This week, Insight heads to Alice Springs for a rare glimpse into the lives of Aboriginal teens.
In a series of one-on-one interviews with SBS Insight's Jenny Brockie, the high schoolers open up about family life, alcohol, violence and shame.
“I don't think Alice Springs is… a good environment for me to study and to focus on my education to finish school,” says Terazita, 16.
BLOG: Insight 'Young Mob' producer, Meggie Palmer, shares her Alice Springs experience
She tells Insight she saw plenty of violence while living on an Aboriginal town camp. After being in several fights, Terazita completed an anger management class to help her control her emotional impulses.
“You get a lot of peer pressure and like family violence sometimes, back with the community where I used to live at,” she says.
“There used to be a lot of fights and it was like everywhere you go… and all to do with alcohol. I remember it was scary.”
For “creamy” or mixed blood teens like Jesse, 16, fights are increasingly difficult to avoid. Jesse says he is singled out because of his skin colour.
“I've been called a coconut, or you know, a white mutt and everything like that,” he says.
[PHOTO GALLERY: Behind the scenes - Filming 'Insight: Young Mob' in Alice Springs]
From finishing Year 12 to becoming a doctor, the kids also open up about their dreams for the future and what might be standing in the way.
“If you want to do something, do it,” says Terazita, who dreams of joining the Navy to do her family proud.
“Don't let anyone hold you back and tell you you can't do it because at the end of the day, it's not another person telling you to do something, it's yourself and you have to be self-motivated.”
Catch Insight 'Young Mob' tonight at 8.30PM on SBS One to hear their full stories and more. The program will also be streamed live here.
You can join the discussion by using the #insightsbs hashtag on Twitter or by commenting on Insight's Facebook page.
INTERACTIVE: Aboriginal teens share their dreams for the future
Hover over the image and click on the icons to hear the teens' stories.
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