Child Soldier Turned Lawyer, Refugee Advocate Deng Adut Tells Us What Makes a True Australian

“We're in the luckiest country in the world. I know people use that word, but I think they still take it for granted."

Deng Adut’s life story is so incredible, they made an ad out of it.

Taken from his family at the age of six and forced to fight as a child soldier in South Sudan, he was eventually brought to Australia, where he overcame the culture shock to become a defence lawyer, refugee advocate and, in 2016, New South Wales’ Australian of the Year.

We caught up with Deng at the Perth Writers Festival, where he told us what makes a true Australian.

“Even those who go around and try to diminish Australia or try to put dirt on it, are those who are taking Australia for granted," he said.

"Because I don't know who they are. They're not Australian in my view. They just living here for now. But they may not be Australian when the time come.”

Photo: Student Edge