Advice to My 12 Year Old Self

Triple J newsreader Brooke Boney is a Gamilaroi Gomeroi woman who always wanted to tell stories.

Nakkiah Lui is a writer, actor and a Gamilaroi/Torres Strait Islander woman who discovered being an outsider made her who she is today.

Nayuka Gorrie is a Kurnai/Gunai, Gunditjmara, Wiradjuri and Yorta Yorta woman who lives her dream writing for TV and online.

Journalist Stan Grant is a Wiradjuri man who explains the importance of asking questions and celebrating the future.

Opera singer Deborah Cheetham is a Yorta Yorta woman who tells stories through her music.

Dallas Reedman is a presenter and TV host on ABC Me. He has some great advice about fostering your creativity and how to stay focussed!

Illai is an actor and presenter and believes in being true to yourself even when people might not agree with you.

Lawrence is a TV host and presenter. His advice starts with being open minded and remembering to try out new experiences!

Tom Ballard is a comedian and TV presenter who thinks that the coolest thing that you can be, is yourself.

Jimmy Barnes is a rock and roll singer, who talks about growing up being told to not show his true feelings.

Ben and Liam are the hilarious hosts of Triple J's Breakfast radio show.  They share their top tips for boys today, and try to figure out what it means to 'be a man'.

Dr Karl Kruszelnicki is a walking encyclopaedia of knowledge.  He tells his 12 year old self to keep making mistakes, because if you're not making mistakes you're not making anything!

Journalist Stan Grant is a Wiradjuri/Kamilaroi man who learnt from his father the importance of being responsible for yourself.

Actor Hunter Page-Lochard has played many roles in film and tv, and gives his views on what bravery and being a man mean to him.

Ben Quilty is an award-winning Australian artist. His advice to his 12 year old self is to think about what he loves doing, and then ignore everyone else and keep doing it!

 Musician Dan Sultan shares his thoughts on what bravery means, and reflects on what life was like for him when he was 12 years old.

International comedian and children's book author David Walliams reflects on his experiences as a 12 year old, and offers advice to 12 year olds today.

Author Tim Winton tells us his top tips for boys today, and shares his views on what being brave really means.

Eddy Woo is a mathematics teacher and host of ABC Me's 'Teenage Boss', who thinks 12 year old Eddy would be pretty surprised to see where life has taken him so far!

Aliir Aliir is an AFL player from the Sydney Swans who remembers what it was like to still be learning English at 12 years old, and how sport became his way of connecting with other kids.

Charlie Teo is Australia's best known brain surgeon. He remembers what it was like to be a skinny nerdy 12 year old.

Gus "Goose" Ronald is one of the hosts of Good Game Spawn Point, and knows his 12 year old self would be very excited to know he gets to play games for work!

Some of Australia's most prominent men pass on their advice to boys today.