Samantha Thomas BA, MA, PhD

Samantha is a public health sociologist in the Disability, Inclusion, and Advocacy Research team at the Centre for Population Health Research. She is also the Higher Degree Research Coordinator for the School of Health and Social Development.

Samantha has an extensive track record in competitive grant funding and has received grants from ARC, NHMRC, Victorian Department of Justice, Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation, and the AFL Research Board. Her two most recent ARC Discovery Grants explore the ways in which Australian families interpret and respond to weight messaging, and the impact of sports betting marketing on the gambling attitudes and behaviours of young men, and children.

Samantha is also conducting research funded by the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation on the contributing factors to problem gambling stigma; mapping and monitoring gambling industry tactics; and understanding the processes that may lead to the normalisation of gambling.