National qualification helps venues to manage problem gamblers
Monday 16 July 2007, 5:58PM
By Mediacom
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A new voluntary national qualification is equipping hospitality staff to effectively manage problem gambling in pubs and clubs.
Developed by the Hospitality Standards Institute (HSI) in partnership with the hospitality industry, the Problem Gambling Awareness Qualification (PGAQ) provides standardised training for managers and duty staff in pubs, clubs, casinos and TABs.
HSI’s Chief Executive Steve Hanrahan said the NZQA-accredited qualification helped staff in gambling venues to identify and manage problem gamblers, and provided an industry-wide training standard for dealing with problem gambling.
The Gambling (Harm Prevention and Minimisation) Regulations 2004 require casinos and class 4 gambling venues to ensure a person trained in early recognition and management of problem gambling is on-site whenever gambling is available.
Mr Hanrahan said that while the formal qualification itself was voluntary, it made sense for venues to ensure their staff training was on-par with the rest of the hospitality industry and recognised by NZQA.
HSI worked with a number of organisations and government agencies to develop the qualification, Mr Hanrahan said. “The development process has been very robust and has resulted in a qualification that meets the combined requirements of workplaces and legislation,†he said.
“Using the NZQA Framework as the basis for learning also underpins the quality and accessibility of the training plus enables learners to gain credits contributing to their career pathways.â€Â
The training also enabled other units such as HSI’s new Professional Door Staff and Liquor Controller qualifications to be added to venue training programmes, providing standardised skills for conflict management and harm minimisation throughout venues.
Training for the Problem Gambling Awareness Qualification can be offered internally by venues or through accredited external training providers.
Charity Gaming Association Chief Executive, Francis Wevers, said the qualification was a key step in ensuring consistency of knowledge across all venue operators. “The association has been an integral partner in the development of the qualification. Our membership is committed to ensuring that venue supervisors and managers receive the relevant and appropriate training to support them in their daily roles,†Mr Wevers said.
Hospitality Association of NZ (HANZ) Chief Executive Bruce Robertson said the qualification met the needs of both The Gambling Act and The Racing Act, which helped venues to reduce compliance costs. “Having employees have this qualification and putting the training into practice will mean venue operators of either gaming machines or TAB agencies will be going a long way to minimising problem gambling at their place,†Mr Robertson said.
As the hospitality industry’s training organisation (ITO), HSI leads access to training and qualifications for the hospitality industry, including overseeing, supervising, assisting and reviewing all nationally recognised training for chefs, waiters, baristas, bar persons, porters, hotel receptionists, room-attendants, house-keepers, supervisors and managers.
HSI also provides support and guidance to schools, polytechnics and providers that teach and assess Unit Standards through hospitality courses.
Developed by the Hospitality Standards Institute (HSI) in partnership with the hospitality industry, the Problem Gambling Awareness Qualification (PGAQ) provides standardised training for managers and duty staff in pubs, clubs, casinos and TABs.
HSI’s Chief Executive Steve Hanrahan said the NZQA-accredited qualification helped staff in gambling venues to identify and manage problem gamblers, and provided an industry-wide training standard for dealing with problem gambling.
The Gambling (Harm Prevention and Minimisation) Regulations 2004 require casinos and class 4 gambling venues to ensure a person trained in early recognition and management of problem gambling is on-site whenever gambling is available.
Mr Hanrahan said that while the formal qualification itself was voluntary, it made sense for venues to ensure their staff training was on-par with the rest of the hospitality industry and recognised by NZQA.
HSI worked with a number of organisations and government agencies to develop the qualification, Mr Hanrahan said. “The development process has been very robust and has resulted in a qualification that meets the combined requirements of workplaces and legislation,†he said.
“Using the NZQA Framework as the basis for learning also underpins the quality and accessibility of the training plus enables learners to gain credits contributing to their career pathways.â€Â
The training also enabled other units such as HSI’s new Professional Door Staff and Liquor Controller qualifications to be added to venue training programmes, providing standardised skills for conflict management and harm minimisation throughout venues.
Training for the Problem Gambling Awareness Qualification can be offered internally by venues or through accredited external training providers.
Charity Gaming Association Chief Executive, Francis Wevers, said the qualification was a key step in ensuring consistency of knowledge across all venue operators. “The association has been an integral partner in the development of the qualification. Our membership is committed to ensuring that venue supervisors and managers receive the relevant and appropriate training to support them in their daily roles,†Mr Wevers said.
Hospitality Association of NZ (HANZ) Chief Executive Bruce Robertson said the qualification met the needs of both The Gambling Act and The Racing Act, which helped venues to reduce compliance costs. “Having employees have this qualification and putting the training into practice will mean venue operators of either gaming machines or TAB agencies will be going a long way to minimising problem gambling at their place,†Mr Robertson said.
As the hospitality industry’s training organisation (ITO), HSI leads access to training and qualifications for the hospitality industry, including overseeing, supervising, assisting and reviewing all nationally recognised training for chefs, waiters, baristas, bar persons, porters, hotel receptionists, room-attendants, house-keepers, supervisors and managers.
HSI also provides support and guidance to schools, polytechnics and providers that teach and assess Unit Standards through hospitality courses.