Charles Dixon grew up at Wallaga Lake on the New South Wales south coast. He campaigned for Aboriginal social justice during the 1967 referendum and adapted organisational skills he learnt from the Waterside Workers' Federation during his employment on Sydney wharves. Dixon was a demonstrator at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in 1972 and was part of a delegation of Aboriginal Australians that visited China to discuss the Aboriginal struggle in an attempt to shame the Federal Government into action.
Charles Dixon visited the USA and Canada to research alcohol rehabilitation programs among the First Nations people and African Americans. During 1973, Dixon became a foundation member of the Aboriginal Arts Board. He spoke out on the need for reform and for more funding to be made available to Aboriginal artists.
