Table 1 Participant characteristics pre-course (n = 166)

Variable

 Age—M (SD)

41.3 (13.1)

Gender—N (%)

 Male

44 (26.5)

 Female

122 (73.5)

 Other

0 (0)

Education—N (%)

  Year 9 or lower

3 (1.8)

  Year 10, 11, or 12

34 (20.7)

  Certificate, Trade or Apprenticeship

52 (31.7)

  University

75 (45.7)

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander—N (%)

12 (7.4)

Language other than English—N (%)

27 (16.6)

Postcode—N (%)

  Metropolitan area

64 (38.6)

  Regional area

100 (60.2)

  Missing

2 (1.2)

Previous training about gambling problems—N (%)

58 (35.6)

Previous training in mental health—N (%)

91 (55.5)

Experience with gambling problems—N (%)

  Clients or customers

69 (41.8)

  Colleague

16 (9.7)

  Myself

4 (2.4)

  Friends

37 (22.4)

  Family

45 (27.3)

  Broader community

50 (30.3)

  None of the above

38 (23.0)

  Rather not say

1 (0.6)

Reason for learning MHFA for gambling problems—N (%)

  Part of continuing education for workplace/profession

144 (87.8)

  Part of training for a volunteer job

13 (7.9)

  To support someone with gambling problems

27 (16.4)

  Past contact with someone with gambling problems

40 (24.4)

  They have had gambling problems

3 (1.8)

  Other

9 (5.4)