Neil Cole has a long and storied career history. After founding the Flemington Legal Service and working to support the local community for seven years, he then ran for, and won, the seat of Melbourne in federal parliament. In 1993, Neil received a formal diagnosis of bipolar disorder, which was leaked to the public by his political enemies, forcing him to resign his position and be open about his lived experiences. Since leaving federal politics, Neil Cole has continued his advocacy through work with the Monash medical school, Melbourne University's Florey Institute of Neuroscience and by serving as a member on the national advisory committee of mental health. Neil also shares his story creativly, having penned 25 plays and one novel, he has been awarded the Griffin Award for New Australian Playwriting and the Centenary Medal for service to Australian society and literature.