How does discovering family history change who you are?

As a teenager living in the suburbs of Brisbane, Casey McMurtrie enjoyed a fairly normal, happy upbringing living with her parents, her two younger brothers, and her grandmother being a constant presence. She had plenty of friends, did well at school, and had plans to study, work and travel.

While of Aboriginal descent, Casey’s family never talked much about her ancestry and culture, and she never inquired too much about where they came from.

Until one day, as a 19 year old, a family member let slip a secret that would cause Casey to re-think her whole sense of identity. This moment would send her on a journey of many years as she pieced together her heritage, her culture, her connection to country, and developed a strong, proud Aboriginal identity that is core to the incredible work she does today with young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.