"I think alot of them feel they are looked down on. It takes a while for them to come out, gain confidence and succeed"

"My story is not uncommon for Aboriginal leaders in the higher education space. There are plenty of us who have been tradespeople that have come through to be full professors."

"I told my parents I was leaving and packed my bag."

"Newcastle nearly took my life. But it gave me my life back too."

"Someone told me you can't make change from the back seat, so I thought I'd better get in the front seat."

"Our youth has a lot of potential. There's a lot of young people that just need that one person to believe in them."

"Being a fair skinned, mum from day dot put it in me: 'you're an Aboriginal boy, don't let anyone take it away from you'."

"I started playing darts when I was 9. My dad, a Dunghutti man, played too. So did my grandfather."

"I have a very happy, well adjusted teenager who up until six years ago had only ever seen his mother drunk."

"My motto is walk tall, be proud."

"It was as though I woke up that day, it was like the first day of my life."

"I could see what was wrong and I feel like the most rewarding thing would be to contribute to a better future."

"One day I thought, is this going to be my life? Just sitting in four walls and not getting out there."

"It's being connected to your country and not just floating over it"

"I lost all memory, lost speech, couldn't walk. I was paralysed. I delved deep within and got some advice from Elders about alternative healing practices."

"By the time I'm finished I should have my own house, two cars and probably about three kids. I haven't told the girlfriend about that yet."

"By the time I'm finished I should have my own house, two cars and probably about three kids. I haven't told the girlfriend about that yet."

"When I make my doctor's appointment they say 'Lyn, do you want to come in at 11 o'clock?' I say 'Forget it, bingo starts at 11'."

"I didn't think I had a problem. I was playing footy and I'd go and train and then after training I'd be drinking. The night before games. After the game. It was taking over my life."

"I'm pretty done with the sad stories; I'd like to hear all good ones now."

"When Ernie Dingo found out I was Aboriginal, he was really supportive. There weren't many of us Kooris around ABC TV at the time."

"I was broken, I was hurt, I was angry and the only thing that helped me out was alcohol and drugs."

"It's a birthright to remain connected to communities, culture and to their histories."

"I was born with perforated eardrums. I had five perforations in my left side and seven in my right side. I couldn't hear at all, I just thought everyone couldn't."

"If no-one says anything or stands up to a wrong then it'll just continue"