Celebrated Aboriginal songwriter Archie Roach admits he was in two minds about accepting the Queen's birthday honours, asking himself, "How many First Nations people have received the award in the past?"
But the musician hopes to use it as a platform to unite Australia.
He's been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for service to the performing arts and as an advocate for social justice.
When Roach released his debut album Charcoal Lane 25 years ago, his song Took The Children Away became an anthem for the stolen generation and the struggles facing indigenous Australians.
The song traces Roach's own experience of being taken from his family at age three, and won him two ARIA awards and an international Human Rights Achievement Award.
The 59-year-old says music has the power to draw people in more than someone banging their fists on a soap box.
"It's a great catalyst for change," Roach said.
"It doesn't change governments but it can change people."
The artist, who's toured with stars such as Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, Billy Bragg and Tracy Chapman, says music has helped him process pain and loss.
In 2010 Roach's partner and collaborator Ruby Hunter died aged 54.
Later that year Roach suffered a stroke and in 2011 he was diagnosed with lung cancer.
Roach returned to the stage in 2012, lifting himself up through gospel with the album Into The Bloodstream.
"It can be a good therapy ... a good way to come through darkness and hard times," he said.
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