Our Mission
One Disease at a Time was founded on a simple but powerful idea: that by focusing our collective energy on a single health crisis, we can create real, lasting change.
What Drives Us
Gambling addiction is one of Australia's most significant yet under-addressed public health challenges. It destroys finances, fractures families, damages mental health, and in the worst cases, costs lives. Despite this, it remains surrounded by stigma, misunderstanding, and a culture that often normalises excessive gambling as "just a bit of fun."
One Disease at a Time exists to change that. We believe that gambling addiction is a health issue — not a moral failing, not a character flaw, and not something people should be ashamed of. Like any health condition, it deserves compassion, evidence-based treatment, and a clear path to recovery.
Our mission is to reduce the harm caused by gambling addiction in Australia through education, advocacy, community support, and by connecting individuals and families with the professional help they need.
Our Vision
"An Australia where no one suffers in silence from gambling addiction — where help is accessible, recovery is celebrated, and prevention starts before the harm begins."
Our Approach
We tackle gambling addiction from multiple angles, recognising that there is no single solution to such a complex problem. Our approach is built on four pillars:
Education & Awareness
We provide clear, accurate, evidence-based information about the risks of gambling, the science of addiction, and the warning signs that a recreational activity has become a problem. We aim to reach people before they need crisis intervention — through our website, community outreach, and educational resources.
Connection to Services
Many Australians don't know where to turn when gambling becomes a problem. We bridge that gap by curating and maintaining a comprehensive directory of support services — from national helplines and counselling services to self-exclusion tools and financial counselling — so help is always just one click or call away.
Community & Peer Support
Recovery doesn't happen in isolation. We foster a sense of community where people affected by gambling — whether directly or as loved ones — can find solidarity, share experiences, and support one another. We believe in the power of lived experience to drive healing and reduce stigma.
Advocacy & Policy
We advocate for stronger gambling regulations, tighter advertising restrictions, better funding for treatment services, and policies that prioritise public health over industry profits. We believe the voices of those affected by gambling harm must be heard in every policy conversation.
Our Core Values
Compassion First
We approach every person with empathy and without judgment. Addiction is a medical condition, and those who experience it deserve the same dignity and care as anyone facing a health challenge. There is no shame in asking for help.
Evidence-Based Action
Everything we do is grounded in research and data from Australian and international health authorities. We don't sensationalise, moralise, or oversimplify. We present facts so people can make informed decisions about their own lives.
Accessibility for All
Information and support should be available to every Australian, regardless of where they live, what language they speak, or what their financial situation is. We are committed to providing free, open-access resources and connecting people with free, government-funded professional services.
Hope & Recovery
Recovery is real and achievable. Thousands of Australians overcome gambling addiction every year. We exist to reinforce this truth — that no matter how deep the problem feels, change is possible, help is available, and a better future is within reach.
Accountability & Transparency
We hold ourselves to the same standards we expect from the gambling industry. We are transparent about our funding, our methods, and our goals. We have no affiliations with gambling operators and accept no funding from the gambling industry.
Why "One Disease at a Time"?
The world faces countless health challenges, and it can feel overwhelming to try to address them all. Our founding philosophy is rooted in the belief that focused, sustained attention on a single issue can achieve more than spread efforts across many.
Right now, our focus is gambling addiction in Australia — a disease that costs the nation over $25 billion a year, ruins hundreds of thousands of lives, and is fuelled by an industry with enormous political and economic power. By concentrating our resources, research, and advocacy on this one issue, we believe we can make a measurable difference.
One disease. One fight. One community. At a time.
The Scale of the Challenge
Lost to gambling annually by Australians
Australians estimated to have a gambling problem
Poker machines across the country
Higher depression rate among problem gamblers
Family court cases involving gambling
Free, confidential help is available
Join the Fight
Whether you're seeking help for yourself, supporting a loved one, or simply want to learn more — you're already part of the solution. Together, we can change how Australia deals with gambling addiction.