Gavin Andrews grew up on the mid-coast of New South Wales, near Newcastle, with strong ancestral and familial ties to Dharawal land, New South Wales. Throughout the 1970's Andrews embraced what he calls his 'political awakening' and swiftly became socially attuned to the growing movement for recognised Land Rights for Aboriginal people across Australia.
This soon led to Andrews becoming the first Land Council Treasurer in Campbelltown, having first studied architecture at the University of New South Wales. He later enrolled in postgraduate studies in Environmental Studies and became an Aboriginal Liaison Officer Environmental Planning with the New South Wales Department of Natural Resources. Andrews has also held the position of Manager of the Aboriginal Heritage Policy Unit with the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service.
