Speaking during Reconciliation Week, the Wajuk and Ballardong Nyungar man and founding member of the Victoria Park Aboriginal Engagement Strategy Group has called on all Australians to do their bit.
“It’s a common cause but I still think we have a long way to go,” he said.
“The Town of Victoria Park is trying their best but it’s not just up to a few people, everyone has a role.”
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READ NOWMr Collard received the Community Service and Volunteering Award in the 2017 Western Australian Young Achiever Awards.
“It was pretty cool to win the award, I wasn’t expecting to win,” he said.
“To be honest, I do everything with my girlfriend (Kelsi Forrest) and we are a team.
“It’s as much my award as it is hers too.”
Mr Collard said he enjoyed volunteering with the Victoria Park Aboriginal Engagement Strategy Group.
“I got involved in the group after talking with cultural engagement office Annette Pitts with my girlfriend Kelsi and we talked about how more could be done in that space and we would love to get involved in some of the events.
“At the moment we are involved in the Reconciliation Action Plan and in the past I’ve been involved in the a reconciliation photo project, which included taking photos of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people and planting photos around the Town.”
Mr Collard had previously graduated from his law studies at the University of WA but his career has taken a different turn.