Back in the UK

Dear Reader,

Forgive me for taking so long to write again, it has been a very busy few months! Here is a brief update following my visit to Sydney.

As you know in February I travelled to The University of Sydney and was based in the University's Gambling Treatment Clinic (http://sydney.edu.au/science/psychology/gambling_treatment_clinic/) for two months.  During my visit I worked with esteemed academics within the field of gambling studies most notably Professor Alex Blaszcznyski (http://sydney.edu.au/science/people/alex.blaszczynski.php) and Dr. Sally Gainsbury (http://scu-au.academia.edu/SallyGainsbury).  Data collection is underway for two projects, and an article has recently been submitted for consideration for publication.  I am also currently collaborating with a Honours student on a project investigating the music within gambling advertisements and we will be analysing the data over the next couple of months.  

During my visit I also gained an insight into a range of topics within the field of gambling studies which are currently being investigated (e.g. harm minimisation strategies).  In addition I discovered how gambling counsellors are trained and how gambling addiction can be treated.  Towards the end of my visit I gave a talk to an audience comprising gambling counsellors about my own research within the topic of music and gambling.

I also listened to a number of talks including Moral convictions and conceptions of responsible gambling (given by Prof. Blaszczynski) and Reducing treatment drop outs (given by Professor Robert Ladouceur).  

All in all my time at the GTC was inspirational and I look forward to sustaining the relationships I have built over the coming months and years.  

Here is a brief piece about my visit which was published on the GTC website:

http://www.psych.usyd.edu.au/gambling_treatment_clinic/about_us/news_2014.shtml 

All the best,

Steph