Academic, author, public speaker, and survivor, Gregory Smith was in an orphanage, foster care, and a juvenile detention centre as a child.

Gregory Smith has been featured in the Australian media:

• “Gregory Smith’s survival instinct.” Conversations with Richard Fidler, ABC, 21 July 2016. https://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2016/07/21/4504645.htm 
• Smith, Gregory P. “After 25 years of being homeless, I learned there’s one simple thing you can do to help.” The Guardian. 25 June 2018. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/jun/25/after-25-years-of-being-homeless-i-learned-theres-one-simple-thing-you-can-do-to-help-gregory-p-smith
• “Out of the Woods.” Australian Story, ABC. 12 January 2022. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-30/out-of-the-woods/10174310
• “Never Too Late (update) Gregory Smith.” Australian Story, ABC. 30 October 2023. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-30/never-too-late-(update)-gregory-smith/103041196 

He has also given a Ted Talk:

• Smith, Gregory P. “Forest hermit to professor, it’s never too late to change.” TEDxByronBay. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmbi9wAl1Qw

And published two books:

• Smith, Gregory P. Better than Happiness. The True Antidote to Discontent. Penguin, 2023.
• Smith, Gregory P. Out of the Forest: The true story of a recluse. Penguin, 2018.

Gregory Smith was honoured with a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) on 12 June 2023 for “service to the community through social welfare organisations.”

In the above video, Gregory mentions:

• St Patrick’s Orphanage (1919 -1983) in Armidale, NSW. The orphanage was run by the Sisters of Mercy, see https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/guide/nsw/NE00177.

Image from here