A descendant of the Ngugi people of Moreton Bay, he was the first Aboriginal person to be employed as a journalist in the mainstream print media in Australia.

After graduating in 1961,[1] he wanted to study law; however, entrance to university at the time would only allow Aboriginal people to undertake education degrees to become teachers, and only if they chose to teach in a community.

[citation needed] He also took a job in the ABC mailroom in Brisbane, worked as a proofreader, and wrote TV reviews for the Sydney Daily Mirror.

[citation needed] In 1970, he was elected as the national (general) secretary of FCAATSI and, in the same year was involved in protests against celebrating the bicentennial of Captain Cook's visit to Australia.

[citation needed] Newfong was the public relations director of the Aboriginal Medical Service in the Sydney suburb of Redfern from 1975.

[1] He also did public relations work for Channel Nine (Cyclone Tracy phone line), the New South Wales Society for Crippled Children and National Aboriginal and Islander Health Organisation.

[citation needed] He became a adviser and speechwriter for the New South Wales Government, and head of public relations at the Aboriginal Development Commission.

[citation needed] In 1993, Newfong was a lecturer at James Cook University in Townsville, where he taught journalism and media studies.