"My dad was an Indigenous tribal elder and my mum is American. She quit her job on Wall Street and flew out to Western Australia, where she met my dad. Growing up, we had two pet kangaroos and my parents were missionaries; we visited outback communities, helping them get off alcohol and stop petrol sniffing, and offering them a place to sleep if they needed it.
Today I want to carry on my parents' legacy, using my platform as an athlete [the Matildas' first Indigenous goalkeeper]. Sport unites a community and has helped me feel a sense of belonging. I think that's the hardest thing for young Indigenous people; what do they identify as? If we recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Australian Constitution, it will give the next generation a confidence that they belong."
This article originally appeared in the February 2020 issue of marie claire.
