Australian of the Year Adam Goodes has a strong message about going to school, each and every day

Proud Indigenous man, AFL superstar and youth mentor, Adam Goodes, received the Australian of the Year Award last week for his anti-racism advocacy and leadership.

Adam said he was honoured to be the 2014 Australian of the Year, and hopes his role will help to broadcast his anti-racism messages.

“To be recognised for things that you do outside your normal profession and to be associated with a group of Australians who do fantastic things for our community, and for the better of other people is very rewarding and very humbling,” Adam said.

“The Award gives me a platform to keep the conversations going and to help educate people about racism and what it looks like, by spreading the message that it does hurt people and that it is a community issue that we all need stamp out.”

Adam is also passionate about education and is a mentor and role model for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth through the Go Foundation.

Together with his cousin and former teammate Michael O’Loughlin, Adam established the Go Foundation, which aims to empower the next generation of Indigenous role models, focusing on promoting education, employment and healthy lifestyles.

Adam said going to school each day and getting a good education was critical for all Aboriginal people.

“School is so important because it is a place where you can absorb everything you possibly can,” Adam said.

“Getting an education is what gave me, my brothers and my mother opportunities in life to be whatever we wanted to be.

“There are so many different ways through education, and like me and my brothers you can end up doing what you are very passionate about.

“The reason I went to school is because I got to learn and see new things and it was like an adventure for me.”

Adam also believes that it is important for children get support from their parents, carers and communities to help them stay positive about going to school and reaching their full potential.

“If kids see everybody around them involved and going to school, they know how important it is to go,” Adam said.

“My mum always made us go to school. We ate our breakfast, had our lunch packed and I always looked forward to school and playing with my mates.

“Even if it was hard sometimes, I knew it was only a few hours until I got to go outside again and play with my mates.”