St David's Care financial and problem gambling counselling service marks 30 years

And St David’s Care in Albury has maintained that focus for 30 years, presently providing financial and gambling counselling throughout the Border and Riverina.

A thanksgiving service in the adjacent St David’s Uniting Church, corner of Olive and Wilson Streets, at 9.30am Sunday will mark the milestone.

“We’d love any people who have ever been involved with St David’s Care, whether volunteer, staff or a client, to come along and help us to celebrate that,” team leader and counsellor Kaily Goodsell said.

Established through a bequest from Lankeys Creek grazier Joseph James Wright, later of Albury, St David’s Care began in adult life education, such as parenting and self-esteem.

A hall provided free of rent by the church was renovated to house the new facility.

In the late 1990s the service sought funding for financial counselling and problem gambling counselling, which remain its core business.

Funding limitations mean staff numbers remain small, with two and a half employees seeing more than 300 clients a year.

“From budgeting to bankruptcy, but also harm minimisation for gambling,” Mrs Goodsell said.

Previously grief counselling was also offered and if more funding could be found “we could have another person here, filled up with a wait list in an hour”.

Mrs Goodsell, the longest-serving staff member, joined St David’s Care in February 2001.

“My passion is the work that we do,” she said.

“We help people who are vulnerable, people who just need a little bit of a hand.

“I find it really humbling to be able to be present with someone in some of their lowest times and actually empower them and give them the tools to be able to get on with it and that is such a privilege,” she said.