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Matters of the Heart

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Matters of the Heart

By: Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, Sue Smethurst
Narrated by: John Howard, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price
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About this listen

The moving story of an Indigenous woman who beat disadvantage and violence to become one of Australia's most influential political voices.


Jacinta Nampijinpa Price was nine months pregnant and due to give birth the night she attended her high school formal. With her baby tucked in her arms, she completed year 12 from her hospital bed. Early in their relationship, she took her future husband, Colin, to the Alice Springs morgue to identify the body of a family member who'd been killed.

Nothing about the life of this passionate and steely Warlpiri woman could ever be described as ordinary.

In this remarkable memoir, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price candidly recalls her journey from the remote outback communities of Yuendumu and Alice Springs in the Northern Territory - a young girl with big dreams and the red dust of her ancestors under her fingernails - to the corridors of Canberra and beyond.

Honest, raw and at times heartbreaking, Matters of the Heart is a deeply personal reflection of how a young Indigenous woman, growing up surrounded by violence and tragedy, beat the odds to become one of the most powerful political voices of our time.

'I've been to hell and back, and I've survived.'

 Indigenous Studies Politicians Politics & Activism Social Sciences Specific Demographics Women Heartfelt Inspiring Thought-Provoking
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Most relevant
A great insight into the politics from a wonderful Australian. Everyone needs to read this book!

Jacinta Price

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First 24 chapters were about what shaped her into such a remarkable woman the rest of the book showed what she became and should be an inspiration to everyone

Genuine women

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A lot of common sense and honesty. I really enjoyed Jaconta narrating as well, a really great listen.

Brilliant!

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Jacinta Price’s book is a bold and passionate call for a new approach to Indigenous policy in Australia. She speaks candidly about the issues facing her people and offers practical, real-world solutions. Rather than focusing on symbolic gestures, Price advocates for policies that address the root causes of disadvantage—improving education, tackling domestic violence, and fostering economic independence. She stresses the importance of personal responsibility and empowerment, believing that true change comes from within the community, not from external, top-down solutions.

Price also takes a firm stance against divisive race-based policies, arguing that they only perpetuate segregation and inequality. Her vision is one of unity, where Indigenous Australians are treated as equals, with the same opportunities and responsibilities as all other citizens. She rejects the idea of “victimhood” and instead calls for a future where Indigenous people can thrive based on their own efforts and choices.

In sharing her personal journey and views, Jacinta Price not only challenges the prevailing narrative around Indigenous issues but also provides a powerful roadmap for change. Her message is one of hope, strength, and resilience. She carries forward the torch of Neville Bonner and countless other Aboriginal leaders and lights the way for those yet to come, those still emerging from the darkness and the dreaming.

A powerful leader with a lot to give and a great deal of potential still revealing itself to the world

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What a book ! Straight back to page one to listen again! I have learnt so much as Jacinta clearly tells of her life experiences and those of her grandparents and parents also.
I laugh and cried along the journey too.
Thankyou Jacinta for sharing your story so far …. The good and the not so good.

What a woman ! Transparent informative joyful deeply sobering.

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.