Members of ICAN’s Workforce Development team travelled to Darwin earlier this month to run the first Mobile Phone Filmmaking for Social Impact – “Scambling Awareness” course with project partner HK Training and Consultancy (HKTC). “Scambling”, also referred to as “Ding Ding” or “Gammon Ding Ding”, is an emerging online gambling scam disproportionately affecting First Nations communities in Australia. ICAN estimates that $230 Million* is siphoned offshore annually from remote Indigenous communities, reducing funds available to individuals, families, and local economies.
ICAN’s ‘Scambling Awareness Project’ aims to educate remote Indigenous community residents on the pitfalls of ‘Scambling’. Taking a community development and advocacy approach to tackle the issue, Project Coordinator Alex Price-Busch explains, “Our goal is to promote Scambling awareness throughout remote communities in Northern Australia using locally created social media video content developed with our Workforce Development project partners, so communities can better identify and respond to the scam.”
“Our newly developed Mobile Phone Filmmaking for Social Impact course takes participants through the video production process, using Scambling as the central theme for content creation,” said Alex. “During the course, participants explore the Scambling issue, learn about pre-production research and planning, and develop a Scambling Awareness video treatment. Once the pre-production part of the course is completed, participants learn about mobile filming, sound and lighting through shooting scenes and voice-overs outlined in the video treatment.”
ICAN CEO, Aaron Davis, highlighted the additional benefit of ICAN’s workforce development partner approach. “As Scambling is the number one consumer issue for financial wellbeing services in Northern Australia, we all get to learn more about Scambling by sharing learnings on the issue,” said Aaron. “We can then advocate to stakeholders on our project learnings, including the newly formed Scambling Fusion Cell, led by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission that focuses industry, government and community efforts on damaging scam problems, to hopefully accelerate disruption and better protect affected communities.”
“Scambling is one of the biggest financial wellbeing issues we see in remote communities,” highlighted Andrew Kendall, HKTC Financial Counsellor Intern. “The harm goes far beyond the individual who loses money. When people spend their pay on these gambling sites, that pressure often falls back on family members who are then expected to provide food, essentials and support. At the same time, money that would normally circulate through local businesses is instead leaving the community altogether. That has real consequences for families, local shops and community wellbeing.”
“Many people believe they have a chance of winning because they see the flashy lights, hear stories about someone getting paid, or receive a small payout themselves,” said Andrew. “But these scams are designed to hook people in. Awareness and education are critical because once people understand how these schemes work, they’re better equipped to recognise the risks and protect themselves and their communities.”
ICAN will run the next Mobile Phone Filmmaking for Social Impact course in Doomadgee later this month with Workforce Development partner, 54 Reasons. Video content created in the courses will be edited and distributed through community Facebook groups and identified social media sites in remote Northern Australian communities, incorporating first languages, local participants and service providers. As part of the program, all Workforce Development partner agencies are left with the tools to continue making social impact content that supports their communities.
If you’d like to know more about becoming an ICAN Workforce Development Partner organisation or learn more about the Mobile Phone Filmmaking for Social Impact – “Scambling Awareness” course, please reach out to Alex on 1800 369 878 or email: alex.pricebusch@ican.org.au .
*Calculation made from 2021 Census Data.
Population Calculation: 984,000 (First Nations Population) x 15% (Residing in Remote/Very Remote) x 30% (Scambling engagement rate that factors in adult population) = 44,280 (People Affected)
Annual Loss to Australian Economy: 44,280 x $200 per fortnight (Conservative Loss Amount) x 26 fortnights each year = $230,256,000.00 (Yearly Cost to Australian Economy)