Louise* was just seven when she started noticing jewellery and household appliances going missing — her mother was selling furniture and whitegoods to fuel a gambling addiction.
“I came home one day when I was 14 years old to find I didn’t have a home anymore,” said Louise, now in her 40s.
“We’d also go a few days at a time without much to eat.
“It created devastating amounts of poverty and mental health issues for us. We certainly experienced material deprivation, but it also caused serious family breakdowns.”
Her mother’s addiction — mainly pokies — forced Louise to grow up quickly, navigating instability while trying to trust the woman she loved.
“It is a horribly normalised addiction,” she said.