Units / ASC5010
ASC5010 · Gambling, gaming and other behavioural addictions
2026 Handbook12 credit pointsLevel 5Eastern Health Clinical School
Last checked: 23 Aug 2026 UTCOverview
This unit will present the latest evidence about gambling disorder, gaming disorder and other emerging behavioural addictions / disorders. The unit commences with a focus on people experiencing problems with gambling, providing you with a comprehensive understanding about its aetiology, screening, assessment, treatment, relapse prevention and recovery. Using these principles, the unit then turns to consider other emerging behavioural addictions / disorders, including gaming disorder and those related to food, exercise, social media, sexual activity, shopping, and hoarding. These are described and discussed with reference to general, underlying principles identified in recognised Gambling Disorder and Gaming Disorder. For each behavioural addiction or emerging disorder, its characteristics and risk factors are discussed in context of their biological, psychological and social dimensions.
Offerings
| Campus | Teaching period | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Clayton | Second semester | Teaching is all online (ONLINE) |
Assessment
The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.
| # | Assessment | Type | Weight | Hurdle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reflective writing (1,000 -1,500 words) | Written | 10% | — |
| 2 | Critical review (1,000 -1,500 words) | Written | 10% | — |
| 3 | Case study analysis and reflection (3,000 words) | Written | 40% | — |
| 4 | Report (3,500 words) | Written | 40% | — |
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Requisites
The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.
Learning outcomes
- Evaluate risk factors and harms associated with gambling and gaming disorders, and other putative behavioural addictions, using both primary and secondary sources.
- Critique similarities and differences between established and putative behavioural addictions and substance use disorder, using biological, psychological and social theories of addiction.
- Formulate appropriate responses, interventions and supports to address harms and stigma related to gambling, gaming and other putatively addictive behaviours.
- Formulate interventions to minimise relapse and promote recovery in behavioural addiction, drawing upon best practices in the field and scholarly literature.
- Appraise public health policies and prevention strategies to address harms related to gambling, gaming and putative behavioural addictions.
- Analyse and evaluate the debate on screening, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of established and putative behavioural addictions.
- Communicate the complexities and nuances associated with gambling, gaming and other putatively addictive behaviours to professional and non-professional audiences.
Workload
Students enrolling in ASC5010 will be expected to contact the unit coordinator(s) regularly throughout the semester and participate in online discussion with fellow students and academic staff. You should expect to spend around 24 hours a week of self-directed learning. This includes accessing online lectures, podcasts and resources as well as participating in forum discussions questions and quizzes via Moodle in addition to conducting offline independent study such as reading, research and writing activities.
| Activity | Duration |
|---|---|
| Workshops | — |
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