Sixteen-year-old Joel Tait (Aaron McGrath) has just won an Indigenous scholarship to Clifton College - one of Sydney's most elite private schools. It's his first day, and at assembly Joel's teacher notices he isn't singing the national anthem. At home that night Joel is busy learning the words so he can join in, but his father Eddie (Marley Sharp) doesn't want his son to sing the anthem.... or stand for it.

Aaron Davis (Wayne Blair) is a proud Indigenous policeman: proud of the community in which he works, and very proud of his daughter Robyn (Rarriwuy Hick) and his three-year-old granddaughter Donna.

Aaron Davis's career in the force is on hold since an Aboriginal teenager died in police custody on his shift, but his life changes when he begins a relationship with a neighbour.