Do children gamble? They do. Why do they do it?

Overview:

Youth gambling is emerging as a critical public health concern; driven by data-fuelled advertising, increasing accessibility, and lobbying efforts that stall reform. In Australia, children and teens are being exposed daily to tailored betting promotions that normalise gambling and exploit their developmental vulnerabilities. Health practitioners and advocates must grasp both the individual health risks and the systemic barriers that currently exist to intervene effectively. This session will unpack current evidence, explore policy challenges, and highlight actionable strategies to protect young people from gambling harm, featuring esteemed speaker Dr Monique Ryan MP who recently published a through-provoking article on this topic: https://johnmenadue.com/post/2025/06/how-lobbyists-are-blocking-bans-on-advertising-for-online-gambling-and-putting-young-australians-at-risk/

Keynote Speaker:
Dr Monique Ryan is an independent federal MP for Kooyong. Prior to entering parliament in May 2022, she was a paediatric neurologist, medical researcher and head of neurology at the Royal Children's Hospital. Dr Ryan has actively campaigned for stricter lobbying laws, affordable housing and has been a strong advocate for banning gambling advertisement.

Webinar Chair:
Professor Kim Oates is an Australian paediatrician, medical educator, and child protection advocate, formerly serving as Chief Executive of The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. He was honoured as an Officer of the Order of Australia for his distinguished service to paediatric medicine, child health and welfare, and medical education. Professor Oates is currently an ACAH board director.

Panellists:
Professor Nitin Kapur is Respiratory & Sleep Paediatrician and Director of Paediatric Education at the Queensland Children’s Hospital. He has recently completed his term as President of the Paediatrics & Child Health Division of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

Dr Anysha Walia is a Paediatric trainee based in Victoria who is passionate about social justice, refugee health and advocating for the voice of children in Australia and the global community. She is an ACAH board director and co-convenor of ACAH23: A Voice for Children.