Meet Dr Jared Thomas, author, research fellow and multiple award-winner
Jared Thomas (centre) withÌýNAIDOC SA Ambassadors Eunice Aston and Klynton Wanganeen. Image:ÌýBen Searcy
Dr Jared Thomas is a multiple award-winning author and theÌýResearch Fellow, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Material Culture and Arts at the South Australian Museum and UniSA.Ìý
HeÌýgraduated from the University of ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø with a BA, Grad Dip, MA and Ph D (Creative Writing). A Nukunu man from the Southern Flinders Ranges, he continues to promote Aboriginal representation in literature, film and media and communicate the Aboriginal experience and knowledge to the public. He was recently awardedÌýNAIDOC SA Person of the Year 2023.
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What is memorable about your time at the University of ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø and how did it assist you in your career?
Firstly, I really appreciate that I commenced my degree at a time prior to personal computers becoming commonplace. For at least the first year of my degree, I had to handwrite assignments and there was great expectation from tutors and peers to complete weekly set readings. This helped to produce academic rigour and personal standards relating to my work.
I was lucky to form relationships with a couple of my best friends who pushed me academically and to have fun. We’ve continued to be of great support to each other personally and professionally, and I am always inspired by their achievements.
I had to work hard to get up to speed as an undergraduate, but I also really enjoyed the social aspects of uni such as seeing bands at the uni bar and especially meeting the many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students that came to the University of ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø’s Centre of Aboriginal Studies in Music.
The most important thing that I learned through my undergraduate degree was that the sharing of Aboriginal knowledge was appreciated by many, and that if I worked hard, I could improve my academic and creative writing and have fun striving toward excellence.
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You are an author and you work as the Research Fellow, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Material Culture and Arts at the South Australian Museum and UniSA. What was your career journey to reach this point? What are the highlights to date and the most rewarding and enjoyable aspects of your work?
I left Port Augusta when I was almost seventeen to