About the speakers

Vera Semjonov is the senior clinician for Gambler’s Help Eastern, where she has worked for 13 years. She migrated to Australia from Serbia with her family in 1994.   Her first work in Australia was as a multicultural counsellor in the western suburbs where she developed a particular interest in engaging CALD communities in gambling counselling.   Vera completed her psychology degree at Belgrade University in 1984 and worked as an organisational psychologist before migrating.

Brendon is currently a project officer for the Multicultural Gamblers Help Program at the Centre for Culture Ethnicity and Health and has been involved in the community health sector for more than fourteen years, with diverse experience which ranges from direct services in disability to senior management in allied health.   He has worked on a variety of projects with a CALD focus and is currently looking at models of bi-lingual counselling and training to build cultural competence for Gamblers Help services. Brendon has a BSc in Psychology and additional Diplomas in solution focused brief therapy, hypnotherapy and psychotherapy.