Dani Larkin knows the struggles of a young Indigenous woman in a "nation of divisiveness", and insists that constitutional recognition is the key to unlocking meaningful change.

Key points: Justice advocate says constitutional recognition will initiate meaningful change and override divisiveness in the media and politics

Justice advocate says constitutional recognition will initiate meaningful change and override divisiveness in the media and politics She says all Australians, regardless of cultural background, need to advocate for things to be different

She says all Australians, regardless of cultural background, need to advocate for things to be different Australia needs more Indigenous politicians and could learn from New Zealand, she says

The lawyer and academic grew up in the small Baryulgil community in northern New South Wales listening to her elders' cultural stories and experiences.

Her grandmother was from the Stolen Generations; her grandfather treasured the connection to his culture and the land.

"I grew up being quite fair-skinned and experiencing the struggle of walking in two worlds as a young person in Australia that identifies as Indigenous."

Ms Larkin said this drove her to advocate for people without a voice in a country "progressing in the wrong direction".

"I think there's a lack of appreciation for something as simplistic as the notion of diversity, and I think that's a really scary thing to have within a nation," she said.

"There's no other way really to progress until we actually get it right with our First Nations."

The childhood experiences of Dani Larkin (left) helped shape her career path. ( Supplied: Dani Larkin )

On Wednesday, the Federal Government announced that a proposal to recognise Indigenous people in the constitution would be put to a referendum within three years.

Ms Larkin — a Bundjalung, Kungarakany, Yorta Yorta woman — said recognition would shift the consciousness of everyday Australians.

However, it was up to everyone, regardless of cultural background, to advocate for things to be different, she said.

"And that's by educating ourselves, being better than the divisive, hate-stricken messages that are sometimes quite prevalent within media and politics.

"What the [Uluru] Statement from the Heart does, and why it's so important, is that it recognises powerlessness in all its different forms and identifies the right of self-determination.

"It seeks to politically empower and culturally empower Indigenous colonised peoples."

Ms Larkin, who is based on the Gold Coast, said the regular discussions she observed in her younger years about native title and the Aboriginal Medical Services helped her find her voice for advocacy.

"But that's not even just as an Indigenous Australian ... whether you're Indigenous or not, it's about being a good person and doing what's morally and ethically right," she said.

"Everyone … has a responsibility in this country to move forward, reconcile and culturally progress."

Ms Larkin with Barack Obama's former native affairs advisor Karen Diver (l) and Torres Strait Islander parliamentarian Cynthia Lui. ( Supplied: Dani Larkin )

Voice. Treaty. Truth.

This year's NAIDOC theme — Voice. Treaty. Truth. — drew upon key elements of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, she said.

"The three pillars that underpin the statement are calling for constitutional recognition, but more importantly substantial, meaningful reform of the structures of this country's system."

Such changes, she said, would result in better lawmaking and policies within parliament, thus benefitting all Australians.

"It shifts the consciousness of lawmakers' minds when doing a really important job, which is to really be protecting the interest of its citizens."

Inequality, negative stereotypes, poverty and incarceration rates were societal barriers that created a feeling of despair for Indigenous people, Ms Larkin said.

"We're just consistently set up to fail, it's the powerlessness ... all we're wanting is a sense of equality and a place within the system and respect.

"The only way to make change is to look at our top document — the constitution — and change that."

That change would be enhanced with more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander politicians, Ms Larkin said.

"They [non-Indigenous politicians] really don't have a stake in the game and a vested interest in progressing these types of proposals, hence why we need more Indigenous Australians in politics."

She said Australia could learn from New Zealand, which has Maori representatives in parliament, a Maori electoral roll and Maori census data.

Until then, NAIDOC in 2019 could be a catalyst for change, she said.

"If the proposals that underpin this year's NAIDOC theme ... get put forth to the public ... that's just a really beneficial way for all citizens to basically change the system and begin the path towards reconciliation."