Growing up, I never thought that I would want to join the Army. All I ever wanted to do was play rugby league, yet I worked so hard and gave up so much time to get to where I am today. I played semi-professional football for a few years, but around 2018 I tore my meniscus off the bone, also tearing my MCL and hamstring. It was a very hard part of my life with a lot of struggles physically and mentally and it tested me every day for nine months. The one thing that got me through and helped a lot was my family and friends. It built my resilience and drive, and I try to improve on it every day of my life and to be better.

I decided to join the Army because I wanted to make a difference in life and I feel that in the Army – even though it is physically and mentally tough – your job is to help people and make a difference in someone’s life by protecting them and giving them opportunities that they might not otherwise have, helping with disasters, and just being a good role model for the new generation.

My way into the Army was different to other soldiers, as I completed the Army Indigenous Development Program (AIDP). It was challenging being away from family for seventeen weeks but I wouldn’t change it if I had another chance. I made some great mates and had so much fun with a mix of Indigenous and Army cultural training, resilience and confidence training, and also awesome education and physical training. The coaches and educators were hard and would push you but were also so supportive and caring. The one thing about Army is no matter who you are or where you are from, as soon as you put the uniform on, you’re a part of the family, and for me, that meant everything – it’s a big part of why I joined.

I want to have a long career in the Army, where I can help other young Indigenous and non-Indigenous members to achieve their goals in life. I would achieve this by helping out wherever required, even just a chat. That is what I find rewarding in life – I don’t help people for accolades or praise. I do it because of how I was raised and just to be a good human, because I’ve struggled through my life with homelessness and struggling to eat or pay rent. But I also had support from family and friends, which I know a lot of people need but don’t have. So if I can help in any way, I will, without a thank-you or praise, because I know it’s the right thing to do – just giving a young person a chance at being a part of this military family is enough for me.