Author_MAThomas

Writer, Maker, Intermittent Baker

Currently working on a twelve-part series about Australian teens I am calling 'The Girl Diaries' and launching a not for profit writing and wellness project 'The Book Review Project' which brings together at-risk youths to develop a love of literature and learning through therapeutic journal writing. I'm also dipping my toes into writing New Adult fiction and will have a trilogy entitled 'Óut of Vegas' and a fantasy novel 'The Unseen Forest' available soon!

I'm a long-time journalist and community health worker and my passion is helping people overcome adversity and realizing their worth.


***2020 update***

Eward Tufte, Statastician and professor of political science at Yale University was once quoted as saying 

"There are only two industries that call their customers 'users'. Illegal drugs and software."
 
When I read that I thought, "YES!" the similarities between clients I work with who have gaming and technology addictions and the people I work with who have substance dependency problems are scary. 

I urge anyone who has a smart phone to watch "The Social Dilemma," on Netflix and encourage your family and friends to do the same. The documentary was inspired by a presentation developed by Tristan Harris (President of Centre for Humane Technology) which you can find here: https://www.slideshare.net/paulsmarsden/google-deck-on-digital-wellbeing-a-call-to-minimize-distraction-and-respect-users-attention
But ultimately it is urging people become aware of their screen time and take steps to manage their well-being by limiting exposure to fake news and harmful social media scrolling habits.