Forest hermit to Professor, it's never too late to change. | Dr. Gregory P. Smith |

[ënagualí~ᏉLAᗪἇ ኔጡ።]

Forest hermit to Professor, it's never too late to change. | Dr. Gregory P. Smith |

Completely disillusioned with a society that rejected him, Gregory P. Smith walked into a rainforest near Byron Bay and became a hermit for 10 years.

He exited the forest, on the brink of death and still haunted by personal demons, to eventually gain a Ph.D., become a university lecturer in the Faculty of Business, Law, and Arts and become an ambassador for Australia’s ‘forgotten children’.

This incredible story is a personal testament to ‘never giving up’. Dr. Gregory P. Smith is a survivor, an academic, and a social researcher. Homeless for much of his adult life living as a recluse in a forest near Byron Bay, he now has a Ph.D. in Sociology and teaches at Southern Cross University in Lismore, Australia. In 2018 he published his memoir ‘Out of the Forest’ with Penguin Random House and has been the subject of two Australian documentaries.

His profoundly touching and uplifting memoir is at once a unique insight into how far off track a life can go and a powerful reminder that we can all find our way back. Gregory is heavily involved in advocating for the vulnerable and disadvantaged and continues to be the patron of a number of charity organisations while also consulting with several specialist services and agencies.

Currently, Dr. Smith is engaged as a consultant and program evaluator in the Premiers Priority Project to reduce rough sleeping in NSW, Australia by 50% in 2025 and zero by 2030.

[Tara]

Thank you this was very enlightening

[ënagualí~ᏉLAᗪἇ ኔጡ።]

Thank-you Dr. Gregory P. Smith for this inspiration speech and inspiration to the many listening to it in wanting to change their life paths for the better, I've meet many youth who have experienced a life just like you over the years,they are trapped in their bodies unable to find the right path to follow to escape their bindings, so your words are enlightening and I will en-devour to pass on your wisdom on to them through my line of work.