Before the birth of his son changed his life, Frank Mitchell says he was in a "death spiral".
He'd lost two friends to drugs and suicide during his teenage years, but the responsibility of raising a child forced him to see the world in a new light.
At his uncle's encouragement, Mr Mitchell took up an electrical apprenticeship.
He now runs four construction and electrical businesses in his home state of WA, and has been named 2026 Local Hero at the Australian of the Year awards for his work creating jobs for fellow Indigenous people.
Over the last decade, the 43-year-old Whadjuk-Yued Noongar man has generated more than 70 "upskilling" roles for Aboriginal Australians.
Accepting the honour at the Australian of the Year awards in Canberra, an emotional Mr Mitchell said work and education had a major impact on a person's wellbeing.
"I used to talk about paying it forward," he said.
"Our old people had a word for this: reciprocity.
"If more Australians can embrace in ancient cycle of responsibility and reciprocity, we can work together and walk together for a better future for mob, for our children, and for all those who come after us."
When he became a business owner in 2015, Mr Mitchell started with just eight staff, but that has now grown to a team of 200 full-time employees across Kardan Construction, Wilco Electrical, Baldja RSGx and Bilyaa Arch&Design.
Together, his construction and electrical businesses have seen more than $11 million awarded to Aboriginal subcontractors.
Mr Mitchell said he was now trying to ensure his workplaces were culturaly safe for Indigenous Australians.
"It still does not always work, because people's lives are complex, and there is no one size fits all approach, but when it does work, the impacts are powerful,' he said.
National Australia Day Council chief executive Mark Fraser said Mr Mitchell had helped to create real change.
"Frank's lived experience has inspired him to pay it forward and create opportunities for others," he said in a statement.
"His approach to building an industry-led community that combines training, employment and culture is delivering stronger futures for people who need them most, and demonstrates what can be achieved through collaboration and social inclusion."
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