I was 16 years old when I placed my first bet. I was a normal Melbourne teenager. I enjoyed school, had plenty of friends and came from a loving and secure family. Gambling wasn't part of my family's life and there was nothing that suggested where mine was heading.
Like many young people, I thought I was invincible. That first bet seemed harmless. It wasn't.
Over time, gambling became an increasingly powerful part of my life. With it came secrecy, lies, financial consequences, damaged relationships and decisions that would ultimately change the course of my life.
Gambling harm isn't simply about how much somebody wins or loses. It can change how you think. It can change your relationships. It can make dishonesty feel normal. It can isolate you from the very people who are trying to help you. I know because I lived it.
Eventually, I had to face the consequences of my actions and begin the much harder process of rebuilding. Today, my life looks very different. I'm a father, a business owner and someone who has spent years rebuilding my life, my relationships and my sense of purpose.
I can't change the decisions I made. But I can decide what I do with those experiences. That's why I speak.
I want young people to understand how quickly something that appears harmless can change. I want parents to recognise warning signs. I want sporting clubs and workplaces to have conversations about gambling that go beyond statistics.
And I want people already experiencing gambling harm to understand something equally important: your worst decision doesn't have to define the rest of your life.
My story isn't simply about gambling. It's about choices, consequences, accountability, family, recovery and ultimately, rebuilding.