, Principal Lawyer at CLEON Legal based in Queensland, says her firm has not seen an increase in women reaching out, but that:

“This should not mean that COVID-19 is not causing higher rates of domestic violence or that legal assistance is not in higher demand.”

The United Nations has urged all governments to “make the prevention and redress of violence against women a key part of their national response plans for COVID-19.” The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, made a number of recommendations on how governments can do this, including by increasing investment in online services, making sure the courts continue to prosecute abusers, setting up emergency warning systems in pharmacies and grocery stores, and to declare shelters as essential services. 

Extra funding for domestic violence services

The Australian government has pledged an initial $150 million dedicated to domestic violence support and another $32.5 million for states and territories to bolster frontline services.

“This funding is certainly welcome, but the government needs to acknowledge that resources were extremely over-stretched before COVID-19, and this funding will only scratch the surface in filling the gaps, says Ms Leontios” 

The risk factors for those isolating with controlling partners go beyond just being made to stay home. The consequences of staying at home can exacerbate an already volatile situation says Ms Leontios:

“Recent research from the Foundation of Alcohol Research and Education shows 70 percent of Australians are drinking more alcohol than normal during COVID-19. While we know that alcohol consumption is not a direct cause or excuse for domestic violence, evidence suggests that alcohol consumption increases the occurrence and severity of domestic violence.” 

Family violence is not limited to physical violence and includes financial abuse and deprivation of liberty. Since many Australians now face unemployment, Ms Leontios warns “there is an increased capacity for financial control if a person has lost their own income and has to rely on a perpetrator for an allowance to survive.”

Help is still accessible for victims of domestic abuse

Every state and territory permits leaving the house for an emergency, including instances of family violence. Family violence centres and legal services are now operating virtually, allowing victims of domestic abuse to continue to obtain help. Virtual representation through duty lawyers is also available.

“We want victims to know that COVID-19 does not stop them from getting Protection Orders … we want victims to be aware that help is still available, says Ms Leontios.”

Where to get help

If you suspect that someone you know is experiencing family violence, there are a number of ways you can help. The Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria sets out a number of things you can do to help someone at risk. 

These include: 

• Checking in regularly via phone, text or social media
• Agreeing on a safe word, sign or signal that the person experiencing family violence can use to alert you that they need help 
• Calling the police 
• Keeping copies of important documents for the person experiencing family violence, and/or storing an ‘escape’ bag for them.

Ms Leontios says that we all have a role to play:

“The most important message here is to take notice and take action. We need to challenge the old notion and debunk it that ‘what happens in the home is private’ – this is wrong. Domestic violence is everybody’s business.”

Further Information

• If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. A live chat option is also available.
• Download ‘Daisy,’ an app that connects you with domestic violence services in your local area.
• Visit CLEON Legal, phone (07) 4725 3462 or 0409 741 025 or email info@cleonlegal.com.au

More on BucketOrange

• ‘Domestic Violence Incidents Expected to Spike Along with COVID-19.’

Many young people seem to consider coronavirus to be a real impediment to their social life. I mean, how is dating going to work now?? Will we be FaceTiming dates over a dinner of supermarket ramen noodles? If you don’t like him/her, is it okay to just pretend that the connection was lost and to hang up mid-way through dessert?

What if you’ve just landed in an unexpectedly dreamy new relationship only to now find yourself abruptly “socially distanced” from that person?

On one hand, you can’t “self-isolate” together because one of two things will happen: either the virus will kill you, or you’ll kill each other.

On the other hand, being separated in the midst of the peak “honeymoon” phase, without knowing how long it will be before you can see each other again, is a formula for ample teen-style angst.

Will you survive the coming plague? If you do, will your relationship survive along with you? Before you go running for your Sia records, here’s some pro tips.

Play it kewl

Everyone is on edge at the moment. Don’t freak out. Or your partner will freak out.

Forget emotion; focus on facts

Keep it in perspective, dummy.

It sucks right now, but focus your attention on problems that you can solve. Like finally having so many delicious guilt-free hours to dedicate to your long-neglected project or side hustle.

You should probably also tend to your indoor plants that have been languishing ever since you selfishly decided to get a social life.

Accept the status quo

Yes, this has emotionally winded you, but it is temporary.

Don’t try to forecast the future. Just deal with today.

Disregard anxiety and “what ifs”

Nobody in the world knows what events will unfold tomorrow.

Don’t burden your brain with ‘what if’ scenarios, most of which, are likely to never eventuate.

The most you can hope to achieve during social isolation is to keep yourself sane enough for your significant other to still want to date your little butt once this is all over.

And with this in mind …

Get off the couch

Use this opportunity to get into the best shape of your life.

If you don’t have a post-pandemic 6-pack, you’re doing it wrong.

Technology. No brainer.

FaceTime, Skype, and Google Hangouts are about to become a big part of your daily routine.

How you choose to use them is up to you *awkward wink*

Worst-case scenario plan

If all else fails and your relationship happens to not survive the viral apocalypse, just consider how many new singles will be hitting the dating market.

Oh hey, post-quarantine divorcees!

Silver linings

While right now life is a challenge, consider it a great opportunity to test your resilience.

By sitting out self-isolation apart, you’re probably preserving the overall longevity of your relationship and giving it a better chance of survival in the long term.

More on BucketOrange Magazine

• 6 things to do before you potentially die of coronavirus
• What is the penalty for refusing self-quarantine?

Imagine happening upon a $200 gift card from Christmas only to discover that you missed the expiration date by one day!

You enter the store and are faced with a smug sales assistant who refuses to redeem your card. The store retains your $200 credit without providing any goods or services in return. Unfortunately, it’s a scenario that plays out every day at thousands of retailers around the country. Australians spend approximately $2.5 billion on gift cards and lose $200 million on unredeemed gift cards each year.

So what are your rights under Australian consumer law?

Expiry periods

Gift card expiration periods range from between 3 months to 24 months.

Most expire within 12 months, with the exception of gift vouchers from retailers such as Apple and Bunnings which have no expiry date.

NSW gift card reforms

In NSW alone, it is estimated that $60 million a year is lost on unredeemed gift cards.

Over a period of 5 years, NSW Fair Trading received over 1300 complaints, sparking calls for gift card reform. In October 2017, NSW Parliament passed amendments to the Fair Trading Act 1987 (NSW), introducing a mandatory minimum expiration period of 3 years.

This means that from 31 March 2018:

Most gift cards and gift vouchers bought in NSW will have a mandatory minimum expiry period of 3 years.

In NSW there is also now a ban on charging any post-purchase fees when redeeming a gift card which would reduce its value, including account-keeping fees and activation fees.

Tom Godfrey, Head of Media at consumer advocacy group, CHOICE, welcomed the reforms:

These reforms have been a long time coming and are a big win for NSW consumers … we hope it signals the beginning of the end of retailers cashing in at our expense”

NSW is currently the only state in Australia to introduce such reforms, which align with countries such as the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Where does gift voucher cash go after the expiration date elapses?

Unfortunately, your cash reverts back to the store.

The retailer profits without providing any goods or services for which the voucher was purchased.

Can you challenge a store to honour your gift voucher?

Generally, businesses are not required to honour gift cards after the expiration date elapses.

You do, however, have a few options:

Option 1

Ask to speak to the Store Manager.

Calmly and courteously discuss an arrangement that involves redeeming the gift card by a specific date. This might be on the date that you are at the store or at a later date. Managers are often flexible and may try to accommodate honouring your gift card not only as a sign of good faith but also to retain your business in the future.

Option 2

If Option 1 is unsuccessful, you may wish to make a complaint to the Head Office of that specific retailer.

You can do this by phone or in writing.

Retain a copy of your correspondence or, if you are making a complaint by phone, request a reference number for your call. You can use this information as evidence if you choose to take things further.

Option 3

Make a complaint to your State or Territory Consumer Protection Agency such as Consumer Affairs or Fair Trading.

Option 4

Contact the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). The ACCC is the competition and consumer regulator and deals with a range of consumer complaints.

Option 5

Depending on the nature of your complaint, if it remains unresolved, you may be entitled to take your complaint to your State or Territory Small Claims Tribunal.

Option 6

If you have explored all the above options, you may wish to consider seeking independent legal advice about what options are available to suit your circumstances.

Time for nation-wide reform

While the recent legislative changes to gift voucher expiration periods are a welcome protection for NSW based consumers, it is about time that other Australian jurisdictions make comparable reforms.

Unfair gift voucher expiration periods and hidden fees generate millions of dollars of passive revenue for large corporations at the cost and prejudice to Australian consumers.

These cards are a gift horse for retailers who can take advantage of inflation, changes in value and low redemption rates. The least these companies can do is offer a product that’s fair, including a minimum expiry with no sneaky fees, says Tom Godfrey.

What do you think? Would you like to see gift voucher reforms in your State or Territory? Let us know in the comments! 

More on BucketOrange Magazine

• When Can You Seek A Store Refund?
• When Can You Legally Be Charged A Cancellation Fee?

Modern slavery links to us in ways we may not even realise. It is behind everyday purchases like our clothing, food and smart phones. That link gives us power. Together we can do #SomethingForSlavery.

With 40 million people around the world and 4,300 victims of modern slavery in Australia, Project Didi Australia is kicking off a #SomethingForSlavery Challenge this March 2018. Get the knowledge and tools you need to drive positive change in your community.

Sarah Bartram, Project Didi’s co-founder, says:

We hope by building a #SomethingForSlavery movement we’ll all learn more about, and become advocates for, the hands, minds and lives behind our purchases. As consumers we have an opportunity to use our voices, our questions and our spending habits to demand transparency, living wages and fair working conditions from the brands we buy from.”

How can you do #SomethingForSlavery?

Ask the right questions and make conscious choices about your everyday purchases.

For example:

• Ask your favourite brand if they pay their workers a fair wage
• Eat ethical chocolate this Easter
• Buy coffee from cafes that support survivors of human trafficking in Australia
• Take photos of your hotel room to fight sex trafficking
• Ask local member what they’re doing about modern slavery in your community

Take the challenge!

Sign up to receive weekly challenges to your inbox.

Last week, kicked off with ethical fashion challenges from Good On You and Fashion Revolution.

Get started this week (Week 2) with food challenges on coffee, seafood and chocolate by Stop the Traffik.

Still to come this month are travel & politics challenges!

So what are you waiting for?

Get aware. Get angry. Get active.

Help raise awareness and build a movement against modern slavery. Share with your friends “I am doing #SomethingForSlavery.”

Take the challenge

Visit Project Didi Australia to join BucketOrange Magazine and many other Australian organisations and empowered individuals who are taking on the #SomethingForSlavery challenge.

More on BucketOrange Magazine

• Smart Ways To Holiday Responsibly And Help Fight Human Trafficking
• New Modern Slavery: Australia Leading Fight Against Orphanage Tourism
• Australia First Country Formally Recognising Connection Between Child Trafficking, Orphanage Tourism & Modern Slavery

Many industries are built on a bedrock of fear.

Take the wedding industry, for example:

Marry the guy you’re dating now or you will end up sad and alone.”

Or the cosmetic industry:

Smother your face in anti-wrinkle cream because crows feet WILL come for you.”

The fertility industry is no exception. We’re bombarded daily with some derivative of the following:

If you’re over 30, your eggs are shrivelling up and dying. Freeze those eggs!”

Wait, you’re pushing 35?! Your fertility just took a massive hit and your odds of conceiving dropped drastically.”

Your chances of having a baby with a birth defect DOUBLE once you reach 40 years of age. Do you really want to take that risk?”

Sounds familiar, right?

While there is some science behind these claims, the truth is that these modern myths are not only outdated but also overstated. The fertility industry is big business which creates a huge incentive to frighten women around the world with false information. A dearth of reliable and recent data on fertility also makes it a whole lot easier for the industry (and the media) to continue to spout misinformation.

Your eggs aren’t drying up

The option to freeze eggs was first made available to chemotherapy patients, but the IVF industry quickly capitalised on the opportunity. It became the norm for the industry to use fear-mongering to convince women around the world that their fertility, and option for future babies, depended on freezing their eggs. The reality is that egg freezing costs around $10,000 plus yearly storage fees.

Even then, securing a viable pregnancy is not guaranteed.

After one cycle of IVF:

• a woman under 35 years of age has around a 40% chance of becoming pregnant
• a woman between 35 and 40 years of age has a success rate of around 30% to 35%
• a woman of 40 years of age has a 25% chance of pregnancy. After 40 years of age, success rates decline at roughly 5% a year
• by 45 years of age, a woman’s chance of becoming pregnant using IVF declines to just 1% per cycle.

Some infertility specialists spend a lot of time persuading couples not to rush into IVF and report that women worry “too much and too soon in the piece”. Babies conceived by IVF now make up around 3% of all babies. That equates to about one IVF baby in every school class.

Better research into natural conception is required to get an idea about average female fertility rates at different age brackets. There have been a number of studies of this nature conducted in the UK, however, they are now quite outdated. The best statistic we currently have is the outcome of IVF by age group.

The infamous ‘one in three’ statistic is based on a study of women’s fertility that was conducted in the 1600s

You read that correctly. One of the most widely cited statistics is that 1 in 3 women between the ages of 35 to 39 will not be able to fall pregnant after one year of trying.

That statistic is from an article published in 2004 in a journal called Human Production. However, the original source of the data is French birth records from 1670 to 1830. When serfs were still around, antibiotics didn’t exist, and most people died at the age of 40.

It was American psychologist Jean Twenge who first discovered this spectacular anomaly and realised why such statistics are still being quoted centuries later.

There are very few well-designed studies on natural fertility, meaning that statistics used by mainstream media which frighten perfectly healthy women in their 30s into believing that they have run out of time to have children do not reflect modern fertility rates.

The truth is that we have much better access to health care and are generally much healthier than we were back in the days when potatoes were all people could afford to eat.

More recent data shows that fertility in a woman’s late 20s and early 30s is about the same. There is a slight decline in fertility from a woman’s early to late 30s but it is a matter of a few percentage points – somewhere around a 4% decline.

Generally speaking, you have nothing to worry about when it comes to fertility until your early 40s.

What about the 50% increased risk of birth defects?

It’s true that once you reach 40 years of age, your chances of having a child with a birth defect does increase by 50%.

But the statistic is grossly misleading.

While miscarriages do become more common after 40 years of age, your chances of having a child with a birth defect only ‘doubles’ from 0.5% to a whopping total of 1%.

You read that correctly too.

So why would we be told that we will have mutant babies if we have them over 40 years of age?

Because it sells more magazines.

Jean Twenge first started looking into fertility data when her mum told her about a Time magazine article, one of many that fuelled the ‘baby panic’ stemming from a book written by Sylvia Ann Hewlett in 2002. Hewlett’s book advised women to have children while they were young or risk being childless. Even the American Society for Reproductive Health jumped on the bandwagon, and the media continues to report inaccurate statistics.

As Twenge writes in her original article for The Atlantic, this is:

One of the more spectacular examples of the mainstream media’s failure to correctly report on and interpret scientific research”.

Moral of the story

Your biological clock may be ticking, but it is not ticking anywhere near as quickly as you may have been led to believe.

So take a breather and an extended holiday. You’ve got plenty of time to kick back and enjoy your freedom before you start stressing about having children.

This article is a collaboration between Sarah Lynch and Amy Thomasson.

Science fiction writers long-predicted that technological developments could lead to a world where it would be impossible to differentiate between a robot and a human. Recent and rapid advances in automated vehicle technology mean that we could see these predictions become reality within the next decade. One important question we should, perhaps, be asking ourselves is whether there will still be a role for humans to play?

In the first of this two-part series, we explore the future of automobile technology: the driverless car. Part 1 will discuss the current state of the technology, while Part 2 will explore the likely legal-regulatory framework that will be required to accommodate these unprecedented advances.

Over 40 American corporations are currently working on autonomous vehicles, including companies such as Uber, Lyft and Google (Waymo) with two major ‘driverless’ frameworks being pursued.

You, robot

A spectrum of automaticity is being used by driverless designers to drive this technology forward.

The option originally favoured by a majority of technology giants due to its perceived safety and more gradual transition from current automobiles is the ‘Level 3 Autonomous Capability’ model. This design allows cars to be driven by a computer but with a human presence behind the wheel to take over in an emergency.

Waymo has demonstrated relative success with this model. Its automated vehicles have driven 1,023,330 cumulative kilometres over the past year with 124 disengagements (where a human needed to take over) and an average of one disengagement every 8,252 kilometres.

Most major players such as Google, Audi, Uber, and Lyft are realising that designing an autonomous car that relies on human intervention when things go pear-shaped is difficult. The design and engineering requirements are practically insurmountable and humans are generally unpredictable, suffer inattention and have poor reflexes.

Human error accounts for 90% of crashes. Of the 1.7 million miles that Google’s automated cars have driven, 11 accidents were all attributed to human error.

Truckinator: Judgement Day

Despite the reduction of accidents that fully automated cars promise, the implementation of this new technology does have the potential to disrupt societies and economies.

Automated trucks are a recent entrant into the United States market and there are plans for trucks to become fully automated within the coming decade.

8.7 million people are involved in the American trucking industry. In Australia, this numbers 250,000 people, not to mention the many individuals who live in small towns along frequent trucking routes who have the potential to be seriously impacted by the implementation of this technology in Australia. With the potential loss of millions of trucking jobs, the industry will need to pivot and adapt in the face of autonomous vehicles.

It has been predicted that by 2035, sales of autonomous vehicles will reach 95.4 million annually (75% of all sales), with 54 million self-driving cars in use.

Are governments ready? Are current processes, procedures and systems equipped to deal with the influx of driverless cars? It is reasonable to assume that this technology will mark a major step forward for many modern societies and could result in many foreseen and potential unforeseen ramifications. It may well be that the capitalistic notion of car ownership is the first thing to go.

Metropolis

Uber has been leading the charge away from the model of individual car ownership on the basis that driverless cars will make car ownership both overly expensive and redundant.

In the near future, it’s possible that driverless cars could be called at the press of a button for personal use.

Some of the more obvious and immediate benefits include:

• a reduction in the number of vehicles on the roads
• a  decrease in air pollution
• a reduction in costs to consumers
• no more public car parks
• no more speeding fines
• the possibility that road signs will be removed
• a reduction in the cost of personal transport

There is also that possibility that autonomous cars could be fashioned into gyms, cinemas or bedrooms.

Deus ex machina?

The influx of autonomous vehicles has the potential to significantly alter city living. There may be great opportunities for increased living spaces, improved public areas and green spaces. City centres could be transformed into clean and engaging places.

The inconvenience of driving could also be a thing of the past and may encourage the further spread of a commuting population away from city centres.

Governments, regulatory bodies and the private sector will need to make changes to account for this rapidly developing technology. With only 6% of civic plans in America currently considering the potential effect of driverless technology, a long-term vision and structured planning are required in Australia.

In Part 2, we discuss the need for implementation of a legal-regulatory framework and consider the question: Is Australia adequately prepared to meet the challenges of driverless technology on the road ahead?

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It’s that time of the year when we look to kick things off with a bang.

We declare our life-changing goals and decide what habits we’re determined to change in 2018. But as the days in the calendar tick over, many of those goals are quickly forgotten. Before we know it we find ourselves back in the same headspace and resolving to make the same changes as another year begins. Rest assured, you’re not alone. Around 92% of people fail to keep their new year’s resolutions.

I’ll admit that I’ve been guilty of setting goals and forgetting about them in the past. But 2017 was very different.

Over 365 days, I set and met some major life goals. I packed up my apartment in Sydney, moved to New York, my favourite city in the world, and landed an amazing job with a dream company. I also travelled more extensively than expected, visiting the UK, Canada and the Dominican Republic not to mention various cities in the US. I also bit the bullet and starting blogging – something I was terrified to pursue for a very long time.

Looking back I realise that much of these achievements came down to being clear about what I wanted, working out how I was going to achieve defined objectives, focusing, and working my ass off to get shit done! 

So how can you set your own life-changing goals and actually achieve them this year?

Set personal goals

These might relate to your career, health and fitness, wealth, or personal life. Figure out what you want!

When setting goals, apply the SMART principle:

• Specific: Be clear about what it is you want to achieve.
• Measurable: Will you know when you have achieved your goal, and can you measure your progress?
• Attainable: Make sure your goal is challenging but possible to achieve.
• Realistic: Will you seriously commit to pursuing this goal?
• Timely: Give yourself a deadline.

Write them down and review twice a day. I have my goals on my phone and review them every morning and every night before bed.

Make a plan

Now that you know what you want, it’s time to figure out how you’re going to achieve it this year.

I start by brainstorming all the different elements needed to achieve my goal, then organise these ideas into a more concise mind map of the steps needed to achieve that goal. Write your goal at the centre of your mind map.

Breaking a plan into smaller steps not only gives me a clear visual picture of how to achieve that goal but also helps pinpoint where to start. If I’m in unfamiliar territory and have no idea where to begin, I focus on figuring out the next right step and progressively build a plan from there.

NOTE: Even once you have figured out your plan, things will inevitably change along the way meaning that your plan will need to be altered. Don’t let this derail you, just adjust it and keep moving forward.  

Work your ASS OFF!

There is no magic formula for executing this step.

Now that you have set your goal, made your plans and can clearly see what you need to do to, it’s time to put in the work.

I aim to complete a minimum of 3-5 tasks for each goal every day. They can be big or small, so long as they contribute in some way to achieving your goal.

Start each day by being disciplined and tackling the toughest task first. I’ll admit that this is something I often find myself avoiding. But each time I knock over that first dreaded domino I realise that it wasn’t as bad as I thought and I’m ready to move on.

NOTE: Try to write your “To Do” list the night before so that each morning you are clear on your priorities and can hit the ground running.

Be prepared

The process of achieving any goal requires persistence, perseverance and preparation.

If working towards your goal requires taking a big meeting, accepting an interview, or simply having coffee with someone in your industry, make sure you enter the room prepared.

To do this:

• Be clear about the purpose of the meeting: What are you trying to achieve? What are the other parties expecting from the meeting? What is your ideal outcome?
• Know who will be in the room: Do you know who you will be meeting? Is it more than one person?
• Do your homework: Have you done your research on that person/people/company? What are their skills or professional backgrounds? How can you help them? How can they help you?

Cultivating the habit of always being prepared means that you can walk into any situation, talk to anyone, and handle any problem with confidence and ease.

Develop a daily routine

To stay motivated, focused, and accountable to yourself, try to cultivate a morning and evening routine.

For me, this is a set of non-negotiable tasks I have tested and developed over time coupled with strategies from books and people I admire.

Morning routine

Each morning before reaching for my phone, eating breakfast, or getting ready for work I complete the following:

• 10-15 minutes meditation. You can use apps like Calm which have excellent guided meditations or even relaxing Meditation Playlists on Apple Music.
• Read and visualize goals.
• Review that day’s “To Do” list and make any necessary changes. Often changes are inspired by meditation sessions.

Evening routine

Each evening, my routine centres on reflection, unwinding and preparing for the next day. This involves completing the following:

• Writing in a Gratitude Journal. I write five things that I am grateful for and reflect on what went right that day, and where I can improve in the future. Each entry is finished by acknowledging myself, what I achieved that day, and what I am proud of.
• Developing the next day’s “To Do” list.
• Evening Meditation. This helps quiet the mind and facilitates a restful night’s sleep.

NOTE: Creating a routine that works for me took patience and experimentation and has evolved over time. When developing your daily motivational routine, figure out what formula is realistic and achievable based on your unique needs and lifestyle.

Stay focused

Don’t allow yourself to procrastinate. Avoid distractions and focus on completing one goal-related task at a time.

If you are finding it difficult to stay focused try:

• Keeping your phone on silent or vibrate.
• Switch off all social media push notifications.
• Close your email application and only allow yourself to check it once you have completed a task.
• Set parameters. For example, try to stay focused for 45 minutes then reward yourself with a quick break.
• Plug in headphones and listen to music that helps you focus. I find it difficult to focus on complex tasks when songs have lyrics so opt for instrumental “Focus” and “Concentration” playlists on Spotify and Apple Music.

Have your digital assistant ready to go

Assemble a reliable digital “Tool Box” to help you stay on track and motivated.

Here are a few favourites from my Tool Box:

• Evernote – This is an app I use to keep track of projects instead of a physical notebook.
• Wunderlist – There are hundreds of productivity apps. But Wunderlist is simple, clean and the UX suits my workflow.
• Goal Tracker – iTunes and Google Play have many brilliant Goal Tracking apps but I personally like this one because of its visual display.
• Calm – A guided meditation app. Headspace is another fantastic meditation app. Alternatively, if you are not into guided meditation, Apple Music and Spotify have many calming playlists available.
• Focus Playlists – Apple Music and Spotify have several playlists that facilitate workflow and focus. I listen to these when I need to plug in and really focus.

There you have it, my hottest tips for getting shit done in 2018 and changing your life for the better! I hope they help you to move forward with purpose, focus and drive.

So what are you waiting for? Take a step in the right direction. Set one goal today and see where in the world your new path leads you.

What strategies, apps or tools do you use to stay motivated and achieving your goals? Let us know in the comments! 

More on BucketOrange Magazine

• Plawsible Deniability: How To End Procrastination And Career Self-Sabotage
• Think Like A Law Student: The Leslie Knope Guide To Overcoming Extreme Procrastination
• Think Like A Lawyer: Using Law Student Life Hacks To Get Ahead At Work

Earlier this month, the Office of the eSafety Commissioner launched a world first online portal to provide support and legal assistance to Australians who have had intimate images or videos shared without their consent (known as ‘revenge porn’).

Today the Office of the eSafety Commissioner has announced that Australia will be one of four countries participating in a limited global pilot with Facebook designed to help prevent intimate images of Australians being posted and shared across Facebook, Messenger, Facebook Groups and Instagram.

The pilot provides a portal for people concerned that an intimate image may be shared online to report it to the Office of the eSafety Commissioner who will notify Facebook to prevent any instances of the image being uploaded after the notification has been actioned.

The Office of the eSafety Commissioner is the only Australian Government agency taking part in this important pilot, which was borne from a Global Working Group established by Facebook to engage governments and businesses on keeping people safe online.

Julie Inman Grant, eSafety Commissioner says:

We’ve been participating in the Global Working Group to identify new solutions to keep people safe, and we’re proud to partner with Facebook on this important initiative as it aims to empower Australians to stop image-based abuse in its tracks,”

This pilot has the potential to disable the control and power perpetrators hold over victims, particularly in cases of ex-partner retribution and sextortion, and the subsequent harm that could come to them,” says Julie Inman Grant.

This partnership gives Australians a unique opportunity to proactively inoculate themselves from future image-based abuse by coming to our portal and reporting tool,” adds Inman Grant.

Facebook’s Head of Global Safety, Antigone Davis, said the pilot is an industry first and builds on the non-consensual intimate images tool announced by Facebook in April that uses cutting-edge technology to prevent the re-sharing on images on its platforms.

As part of our continued efforts to better detect and remove content that violates our community standards, we’re using image matching technology to prevent non-consensual intimate images from being shared on Facebook, Instagram, Facebook Groups and Messenger.”

The US, UK and Canada are also participating in the pilot with Facebook.

Further Information

If you, or someone you know, is a victim of revenge porn, visit:

• eSafety Commissioner
• Australian Cybercrime Online Reporting Network (ACORN)
• Local police assistance line: 131444
• National Counselling Helpline: 1800 737 732 (for assistance and practical strategies on how to cope with the ongoing effects of revenge porn)

More on BucketOrange Magazine:

• World First Online Help Portal For Victims Of Revenge Porn Launches Today
• Are There Laws To Protect Against ‘Revenge Porn’ In Australia? It Depends Where You Live
• Should It Be Considered A Sex Crime If It Happened Online? The Pathology Of Revenge Porn
• Google Removes Revenge Porn From Search Results
• Time For Reform: A Growing Need For Proper Regulation Of Online Sexual Harassment

Today, Australians who have had intimate images or videos shared without their consent (known as ‘revenge porn’) will be able to access tangible support and advice, including legal assistance, through an online portal piloted by the Office of the eSafety Commissioner. The portal will also run a complaints service for young Australians who experience cyberbullying and will address illegal content online.

Research released by the eSafety Office has revealed that as many as 1 in 5 for women aged 18-45, and 1 in 4 for Indigenous Australians have experienced image-based abuse.

This is a world-first government-led initiative, empowering Australians who experience this insidious form of abuse with practical information and a range of options to help resolve their situation and relieve their distress,” says eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant.

The research shows that intimate images were most commonly shared without consent on popular social media sites. Facebook/Messenger accounted for 53%, followed by Snapchat at 11% and then Instagram at 4%. Text messaging and MMS are other common distribution channels.

Australians will be able to report intimate images or videos that have been shared without their consent directly through to our portal. We will work with social media providers, websites and search engines to help facilitate the removal of the image-based abuse,” says Ms Inman Grant.

During the pilot phase, the Office of the eSafety Commissioner will be working closely with victims and stakeholders to determine the volume and complexity of reports and to develop final features of the portal which will launch formally in early 2018.

Further Information

For more information visit the Office of the eSafety Commissioner website.

More on BucketOrange Magazine

• Are There Laws To Protect Against ‘Revenge Porn’ In Australia? It Depends Where You Live
• Time For Reform: A Growing Need For Proper Regulation Of Online Sexual Harassment

Question: When does a postal vote on same-sex marriage become a substitute for a legislated plebiscite?

Answer: When the federal government fails for the second time to get its Bill for same-sex marriage passed through the Senate.

If you’ve been paying attention to the same-sex marriage issue, you will know the Senate rejected yesterday, Wednesday, 9 August 2017, the federal government’s second attempt to pass legislation for a “compulsory attendance plebiscite” to take place this November.

If you’ve forgotten what a plebiscite is, you can take a look at our article on everything you need to know about the same-sex marriage plebiscite.

The fall-back plan now being pursued by the government is to pursue a postal vote option on 15 November this year.

According to the Malcolm Turnbull:

all Australians will have their say – they will get the opportunity to express their opinion on the issue of whether the law should be changed to enable same-sex couples to marry”. 

If the result of this postal ‘plebiscite’ vote is positive, the government says it would seek, during the last sitting fortnight of the Parliament in 2017, to pass a Private Member’s Bill amending the Marriage Act 1961 to recognise same-sex marriage.

If the result of the postal vote is negative, the Prime Minister has said:

their vote will be respected. We’ve been very clear about this, we will facilitate a Private Members Bill to change the law with respect to same-sex marriage so that same-sex couples can be married if there’s a ‘yes’ vote. And if it is a ‘no’ vote, we won’t”.

However, the outcome of the postal survey is not binding on Parliamentarians.

Of course, if it is a ‘no’ postal vote outcome, it is a safe bet that the Opposition will, with the necessary support of a number of Coalition Members ‘crossing the floor’, try to get a Private Member’s Bill through the Parliament.

Australians have 14 days to register to vote in the same-sex marriage postal plebiscite. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the last day to register to vote is 24 August 2017.

Further updates coming.

More articles:

• Everything you need to know about the same-sex marriage plebiscite
• Same-sex unions formally recognised in ACT: But is it enough?
• Taiwan first Asian country to rule in favour of same-sex marriage

Did anyone else flip to July on their calendars this week and experience a moment of profound discomfort? We’ve blown straight through to July without blinking! The halfway marker is now looming large and terrifying.

A brief mental playback and it seems like January – June screamed by like episodes in a podcast programmed to double speed. Wait … whaaaaaaaat have we achieved? What have we learned? What do we wish we didn’t learn?

So we thought it was about time that we eased our foot off the accelerator for a while, took stock and reflected on the last 6 months. A few of our BucketOrange Magazine writers boldly stepped forward to share their most memorable life lessons of 2017 so far in our inaugural half year review.

You’re welcome?

Sarah Lynch: Editor-in-Chief

So far this year I learned …

• You can take an orange out of a bucket, but you can’t take the bucket out of the orange.
• If you work hard enough at something, it eventually starts working for you.
• People are amazing! They are also jerks.
• Sleep is a precious, precious thing. If you have it, cherish it.
• Related: Never shop online late on a school night. Opening a smart jewellery parcel, bought specifically for the heart rate monitor, and tumbling to the realisation that your device does not, in fact, monitor heart rates is a self-esteem crushing situation to be avoided at all costs (especially the financial kind).
• The Killers ‘Mr Brightside’ has never left the UK charts since it was first released in 2003. Meaning that teenagers celebrating at current end-of-semester parties would never have heard the song when it originally came out. This makes Hot Fuss to them what The Joshua Tree is to me – music that was changing lives before I was old enough to listen to the radio. I feel weird inside.
• Limes are everyone’s best friend. Especially gin.
• The trick to surviving winter? Travel south till your skin turns warmer.
• Dairy is scary. Milk is actually permitted to contain a certain number of pus cells when packaged and sold. (You read that correctly the first time). But really chew on that idea for a moment. And don’t forget to savour your extra hot pus latte tomorrow.
• Switch to a plant-based diet. It’ll change your life.

Amy Thomasson, legal journalist

So far this year I learned …

• Season 3 of Twin Peaks is simultaneously the best and worst experience I’ve had this year.
• Don’t start taking a move overseas seriously only a week before you leave.
• Instagram’s story feature is superior to all other story features on social media.
• Don’t leave it two years between visits to your dental hygienist (seriously, blood EVERYWHERE).
• Acrylic nails are not suitable for anyone who wants to use their hands to full capacity.
• You’re never too old for Tumblr.
• Louis Tomlinson was aware all along that he was the dud member of One Direction.
• Prophets are not exclusive to the Bible (a fun fact I learned while playing the board game “Articulate”).

Chantal El Khoury, legal journalist

So far this year I learned …

• After trying and failing to learn code that tech is not my forte (best to stick with law).
• Everything happens all at once – assignments, exams, births, deaths and more.
• Mastering the art of making the perfect cheese platter is a skill to be coveted and a skill that I now possess.
• Writing a thesis is much harder than expected.
• It could take years before the United Kingdom officially withdraws from the European Union, not the immediate and dramatic ejection I originally imagined.
• Bitcoin is a thing now. It seems there are a finite amount – 21 million bitcoins – in existence. Once 21 million Bitcoins have been mined, no new ones can be created and they must be traded unless there is a change in policy to increase the supply. Confusing, right?

Bec Torsello, legal journalist

So far this year I learned …

• You never know a place until you visit it. Travel with an open mind and dismiss prejudices about possible travel destinations.
• Embrace the unknown, it may surprise you.
• Young people are powerful. After Brexit and Teresa May’s wake up call in the UK election, this really hit home. You have a voice, so make sure it is heard.
• Identifiably “Australian” things like Vegemite, Tim Tams, potato cakes, chicken parmas and politicians doing ridiculous things – like eating onions or having sandwiches thrown at them -should never be taken for granted.

Have anything you’d like to add to our “half year in review?” What have been your best / worst lessons or experiences of the year so far? Let us know in the comments!

I remember how excited I was when I received my letter of offer from an Australian university. Getting to study overseas has always been my dream and, at that moment, I imagined the opportunities that would finally be available to me – like meeting new friends, living on my own, and learning to cook for myself.

While I couldn’t wait to do all those things, the more I thought about it, the more frightened I became at the idea of managing all that while also trying to keep up with studying.

Many questions started to pop into my head. Which courses should I be taking? How do I get around the university campus and the city centre? Who do I speak to if I need help? Where can I find cheap or discounted items?

Throughout my four years in Australia, I have reflected on how I would do things differently or what advice I would give to others in order to fully appreciate this thrilling and worthwhile experience as an international student.

What is it really like being an international student?

Living abroad can be a very challenging experience. You are separated from your friends and family and must adapt to new ways of doing things to fit in.

Sometimes you may feel that you have lost your cultural identity.

Every international student will have a different experience living and studying in Australia and what one student finds challenging might be a breeze for another. Some of the most common everyday struggles you are likely to encounter when studying overseas include the following …

Experiencing culture shock

Culture shock is definitely what most, if not all, international students will encounter. This refers to the feeling of unfamiliarity with a new culture and social norms when living far from home.

There is no correct timeframe when it comes to making a cultural adjustment – it all depends on your ability to adapt to a new social, academic and cultural context.

I really didn’t expect culture shock to affect me so early but noticed some indications that I was experiencing it including withdrawing from social activities, experiencing a lack of motivation, as well as stress and loneliness.

I’ve been through all four stages of culture shock. Sometimes it can be very frustrating when you think that you have successfully beaten it and then, when you least expect, it reappears for some time. I learned to make peace with it by thinking of it as a normal phenomenon and something that I can talk with other people about.

Fitting in and settling down

Part of culture shock is feeling like you don’t fit into your new environment.

At first, you might find yourself feigning interest in activities that locals enjoy.

During my first few weeks after moving into university accommodation, my roommate invited me to a party. I remember trying to have fun but realised that it was not the kind of thing I enjoyed. I was only doing it because I wanted to fit in and make some new friends. I decided that if I was feeling uncomfortable, I didn’t have to continue doing it.

It was a decision that helped me discover that I much prefer a casual lunch with good food and good company. Pretty soon I found some friends who enjoy the same thing, and Friday lunches soon became a tradition! Australia’s coffee culture has become almost obsessive so getting yourself regularly caffeinated is another positive step you can take to fit in.

Once you find an activity that you are comfortable with, you will begin to settle.

Dealing with homesickness

Even if you manage to quickly settle down into a new city and a new routine, homesickness can start to creep in.

What I have learned is that missing your home, the people, and the culture, is okay and absolutely normal.

When it comes to feeling homesick, you are not alone. Even domestic students who come from interstate also experience homesickness. It’s important to stay connected with your loved ones and your heritage, while also looking for opportunities to experience new things and explore new places.

My ability to cope with all these challenges comes down to acceptance. I accepted that I am away from my family and old friends. I accepted that I now live in a new city. I accepted that things are different from home.

Try to cultivate an open mind and take some risks.

Survival guides

To help ease your transition into a new Australian city, and one that you will hopefully come to regard as your second home, I have collated some of my essential survival tips derived from personal experiences.

1. Australian culture

While you may have strong English language skills, something you may not have accounted for is Australian slang. Try to familiarise yourself with a few common expressions.

Do you know about Australia’s history, laws, geography and etiquette?

Reading more about your host country gives you a better understanding of how it operates. It can also be a topic of conversation for that helps you integrate more easily.

Take advantage of your city – whether you are based in Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Adelaide or Perth – by visiting local attractions. If you’re based in Canberra, a trip to the War Memorial, Parliament House and the National Gallery can help you learn more about Australia’s history and culture.

2. Studying

Make sure you know in advance what courses you should be taking. You can do this by referring to the semester study plan spreadsheet available from your college. Stick to that plan and contact your college Dean if you are having trouble selecting courses.

International students are required to enrol full-time and complete a minimum of 24 units per semester (4 courses per semester, each course with a value of 6 units).

Student central or student administration services are available to help you manage your study programs. There are also student-run organisations or associations that you can contact with further enquiries.

For textbooks and materials, the Co-op Bookshop is the place to go. It is the largest retailer in Australia and located right on campus at each university. Textbook exchange Facebook groups are a popular way to buy pre-used books. StudentVIP is also a great website to find cheap textbooks and tutors.

3. Employment

One way to get the most out of your university life is by getting a part-time job. It’s a great way to build your network and to develop the kind of practical skills and experiences that future employers look for in a potential candidate.

A student visa generally allows international students to work up to 40 hours per fortnight during a university semester and unlimited hours during a holiday break.

Write a resume and cover letter and arrange a Tax File Number (TFN). Your university Careers Centre can help proofread your resume and prepare you for an interview.

To avoid the possibility of being exploited by an unethical employer, make sure you are aware of your basic workplace rights, such as minimum wage and basic employee protections.

Seek, Found, Ethical Jobs and Indeed are popular job search providers. Most universities also have their own job search websites.

Put your best efforts into your job and aim to impress your supervisors and managers because when it comes to finishing up your studies, you can ask them to be a referee for you. It’s also a great way to build relationships that may lead to future opportunities.

4. Housing and accommodation

The prospect of moving to an entirely new country can be terrifying thought, so choosing accommodation that best suits you and your personality is critical to ensuring that you have an enjoyable experience. For personal safety reasons and easy access to study facilities, I chose to stay in a private apartment on campus.

Walking to a lecture or a tutorial also gives me an excuse to get some exercise.

If you are not confident cooking for yourself, you might prefer staying at a residential college which has a variety of meal options available. If you are looking for a cheaper alternative, an off-campus share house is also an option. Try searching Flatmates for shared accommodation options. Local Facebook groups in your city are also a great way to find a vacant room with like-minded students.

5. Budgeting and finance

Living on your own for the first time means that you are responsible for managing your budget.

Open a bank account by applying online or by visiting a local branch. Most Australian banks have a mobile app or online banking options where you can easily track your spending.

I tend to personalise my sub-accounts by labelling them according to my monthly expenditure. For example, ‘food, ‘renting’, ‘tuition fees’. Living Expenses Calculators can also help you identify the average amount you may need to allocate in each account.

If you enjoy online shopping, you will love UNiDAYS which offers a range of discounts from major brands, exclusive only to students.

6. Getting around

If you’re having trouble finding your lecture rooms or where to buy food, the free mobile app Lost On Campus has got it all. It consists of maps and images of lecture halls, nearest toilets and even vending machines.

For bigger adventures, Google Maps is your new best friend. The app now includes public transportation guides that can help you decide which bus or train you should take to get to a specific destination as well as which route is the fastest.

The Australian Government has compiled public transport information for each state and territory if you are eager to learn more about the best way of getting around.

If you prefer to avoid public transportation, riding a bicycle is ideal for most students to get around campus and the city. They are affordable, excellent for your health and good for the environment.

Conclusion

Like domestic students, being an international student comes with its own set of benefits and challenges. Keep in mind that there are a number of resources out there to help you settle down in a new place, so take advantage of them.

To those who have just started their degree in Australia – good luck! You have a fantastic and exciting journey ahead of you. To those who are half way through or almost finished their studies – keep going! The end is near and graduation day will come around faster than you imagine!

Links and resources

• Comprehensive international student guides are available through Insider Guides here.
• Each Australian university generally has its own international student guide/handbook either in print or online. Look them up on your university website.
• The Australian Government also has further useful information relating to visas, changing your courses, and scholarships.

Netflix has confirmed that Australians will pay up to 20% more for the digital streaming service to align with the introduction of the GST to digital products and services purchased in Australia from international companies.

Netflix has increased its prices ahead of the legislative changes which will come into effect on 1 July 2017. The company is using the opportunity presented by the digital tax to hike its prices by an additional margin. From today, Australian subscribers will pay:

• Single-user standard-definition Netflix plan increases by $1 to $9.99 per month, including GST
• Two-user HD plan increases by $2 to $13.99
• Four-user Ultra HD plan increases by $3 to $17.99.

While the estimated $350 million in revenue from the 10% GST charge will go towards state and territory governments, the remainder of the increase will go straight towards feathering Netflix’s nest.

Since launching in 2015 in Australia, Netflix has not changed its pricing.

The company will start sending existing members 30-day notices from 29 June 2017.

Australians are among the biggest gamblers in the world.

According to the Economist, betting losses per resident adult in 2016 amounted to $1292 last year. That is 40% higher than Singapore, which suffered the second biggest losses and double the average in other Western countries. In stark comparison, Las Vegas lost half this amount.

Pokies are still, and have always been, a recognised problem and almost half of Australia’s gambling expenditure can be attributed to the ‘slots’. This is because bet sizes are much higher than other markets, allowing punters to lose as much as $1,150 per hour.

However, the emergence and unprecedented growth of the online betting industry, including sports betting (which grew a massive 30% from 2014 to 2015), is such that on current predictions, within 10 years, sports betting will overtake the pokies as the biggest form of gambling in Australia.

Getting in the face of gamblers

According to the Federal Department of Social Services:

Online gambling is the fastest growing gambling segment, growing at 15% per annum, with over $1.4 billion gambled online each year. Digital technology is also enabling illegal operators to reach our phones, our televisions, our home computers at any time of the day or night.”

So, what factors are driving this major increase in online gambling and sports betting? Look no further than advertising.

Sports betting, in particular, has never been so easy, or so attractive. Online bookmakers like Tom Waterhouse and Sportsbet pour millions of dollars into advertising each year, including incentives for opening an account, to entice new and regular punters.

While 2012 saw $68.7 million spent on gambling adverts, in 2014 this spending rose to $149.1 million.

The speed and ease of betting on smartphone apps, live betting as well as the hundreds of bonus bets and refund promotions run by gambling agencies, it comes as no surprise that more and more Australians, particularly young men, are persuaded to grab their credit cards and sign up for the latest Sportsbet, William Hill, and Ladbrokes deals.

An estimated 500,000 Australians are at risk of becoming problem gamblers with the social cost of gambling estimated to be 4.7 billion.

Targeting a new generation

Betting agencies and major online bookmakers carefully tailor marketing techniques to appeal to a new generation of potential gamblers, moving away from gamblers likely to head towards the slots. Many agencies now focus on sports betting with a specific focus on younger generations (specifically adolescent males), to create what has been described by some commentators as the ‘gamblification of sport’.

The trend has seen an increasing number of vulnerable and impressionable young men grow up in an environment of constant exposure to embedded gambling advertising.

Showing sports betting advertisements before, during and after popular sporting events makes the euphoric feelings experienced when watching favourite sporting idols win synonymous with gambling.

It’s a highly addictive cocktail of hormones, adrenalin, endorphins and the potential to win a lot of money quickly – and it’s exactly why it is a winning recipe for betting agencies.

Viewers learn and are arguably indoctrinated about gambling through favourite sports programs. Such advertisements are often strategically shown at critical points of matches when audiences are most attentive. Many advertisements are also displayed on player uniforms and across sporting venues.

The outcome of this frequency of sports betting advertising is leading to a normalisation and legitimisation of gambling as harmless and skilful fun (not unlike sport). Increasingly, sports betting is regarded by young Australian men as a ‘key part’ of enjoying and engaging in the excitement of live sporting events.

Marketing campaigns of this kind have been described as both predatory and unacceptable by Tim Costello, the chairman of the Australian Churches Gambling Taskforce, as they have already seduced many young Australians with their high potential to create a new generation of problem gamblers.

With the risk that sports betting is becoming ‘normalised’ and mainstream, should gambling advertising be better regulated to protect the community? What is the current position?

Last month, the Turnbull government banned gambling ads five minutes before the start of a match until five minutes after the end of a match, and before 8.30pm. The changes are part of a hotly contested package of media reforms designed to combat gambling in Australia.

However, major bookmakers are savvy and already finding loopholes and other mechanisms to advertise online, such as through advertorials on websites. You don’t have to be on the internet for long to discover their presence as they are now even seeking out sponsorship arrangements with online magazine publishers.

There has been little success in restricting the booming sports betting industry. In 2013, the Federal government looked into the regulation of sports betting by conducting three inquiries. These inquiries have had little impact, other than amendments made to the Broadcasting Advertising Codes, resulting in the prohibition of in-match commentary on, and on-screen displays of, live betting odds.

Other promotional practices continue to flood Australian TV screens throughout major sporting events.

What else can be done to ensure better regulation and protection for the community?

Granted this is a contentious issue as the state governments receive a substantial amount of revenue from gambling tax. However, community concern is rising, and many Australians are looking to the Federal government to make legislative changes to limit sports gambling and advertising and to adopt better, national regulation methods.

It has been suggested that larger penalties should be imposed on gambling service providers, particularly when they engage in this kind of ‘predatory advertising’. Other suggestions have been to increase the number of warning messages featured within gambling advertisements as well as to place restrictions on the use of advertising on player uniforms.

As mentioned earlier, Australians lose more money gambling per person than any other nation globally. Australians are not winning from sports gambling nor its advertising. Isn’t it time the Federal government stepped in and responded to increased community concern?

But let’s be clear, here. Genuine sports lovers are not focussed on making money out of their desire for a particular result in a match or other major sporting event. Their interest in sport is for sport itself and not to make money out of that sporting interest. That being said, both sport lovers and as well as everyone else in the community are being targeted by betting agencies to part with their money.

High social costs of gambling

The social costs of gambling are devastating and are capable of destroying the lives of many Australians. Ramifications include personal relationship and family breakdown, loss of employment, bankruptcy, depression, suicide and criminal activity. The human costs are high but the damage to the economy is also significant.

In April this year, the Federal government reached an in-principle agreement with state and territory Ministers to introduce broad reforms to provide stronger consumer protections in online gambling. Ministers agreed that the current level of gambling advertising is not liked or desired by the broader community.

Ministers noted the Commonwealth Government is actively considering this issue. However, while the Federal government has certainly expressed a desire for greater national consistency in advertising of online wagering services, it has been surprisingly slow to actually do something positive.

It was noted at the Ministers’ meeting that:

Online gambling is the fastest growing gambling segment with rates of problem gambling three times higher than in other gambling segments.”

The Ministers did agree on “key principles underpinning eleven measures to better protect Australians’ gambling online”. Importantly, among other things, it was agreed that there would be a prohibition of lines of credit being offered to punters by wagering providers.

Ministers also agreed to the establishment of a national gambling research model commencing 1 July this year with a $3 million investment by all governments. The Commonwealth will contribute a mere $1.35 million.

Several of these eleven measures could be implemented by the end of this year but, apart from appropriate future legislative measures.

At the very least the government should actively run television, radio and online campaigns aimed at the broader community, not just sports lovers.

Such campaigns could proactively discourage inappropriate online sports gambling just as the government has with other major social issues such as the ice epidemic, skin cancer awareness, anti-smoking, suicide awareness and active living campaigns.

To put it in perspective …

Many of us are guilty of heading to the local club, hotel or even the casino to try our luck at the pokies. But sports betting is a much bigger and much more dangerous social issue. With accessibility 24/7 on our smartphones, tablets or PCs as well as advertisements flashing on our screens and plastered on sports stars’ uniforms, it’s an industry that is not only a threat to the community but also what we perceive as ‘normal’.

Further Information

If you, or anyone you know, needs help with a gambling addiction contact:

• Lifeline on 13 11 14
• Mensline Australia 1300 789 987
• Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467
• Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36
• Headspace on 1800 650 890
• Gambling Help Online ACT on 1800 858 858; TTY 1800 777 706 for a free 24-hour anonymous counselling referral service
• Relationships Australia
• Lifeline Problem Gambling
• Mission Australia Gambling Hotline on 1800 858 858
• Gambling Help NSW