Singer John Farnham has given permission for his anthemic song You’re the Voice to become the soundtrack for the ‘yes’ campaign, saying he hopes it will help change lives.

Farnham’s fiercely protected song will feature in an advertising campaign to be launched on Sunday for the referendum on an Indigenous voice to parliament.

The three-minute film, also titled You’re the Voice, shows transformative moments in Australia’s history, such as Cathy Freeman’s 400m Olympic gold medal race in 2000 and the 2008 apology.

It follows a family through the years as they witness the key events play out on their TV screen, such as the 1967 referendum to count Aboriginal people in the Census, the Mabo decision, America’s Cup, the Uluru handback and the marriage equality plebiscite.

The clip was directed by award-winning filmmaker and Kaytetye man Warwick Thornton, best known for movies Samson and Delilah (2009) and Sweet Country (2017).

It incorporates archival footage of Farnham whose song was first released in 1986 when he was 38.

The singer, who recently announced he was free from cancer after undergoing major surgery a year ago to remove a tumour from his mouth, said the song “changed my life”.

“I can only hope that now it might help, in some small way, to change the lives of our First Nations peoples for the better,” he said in a statement.

Cathy Freeman’s gold medal moment features among the historic moments in the film. Photo: Supplied

The film is being launched by the Uluru Dialogue — the organisation dedicated to advancing the Uluru Statement.

Megan Davis, one of the Uluru Dialogue co-chairs, is hoping the video, coupled with Farnham’s soundtrack, will rally Australians behind the referendum, which will be held on October 14.

“I think for most Australians, this will be the defining song of the campaign,” Professor Davis told AAP.

“You don’t get anything bigger than John Farnham. He’s Australian rock royalty and you don’t get anything bigger than this song, which is the unofficial anthem of the nation.

“It is a huge deal. We’re really proud.”

The film is a direct call to action to remind Australians they have a chance to change history by voting yes.

“This isn’t just the hard-headed constitutional reform that will change our people’s lives, it’s the heart as well, that’s what this song speaks to,” Prof Davis said.

“It speaks to the agency of people in a community working together to make a difference.

“It’s been quite tough for our mob with the hate and the racism but the majority of Australians are forward-looking and this country actually is ‘not gonna sit in silence’ and ‘we’re not gonna live in fear’.

“We’re going to step it up and walk together like we did in 1967 to make this change.”

And Farnsy isn’t the only rock legend lending his star power and voice to the ‘yes’ campaign.

Singer-songwriter Paul Kelly wrote and released an original song, If Not Now.

“Music has the power to speak to people’s lives,” Prof Davis said.

“I was in primary school when You’re the Voice was released and, as a young girl, instantaneously felt the power of its message about agency and walking together.

“History isn’t just something we witness and observe, but something we ourselves can influence and now we all have a voice in what happens at this critical moment, and we must use it.”

The ‘yes’ campaign hopes to inspire Australians to come together. Photo: AAP

Prof Davis, a constitutional law expert and one of the architects of the Uluru Statement, has faced many questions about the voice since the Uluru summit in 2017.

She’s written countless stories, appeared before numerous committees and conducted hundreds of interviews.

“The number one question Aussies have asked me for six years is ‘Have you thought of Johnny Farnham and You’re the Voice?’,” she said.

“I just hope Australians love it.

“It’s really about a few moments in our history that made us feel happy as a nation.

“There are some moments in our history when difficult decisions were made, we were anxious, but it made our country a better and safer place and that’s what this is about.”