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Matters of the Heart: The inspirational and deeply moving memoir from one of Australia's most significant Indigenous voices, for readers of Anh Do, Ash Barty and J.D. Vance
The moving story of an Indigenous woman who beat disadvantage and violence to become one of Australia's most influential political voices.
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price was nine months pregnant and due to give birth the night she attended her high school formal. With her baby tucked in her arms, she completed year 12 from her hospital bed. Early in their relationship, she took her future husband, Colin, to the Alice Springs morgue to identify the body of a family member who'd been killed.
Nothing about the life of this passionate and steely Warlpiri woman could ever be described as ordinary.
In this remarkable memoir, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price candidly recalls her journey from the remote outback communities of Yuendumu and Alice Springs in the Northern Territory - a young girl with big dreams and the red dust of her ancestors under her fingernails - to the corridors of Canberra and beyond.
Honest, raw and at times heartbreaking, Matters of the Heart is a deeply personal reflection of how a young Indigenous woman, growing up surrounded by violence and tragedy, beat the odds to become one of the most powerful political voices of our time.
'I've been to hell and back, and I've survived.'
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price was nine months pregnant and due to give birth the night she attended her high school formal. With her baby tucked in her arms, she completed year 12 from her hospital bed. Early in their relationship, she took her future husband, Colin, to the Alice Springs morgue to identify the body of a family member who'd been killed.
Nothing about the life of this passionate and steely Warlpiri woman could ever be described as ordinary.
In this remarkable memoir, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price candidly recalls her journey from the remote outback communities of Yuendumu and Alice Springs in the Northern Territory - a young girl with big dreams and the red dust of her ancestors under her fingernails - to the corridors of Canberra and beyond.
Honest, raw and at times heartbreaking, Matters of the Heart is a deeply personal reflection of how a young Indigenous woman, growing up surrounded by violence and tragedy, beat the odds to become one of the most powerful political voices of our time.
'I've been to hell and back, and I've survived.'
375 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 12, 2025
50 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
February 24, 2025
WOW, what a read. What a lady! I learnt so much about Aboriginal culture & the intricacies of this. Jacinta is an amazing, strong & wise lady. I feel she will achieve much despite the pressures of many who wish to divide us. Unfortunately I feel the Voice has had a detrimental influence on this divide.
Score 5 🌟
Score 5 🌟
February 22, 2025
magnificent story
This is an amazingly bold, simple statement of the life of an Aboriginal women describing her history with no unwanted rhetoric or over dramatising. It doesn’t matter what side of politics you are on it should be read by all.
This is an amazingly bold, simple statement of the life of an Aboriginal women describing her history with no unwanted rhetoric or over dramatising. It doesn’t matter what side of politics you are on it should be read by all.
March 4, 2025
Highly Recommended. A surprisingly educational and enjoyable read by one of the more polarising figures in Australian politics. Jacinta is often presented in a negative tone in mainstream media though it appears after reading the book that these views are held by people who know little about her.
Jacinta presents as a dedicated,passionate and compassionate politician from humble beginnings whose main aim is to make a difference. She doesn’t sugar coat her own life story or the current issues facing Indigenous Australia. She is a strong advocate for the marginalised and disadvantaged regardless of their background. She is certainly a intriguing person and it will be interesting to see how far she goes on her political journey. I would encourage all people to read this regardless of their political persuasion.
Jacinta presents as a dedicated,passionate and compassionate politician from humble beginnings whose main aim is to make a difference. She doesn’t sugar coat her own life story or the current issues facing Indigenous Australia. She is a strong advocate for the marginalised and disadvantaged regardless of their background. She is certainly a intriguing person and it will be interesting to see how far she goes on her political journey. I would encourage all people to read this regardless of their political persuasion.
September 1, 2025
Reading this made me realise Jacinta Price really be THAT GIRL!
It’s difficult to write an unbiased review especially when I feel in some instances she talks from a place of privilege (don’t come for me) however, after reading this book, you cannot deny Jacinta’s amazing character. In her memoir she talks of love, heartbreak and moments of despair. She goes into detail of instances that occurred when she was younger that very much influenced her political views and continue to do so.
Jacinta really is an amazing woman and being able to go against the grain/crowd/and/or whatever the fuck (lol), is truly admirable.
It’s difficult to write an unbiased review especially when I feel in some instances she talks from a place of privilege (don’t come for me) however, after reading this book, you cannot deny Jacinta’s amazing character. In her memoir she talks of love, heartbreak and moments of despair. She goes into detail of instances that occurred when she was younger that very much influenced her political views and continue to do so.
Jacinta really is an amazing woman and being able to go against the grain/crowd/and/or whatever the fuck (lol), is truly admirable.
July 31, 2025
This memoir is so eye opening, inspiring while also quite confronting. Her story that had led her into politics is one to be heard!!!
March 5, 2025
Wow, amazing book. Jacinta is such a strong and inspiring woman!
February 28, 2025
Jacinta is a powerhouse. How lucky we are to have her .
February 22, 2025
A great read
A fabulous read of Jacinta's life. I loved reading about some of the Aboriginal culture, the good and the bad. What a remarkable woman.
A fabulous read of Jacinta's life. I loved reading about some of the Aboriginal culture, the good and the bad. What a remarkable woman.
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April 26, 2025Full disclaimer, read to understand differing points of view, not because I believe in her politics and beliefs.
March 17, 2025
Such an impressive woman and an equally impressive book- heartfelt and articulate, the author is a champion of all people living with disadvantage. I was only vaguely aware of Jacinta Price but she is an astute and valuable person to have in politics in Australia. Her life has given her the experience and knowledge to be someone worth listening to and her book was both entertaining and educational.
March 9, 2025
Honest read - great read.
Every Australian should read this book. Jacinta gets it. She knows both sides. Unlike so many of the suits in Canberra who have never visited the towns and communities of so many disadvantaged human beings.
Every Australian should read this book. Jacinta gets it. She knows both sides. Unlike so many of the suits in Canberra who have never visited the towns and communities of so many disadvantaged human beings.
March 17, 2025
This is a political auto-biography of the type I rarely read. I became aware of Jacinta Nampijinpa Price via her Mother Bess 13 -15 years ago who spoke a narrative that I had not heard, describing a culture of violence and abuse within Aboriginal communities, that I was aware of privately and was not spoken of publically. I have followed her progress as a contrarian voice, prior to her becoming a senator. I have observed her being attacked with vitriol by friends (of mine) and famous people, most notably Marcia Langton. I wonder, do people silence her because she is Indigenous or because of her ideas. Jacinta Nampijinpa Price is a reminder that there is more difference within groups, than between groups. My personal suspicion is she is a Martin Luther (not King) and is challenging the orthodoxy within her community. Obviously what she says publicly conflicts with the narrative of people considered to be the leaders of the Indigenous Community, and this appears to be her authentic voice based on her own valid experiences. I am reminded of Voltaire’s maxim ‘If you want to know who rules over you, just look for who you are not allowed to criticize’. Nampijinpa Price has shown the audacity to critcize those who rule the Indigenous Community.
Nampijinpa Price details her experiences growing up in Outback Australia and her origin story of her mother and father. In chapter 7, Nampijinpa Price details what she believes the probable murder of her mother’s cousin Marion, the culture that allowed this to be covered up and the lack of interest from Police to investigating this, and goes on to detail the sexual and physical abuse of women enabled ‘culture’. She shares her observation regarding ‘promise marriage’ of children that enables children to be raped and sexually assaulted whilst the community accepts this. She acknowledges her own violence towards others girls, expressing it as a necessary part of growing up in Alice Springs
Nampijinpa Price discussed Marcia Langton’s ad hominium attack on her in 2018. This reflected that even with the far left, politics is more important than identity. Langdon had no concern she was attacking the character of an Indigenous Woman and labelling Nampijinpa Price as a ‘neo-nazi’. It is interesting that someone as esteemed Langton would attack Nampijinpa Price’s character and not engage in a battle of ideas and let the superior ideas win. “The key point I wanted to raise during the discussion was the need for us, as Aboriginal women, to acknowledge that our culture treats us as second-class citizens, and that our traditional laws normalise, enable and justify violence against us” (p 206-7).
Nampijinpa Price challenges narratives about Aboriginal’s people problems being systemic, such as “High rates of youth incarceration are not caused by systemic racism – that’s a convenient untruth. They are caused by poor parenting, child abuse and neglect, poor school attendance, lack of education and unemployment. These factors would make anyone, regardless of their race or colour, more likely to commit an offence that leads to incarceration” (p 222). She believes that the time has come to challenge aspects of her culture as not being helpful in progressing Indigenous people’s interests in the 21st Century. If the problems are systemic, they are culturally systemic.
Nampijinpa Price has consciously decided to break with the culture norm of not naming dead people, because she believes this is used to perpetuate the harm to the living from not understanding how people died. She want the tragedy of these people to be known, remembered, and hopefully in the future avoided. It is tragedy that only two of her mothers twelve siblings lived to the age of 50. She challenges the cultural argument of ‘that is the way we have always done it’ of tradition and show how this continues to perpetuate the suffering of Indigenous people. She talks about no longer being an enabler, in spite of cultural expectations, such as not supplying drunks with alcohol, or money for it. She is prepared to help family and kin when it will help them in the long term, but wants no part in enabling predictable future misery in her family.
She is proud of her Aboriginal culture, saying “We must protect, nurture and celebrate the genuinely wonderful and unique parts of Aboriginal culture, such as our spirit, our Dreaming, our intrinsic connection to country and our incredible art and music, to name just a few. But some of our cultural practices, such as women’s submission to men, promised marriage and self-harm during mourning need to go” (p 221).
I suspect Nampijinpa Price will be seen as a catalyst for change, as painful as that change may be for the Indigenous people. In Jungian Therapy we talk about feeling worse, before you feel better and I suspect Nampijinpa Price will have a similar effect. It seems a lot of vested interests are threatened by her. I think she will be around for some time to come, as she has a strong base. I suggest of all the current Indigenous female politicians she is the one most likely to be our first both female and Indigenous leader. She is going to make Australia an interesting place, and I believe a better place for sometime to come.
Nampijinpa Price details her experiences growing up in Outback Australia and her origin story of her mother and father. In chapter 7, Nampijinpa Price details what she believes the probable murder of her mother’s cousin Marion, the culture that allowed this to be covered up and the lack of interest from Police to investigating this, and goes on to detail the sexual and physical abuse of women enabled ‘culture’. She shares her observation regarding ‘promise marriage’ of children that enables children to be raped and sexually assaulted whilst the community accepts this. She acknowledges her own violence towards others girls, expressing it as a necessary part of growing up in Alice Springs
Nampijinpa Price discussed Marcia Langton’s ad hominium attack on her in 2018. This reflected that even with the far left, politics is more important than identity. Langdon had no concern she was attacking the character of an Indigenous Woman and labelling Nampijinpa Price as a ‘neo-nazi’. It is interesting that someone as esteemed Langton would attack Nampijinpa Price’s character and not engage in a battle of ideas and let the superior ideas win. “The key point I wanted to raise during the discussion was the need for us, as Aboriginal women, to acknowledge that our culture treats us as second-class citizens, and that our traditional laws normalise, enable and justify violence against us” (p 206-7).
Nampijinpa Price challenges narratives about Aboriginal’s people problems being systemic, such as “High rates of youth incarceration are not caused by systemic racism – that’s a convenient untruth. They are caused by poor parenting, child abuse and neglect, poor school attendance, lack of education and unemployment. These factors would make anyone, regardless of their race or colour, more likely to commit an offence that leads to incarceration” (p 222). She believes that the time has come to challenge aspects of her culture as not being helpful in progressing Indigenous people’s interests in the 21st Century. If the problems are systemic, they are culturally systemic.
Nampijinpa Price has consciously decided to break with the culture norm of not naming dead people, because she believes this is used to perpetuate the harm to the living from not understanding how people died. She want the tragedy of these people to be known, remembered, and hopefully in the future avoided. It is tragedy that only two of her mothers twelve siblings lived to the age of 50. She challenges the cultural argument of ‘that is the way we have always done it’ of tradition and show how this continues to perpetuate the suffering of Indigenous people. She talks about no longer being an enabler, in spite of cultural expectations, such as not supplying drunks with alcohol, or money for it. She is prepared to help family and kin when it will help them in the long term, but wants no part in enabling predictable future misery in her family.
She is proud of her Aboriginal culture, saying “We must protect, nurture and celebrate the genuinely wonderful and unique parts of Aboriginal culture, such as our spirit, our Dreaming, our intrinsic connection to country and our incredible art and music, to name just a few. But some of our cultural practices, such as women’s submission to men, promised marriage and self-harm during mourning need to go” (p 221).
I suspect Nampijinpa Price will be seen as a catalyst for change, as painful as that change may be for the Indigenous people. In Jungian Therapy we talk about feeling worse, before you feel better and I suspect Nampijinpa Price will have a similar effect. It seems a lot of vested interests are threatened by her. I think she will be around for some time to come, as she has a strong base. I suggest of all the current Indigenous female politicians she is the one most likely to be our first both female and Indigenous leader. She is going to make Australia an interesting place, and I believe a better place for sometime to come.
July 12, 2025
A powerful, honest, and deeply emotional story.
Jacinta is an extraordinary woman and an outstanding politician. She has seen the very best and worst of this country, and her courage, resilience, and determination are nothing short of inspiring. This book lays bare her truth with refreshing honesty and strength. It deserves a place on every secondary school reading list to encourage the next generation to stand up, speak out, and drive real change. If she ever runs for Prime Minister, she’ll have my vote without hesitation.
Jacinta is an extraordinary woman and an outstanding politician. She has seen the very best and worst of this country, and her courage, resilience, and determination are nothing short of inspiring. This book lays bare her truth with refreshing honesty and strength. It deserves a place on every secondary school reading list to encourage the next generation to stand up, speak out, and drive real change. If she ever runs for Prime Minister, she’ll have my vote without hesitation.
July 22, 2025
Really enjoyed book giving me another aspect to aboriginal culture through the eyes of Jacinta Price. She believes aborigines are not victims and they have some customs that are no longer acceptable in modern indigenous society. Eg -women second class citizens, forced marriageable abuse of any sort. That white people are not to blame for all aboriginal problems. They have given them many modcons to live in this life. We are one nation with many many races and we should help all disadvantaged people from any culture. Eduction is the key to improving lifestyles for everyone.
August 1, 2025
This was a very interesting book. It started slow, but when I got to part 2, it got more interesting. When Jacinta started high school, it really heated up. There was a lot of laughter and some very sad parts. I felt like I knew the young Jacinta, and I had great respect for the lady she became. She didn't leave anything out - good, bad, or ugly. She highlighted problems that still occur today with the ladies in remote indigenous communities. Well worth the read.
March 26, 2025
Inspiring tale of an amazing family and community. Thank you Jacinta for sharing this with us all. You and all those around you are special in this world. You all showed how you can overcome adversity and come out much stronger at the other side. I support you in all do you and stand for. Thank you
April 21, 2025
Beautifully written, honest and at times raw
Jacinta is the real deal and perhaps our best hope for a united unified prosperous Australia where every individual person matters
Everyone should read this
Jacinta is the real deal and perhaps our best hope for a united unified prosperous Australia where every individual person matters
Everyone should read this
April 28, 2025
Excellent read with no punches pulled. Considering her background in the outback of Australia she is an outstanding example of what one person can do, despite adverse circumstances experienced in ones youth.
October 6, 2025
To my delight 90% of this book concerns the author’s life experiences. A very informative, enjoyable and easy to read memoir. I would commend this for consideration to all readers irrespective of their political stance.
March 4, 2025
Jacinta tells her story and the story of her family and the struggles they faced in the most down the earth manner. We can only hope that this inspiring world man can lead our country one day soon.
March 21, 2025
This is a powerful story. A story of real life struggles and successes. A real eye opener and inspirational. Had me in tears several times. Highly recommended.
April 24, 2025
Wow - what a read! What a lady - I could not put this book down. We can never know enough about our aboriginal ancestors - thank you Jacinta for opening my eyes. Highly recommend this read!
May 26, 2025
Totally captivating - a completely honest account of the real problems of indigenous Australians
June 20, 2025
Very inspirational and informative. This is a must read for everyone.
June 29, 2025
I really enjoyed her story until near the end when she became adamant that her view of The Voice and other matters became negative and worse.
July 10, 2025
Thank you Jacinta.
September 4, 2025
Powerful, raw, and honest.
September 10, 2025
Every Australian who cares about Aboriginal welfare needs to read this book. Jacinta is an amazing woman.
September 10, 2025
A really good read. Interesting, insightful and at times emotional. She is a strong, inspiring woman, that's for sure.
January 3, 2026
I found this an excellent read. Jacinta writes about her Aboriginal culture, life and her journey into politics. What an inspirational woman and I highly recommend this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews