“HOW did you feel after you lost your inheritance?” That was the burning question of Wedderburn College Year Nine student Kayla Cramp when he interviewed Fred Rubenstein for the Local Schools Podcast Challenge.
The interview with Fred, a member of Gambler’s Help lived experience advisory committee, took part in the challenge raising awareness of early support services in the prevention of harm.
College teacher Sophia Herrington said: “Wedderburn College with Anglicare Victoria partnered with Live FM to create three Podcasts. 
“The first podcast is about listening to a young man Fred, that has a lived experience with a gambling addiction, he speaks openly with the Wedderburn students about how his addiction began and his journey to seeking professional help. 
“This is a wonderful interview by four of the Year 9 Wedderburn students. They make a deep connection with  Fred and provide some great ideas to help anyone that may know someone or themselves to seek help.”
The challenge has given students the chance to record their own podcasts with a focus on local support services. 
Before recording the episodes, students were trained in media production and presentation and taught about the effects, risks and stigma associated with mental illnesses as well as drug, alcohol and gambling abuse to assist with planning their interview questions. 
Jamie Penrose, Max Dean, Ashton Bellman and Kayla Cramp interviewed Fred about his gambling addiction and recovery. Their interview prompted Fred to talk about how his addiction affected his family and friends as well as himself and his process of realising he had a problem and his experiences seeking help.  
Following their conversation with Fred, students spoke to therapeutic counsellor at Gambler’s Help, Jeri Mayers, to learn what help is available for those affected by gambling. 
Jeri provided the students with further knowledge of how those seeking help are supported and the tailored approach for each case taken by the counsellors. 
Students were also able to interview youth psychosocial recovery worker Grace Owen to discuss services designed to assist people their age. In addition to providing information about the services offered Grace also discussed the stigma around mental health with the students and how to support someone who may not feel comfortable asking for help. 
The college has been able to participate in this challenge with the support of Anglicare Victoria, Making Media, Headspace and Youth Support and Advocacy Service and are trying to hit the target of 2000 viewers of their podcasts to take out the prize.