Remote NT police liaison officer inspiring younger generation

ABC NEWS (Australia)

An Aboriginal Police Liaision Officer in the remote Northern Territory is hoping to inspire a younger generation, with his personal life journey out of crime and dysfunction. Greg Munar has been helping to keep the peace for seven years and the NT Police force say his role has never been more important.

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00:00A ceremonial leader and a pillar of cultural strength.

00:09Greg Munah's life was once on a very different trajectory.

00:12I always ended up stealing stuff, some cars, fighting, breaking.

00:19As a young man, Mr Munah found himself on a downward criminal spiral.

00:24He even broke into the Wadair police station, where decades later he now works as a

00:30I changed my life because I got a wife and son, and all my grandchildren.

00:39Wadair, in the remote west, is one of the territory's biggest Aboriginal communities.

00:44It's also got its fair share of social challenges.

00:48Mr Munah believes his story could be an inspiration to others.

00:53Sometimes I talk to young people, why are you working for the police?

01:02Because I changed my life, because before I was a troublemaker.

01:07These days, he's a different person.

01:10And so many men, cultural men, and knowledge to our young people to teach the culture.

01:16It's been a year of heightened emotions for the NT Force,

01:20with the Commissioner apologising for historic injustice inflicted on Aboriginal people by Territory Police.

01:27I'm deeply sorry to all Aboriginal Territorians.

01:30Officers say a role like Mr Munah's has never been more important for the force.

01:36They are the conduit between serving police officers and the community,

01:41so to have that level of engagement is critically important,

01:45and there's absolutely no better time for this agency.

01:49Important steps towards healing and walking tall in two worlds.

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