Tamika Townsend dreams of an Australia where indigenous is a term paired with words beyond disadvantage, injustice and plight.
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The proud Yuin Nation woman is passionate about her people and traditions and jumped at the opportunity to say just that to some of the country's most influential leaders at the 2014 National Youth Indigenous Parliament.
The 25-year-old former ACT delegate has since worked with Reconciliation Australia and is currently working on Indigenous employment policy within Prime Minister and Cabinet.
She said sadly it was very common for young Indigenous Australians to feel unheard and uncomfortable in their own skin.
"In primary school I remember wishing I was white because I felt so different," she said.
"But as the years went by it made me more resilient and proud to be aboriginal."
The Canberran, who grew up in Bega, is a true believer that in order to achieve a just Australia the key ingredient was historical acceptance.
"So often we don't know enough about our own history," she said. "We live in a country that has the oldest continuing cultures in the world and I think that is something that we should all be proud of."
Growing up she heard stories of struggle from her aunties and uncles and how her grandmother was torn from her family under stolen generation policies.
"My aunties, uncles and my nan weren't allowed into town. They all used to live in the paddocks basically and needed an exemption to come into Bega," she said.
She was told how their family bought their first property in town in 1967, when the Indigenous vote was granted, and how soon after their street was grafittied with the words "Coon Avenue".
"They are in their fifties now so it wasn't that long ago," Ms Townsend said.
Challenges such as health outcomes, rates of suicide, crime and family violence were very real and needed addressing.
But Ms Townsend said recognising how far Australia had come was as important as acknowledging there was a long way still to go.
As a delegate in 2014 she met a raft of political leaders including Ken Wyatt, Nigel Scullion and Nova Peris.
"It was really empowering, particularly to meet the Indigenous leaders, because you know if they can make it maybe you can and that it is alright to have a voice and use that, because that is what they do," she said.
It gave her a chance to bolster her leadership skills, see how bills were debated and became law in Australia while introducing her to a network of other indigenous youth from all corners of the country.
"The adjournment speech is a chance to get out there are have your say. You get to meet some of most influential leaders in the Indigenous affairs space and they are willing to listen," she said.
"It's a rare opportunity and one I felt I had to take. I want to keep using my voice. I feel if you are an Indigenous person with a voice you need to use it and for the positive."
Applications are open until Friday March 3 2017. Participants will be chosen based on their ideas, community activity and leadership potential. To apply visit www.aec.gov.au/indigenous.
