Providing national leadership to reduce gambling harm

The Alliance for Gambling Reform is a national advocacy organisation which works to prevent and minimize the harm from gambling. They have recently appointed Martin Thomas as their CEO. Martin is this weeks Pro Bono Australia change maker, read on for our interview with him!

Describe your career trajectory and how you got to your current position.

I started my career in journalism with ideals of making the world a better place, but after a while I became frustrated at just being ‘a spectator’ so I moved in the for-purpose space. It was a wonderful decision, I really found that in working with organisations like World Vision, UNICEF, Mission Australia and my role now, I have finally fused together my career with my personal values and beliefs. I believe I will stand before my Maker at some stage and have to give account for the resources and skills I have been given and how I have used them to help others.

What does this role mean to you?

It is an honour to lead the Alliance for Gambling Reform. It is a pivotal time where Australian’s are really sick of all the gambling ads that swamp our screen and are also starting to realise the enormous social harm gambling is doing across our society. We lose $25 billion every year to gambling – you can’t rip out that much money from communities – especially in a cost of living crisis – and not have a profound negative impact

Take us through a typical day of work for you.

There is no typical day. We are a small team and with limited resources we try to do all we can to keep the pressure on government for real gambling reform as well as keeping the issue front of mind for Australians. The Alliance also supports people with lived experience of gambling harm to speak out and inform policy changes in this important area.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve encountered in your career, and how did you overcome it?

The perennial challenge in the not-for-profit sector is always that there is too much to do and too little resources/income. In the gambling reform space, it is compounded by the fact vested interests and their allies and lobbyists have very deep pockets – they lobby hard and they donate to political parties – they have all the advantages of money and power.

 If you could go back in time, what piece of advice would you give yourself as you first embarked on your career? 

Find an organisation that not only aligns with your values but where you skills and expertise can make a difference and are valued – and don’t stay too long in organisations which don’t match your values or value your contribution. Life is too short.

How do you stay motivated to work in this field?

Being patient, enjoying working as part of a team and taking time to celebrate the wins. Often the issues we are trying to change will take decades, so its important to recognise the small wins to keep you motivated. And also know you are on the right side of history. But ultimately my faith motivates me, to understand I am accepted and loved by God, helps me to accept and love others.

How do you unwind after work?

I run a little and swim a little, I like to read … but if I am honest going out to a café to read the paper and then coming home to watch football on the couch is often a weekend habit.

What was the last thing you: Watched, Read, & Listened to?

The Last Dance on Netflix – I love the use of sport as an example to build and motivate teams and to get results. Its not for everyone but it works for me

With my reading I love to just tune out, I am a bit of a fan of Donna Leon’s novels about a police commissionaire in Venice. I have also just finished a book by Max Lucado “A love worth giving”

I love to listen to audio books when I am in the car.