REPLAY: From orphaned, addicted & alone to success in academia with Gregory Smith

Kintsugi Heroes: Uncovering our Hidden Value

Gregory’s story begins in a violent and destructive home environment fuelled by anger and alcohol. He describes in graphic detail a life of neglect and trauma through his years as uncontrollable child in an orphanage.

When he left at nineteen, he had no life skills and eventually ended up living as a recluse living alone in a rainforest in Northern NSW.

He shares his experiences, the wisdom he accrued and his suffering as he explored himself and his family lines.

Eventually he made a remarkable turnaround and ended up at university where he graduated and began his successful career.

Gregory had his first tenured position at the age of 64, became a father at the age of 67 and enjoys the tranquillity of peace of mind.

About Our Guest:

Dr Gregory P. Smith is a Forgotten Australian born in Tamworth, NSW in 1955. He and four of his siblings were surrendered to an orphanage in 1966. He was considered a problem child (‘uncontrollable’), diagnosed as a ‘sociopath’ with mid-range intelligence, and was in and out of child ‘care’ institutions until 1974.

Following his release from ‘care’, Gregory searched in vain for the skills to live a fruitful and rewarding life but became increasingly disillusioned with society and lived on the fringe as a recluse in a Northern NSW rain forest where he spent his time reflecting and reading important authors such as Douglas Adams.

In 1999, through catharsis and serendipity, Gregory decided to give society one more chance, walked out of the forest and began to explore life from a different perspective. His life was transformed. In 2007 he completed a degree in Social Science, obtaining an Honours (1st Class). Gregory completed his PhD in 2015. His dissertation concerned how institutional childcare leavers experienced a sense of belonging, place and self as they aged.

Today Gregory is a lecture and social researcher working to improve outcomes for the homeless and most vulnerable in Australian society. He is a Director for the End Street Sleeping Collaboration and a Special Consultant for the Global Advisory Council for CareSource USA. He is the author of the best seller Out of the forest (2018) published by Penguin Random House, the subject of two Australian Broadcasting Corporation documentaries and a successful TEDx.

Contact:

FB: https://www.facebook.com/authordrgregorysmith/

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We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Kintsugi Heroes.

Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.

If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contact

We hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!

Warmly,

The Kintsugi Heroes team

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Theme Song: "Broken" by Colin Lillie