Paul Monaghan

Dr Paul Monaghan

Senior Research Fellow

School of Humanities

College of Creative Arts, Design and Humanities

From 6 Jan 2025 I have been employed as Senior Research Fellow Level within the School of Humanities. I am Director and Senior Linguist of the Mobile Language Team, a research centre attached to the School of Humanities. With Director and Senior Yankunytjatjara woman Karina Lester, I direct a team skilled linguists, researchers, media and resource producers, and Aboriginal Language Workers to develop new ways to stop the loss of South Australia's Aboriginal languages. 

Date Position Institution name
2025 - ongoing Senior Research Fellow University of Adelaide
2016 - 2025 Manager & Senior Linguist, Mobile Language Team University of Adelaide
2012 - 2016 Senior Linguist University of Adelaide
2009 - 2012 Linguist (Level B) University of Adelaide
2009 - 2009 Project Officer, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Data Archive University of Technology Sydney
2007 - 2009 Project Officer, Intangible Cultural Heritage Program Australian Museum
1998 - 1998 Research Assitant University of Adelaide
1997 - 1997 Linguistics Tutor University of Adelaide

Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
2025 Award The University Awards for Outstanding Achievement in the category of A Connected and Enriched Community University of Adelaide Australia $2,500
2025 Nomination Katiti Wiru (Healthy Teeth) University of Adelaide Australia -
2024 Research Award Commendation for Grant Excellence University of Adelaide Australia -
2019 Distinction Hansard acknowledgement of Parliamentary Submission South Australian Parliament Australia -

Language Competency
French Can read and write
German Can read and write
Spanish; Castilian Can read, write and understand spoken

Date Institution name Country Title
2010 - 2012 Flinders University Australia MA Sociology
1999 - 2003 University of Adelaide Australia PhD Linguistics
1995 - 1998 University of Adelaide Australia BA Hons (First Cass)

Year Citation
2020 Monaghan, P. (2020). Kokatha Mula and Yabi Dinah - Hidden Categories in "Against Native Title". Journal of the Anthropological Society of South Australia, 89-126.
2015 Monaghan, P. (2015). Tindale’s Antakirinja and the search for the real Western Desert natives. Journal of the Anthropological Society of South Australia, 39, 101-129.
2015 Monaghan, P. (2015). Tindale’s antakirinja and the search for the ‘real western desert natives’. Journal of the Anthropological Society of South Australia, 39, 73-101.
Scopus2
2012 Monaghan, P. (2012). Going for Wombat - Transformations in Wirangu and the Scotdesco Community on the Far West Coast of South Australia. Oceania, 82(1), 45-61.
DOI Scopus15
2008 Monaghan, P., Christidis, L., & Daniel, V. (2008). Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Pacific: a Brief Report on Recent Progress at the Australian Museum. International Journal of Intangible Heritage, 3, 144-147.
2008 Christidis, L., Daniel, V., Monaghan, P., Carrillo-Huffman, Y., & Huffman, K. (2008). Engaging with Creator Communities: The Way Forward for Museums. The International Journal of the Inclusive Museum, 1(2), 1-6.
DOI

Year Citation
2025 Monaghan, P. (2025). Audrey's Story. MLT Press.
2023 Stories of the Tanganekald A Collection of Ancient Stories from the Coorong South Australia (2023). .
2020 Monaghan, P., & Walsh, M. (2020). More Than Mere Words Essays on Language and Linguistics in Honour of Peter Sutton.
2019 Monaghan, P., Lester, K., Fisher, W., & Byrne, H. (2019). Wangka Wankaru. Adelaide: MLT Press.
2010 Mühlhäusler, P., Monaghan, P., & Naessan, P. (2010). Keeping language strong within the family : recommendations for families and communities. Adelaide, South Australia: University of Adelaide Press.
2010 Miller, G., Hercus, L. A., Monaghan, P., & Naessan, P. (2010). A Dictionary of the Wirangu Language of the Far West Coast of South Australia.
2006 Miller, G., Monaghan, P., & Mühlhäusler, P. (2006). An Introduction to Wirangu.
2003 Foster, R., Monaghan, P., & Mühlhäusler, P. (2003). Early forms of Aboriginal English in South Australia, 1840s-1920s. Rsch Sch of Pacific and Asian Studies, ANU Canberra ACT 0200: Pacific Linguistics, Australian National University.

Year Citation
2023 MacKenzie, J., Monaghan, P., & Monaghan, P. (2023). Bunganditj Kala! Yankunytjatjara Wangka! Keeping Ancestral Voices Alive. In N. Cumpston (Ed.), Tarnanthi: Festival of Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art 2023 (pp. 222-223). Art Gallery of South Australia.
2020 Monaghan, P. (2020). Barngarla Connection to Lake Torrens. In P. Monaghan, & M. Walsh (Eds.), More than Mere Words: Essays on language and linguistics in honour of Peter Sutton.
2017 Monaghan, P. (2017). Tracing the new: processes of translation and transculturation in Wirangu. In P. K. Austin, H. Koch, & J. Simpson (Eds.), Language, land and song: Studies in honour of Luise Hercus (pp. 555-566).
2017 Monaghan, P. (2017). Structures of Aboriginal Life at the Time of Colonisation in South Australia. In P. Brock, & T. Gara (Eds.), Colonialism and its Aftermath (pp. 3-26).
2015 Monaghan, P., & Mühlhäusler, P. (2015). State versus community approaches to language revival: The case of Wirangu at the Scotdesco Community (South Australia). In C. Volker, & F. Anderson (Eds.), Education in Languages of Lesser Power: Asia-Pacific Perspectives (1 ed., pp. 185-203). Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company.
DOI
2009 Koch, H., & Hercus, L. (Eds.) (2009). Aboriginal Placenames. Naming and re-naming the Australian landscape. In . ANU Press.
DOI
2008 Monaghan, P. (2008). Norman B. Tindale and the Pitjantjatjara Language. In William McGregor (Ed.), Encountering Aboriginal languages: studies in the history of Australian linguistics (pp. 251-272). Australia: The Australian National University.
2002 Monaghan, P. (2002). What Name? The recording of Indigenous placenames in the Western Desert of South Australia.. In L. Hercus, F. Hodges, & J. Simpson (Eds.), The Land is a Map (pp. 202-206). Canberra: Pandanus Books.
1999 Monaghan, P., & Muhlhausler, P. (1999). Tok Pisin. In T. Balzer, E. Lee, P. Mühlhäusler, P. Monaghan, D. Angelo, & D. Ober (Eds.), Pidgin Phrasebook: Pidgin
Languages of Oceania (2nd ed., pp. 97-138). Lonely Planet Publications.

Year Citation
2017 Monaghan, P., & Lucas, R. (2017). Gunyangara: Questions of Traditional Aboriginal Ownership. Report to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs..
2016 Monaghan, P., Fergie, D., & Lucas, R. (2016). Report on behalf of the Barngarla (Lake Torrens) Claimants. Lake Torrens Overlap Proceeding (SAD 90/2009).

Year Citation
2026 Coulthard, C., & Monaghan, P. (2026). defi-Nations [first-languages-in-verse] 2026 (Extent: 3 months) [Public exhibition]. The Galleries, Adelaide Festival Centre.
2025 Coulthard, C., & Monaghan, P. (2025). defi-Nations [first-languages-in-verse] 2025 (Extent: 6 weeks) [Exhibition]. City Library.
2023 Monaghan, P., Lester, K., & Fisher, W. (2023). Yankunytjatjara Wangka! Keeping Ancestral Voices Alive (Extent: 4 months) [Exhibition]. South Australian Museum.
2022 Monaghan, P. (2022). Arabana Yanhi! Tanganekald Yan! Keeping Ancestral Voices Alive (Extent: 5 months) [Public Exhibition]. South Australian Museum.
2022 Monaghan, P. (2022). Aboriginal Living Languages SA Website (Extent: on going exhibition) [website]. Adelaide.
2017 Monaghan, P. (2017). Lower Southern Arrernte permanent display at Oodnadatta Railway Museum (Extent: permanent exhibition) [Exhibition]. Oodnadatta (SA).
2015 Monaghan, P., & Lester, K. (2015). Yankunytjatjara Digitisation Project Launch, Mimili Community (SA) (Extent: 2 minute 33 second film) [Exhibition]. Mimil Community (SA): Youtube.

Year Citation
2025 Monaghan, P., & Lester, K. (2025). Recipe #2: Closing the Gap Through Oral Hygiene in Remote South Australia Project. UNESCO.
2019 Monaghan, P., Fisher, W., & McCall, E. (2019). Mobile Language Team Online Language Learning Portal. Mobile Language Team.

Year Citation
2020 Monaghan, P., Miller, G., Hercus, L., & Naessan, P. (2020). A Dictionary of the Wirangu Language from the Far West Coast of South Australia, Revised 2nd Edition.

Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name
2011 - 2012 Co-Supervisor Barngarla Language University of Adelaide Linguistics Master Full Time Anne Quandt

Date Topic Location Name
2024 - 2024 Trainee Aboriginal Language Worker - Kokatha University of Adelaide/Mobile Language Team Shirley Williams
2022 - 2022 Arts Internship University of Adelaide/Mobile Language Team Zachary Brandon-Smith
2021 - 2022 Trainee Aboriginal Language Worker - Ngarrindjeri Mobile Language Team/University of Adelaide Brooke Kirra Rigney
2021 - 2022 Arts Internship University of Adelaide/Mobile Language Team Rachel Tan
2021 - 2021 Arts Internship University of Adelaide/Mobile Language Team Nina Blake
2021 - 2021 Arts Internship University of Adelaide/Mobile Language Team Louis Parry-Mills
2020 - 2020 Arts Intern University of Adelaide/Mobile Language Team Isaac Hughes
2020 - 2022 Arts Internship University of Adelaide/Mobile Language Team Felicity Salkeld
2020 - 2020 Arts Internship University of Adelaide/Mobile Language Team Suvam Sinha
2019 - 2020 Arts Internship University of Adelaide/Mobile Language Team Sophie Caon
2018 - 2018 Trainee Aboriginal Language Worker - Wirangu Mobile Language Team/University of Adelaide Ashleigh Wild

Date Title Engagement Type Institution Country
2026 - ongoing Nganampa Wangka Podcast Public Community Engagement Adelaide University -
2023 - ongoing Dieri Language Revival Public Community Engagement The Dieri Aboriginal Corporation Australia
2021 - ongoing Pathways to Community-Led Language Work Public Community Engagement Adelaide University -
2021 - ongoing Public Exhibitions and Cultural Trails Public Community Engagement Adelaide University -
2020 - ongoing Mobile Language Team Social Media Engagement Public Community Engagement Adelaide University Australia
2020 - ongoing MLT Press Public Community Engagement various Australia
2018 - ongoing Mobile Language Team Website Public Community Engagement Adelaide University Australia
2018 - ongoing Mobile Language Team Online Language Learning Portal Public Community Engagement Adelaide University Press -
2014 - ongoing Empowering Traditional Owners and Communities through Digital Repatriation Public Community Engagement Adelaide University -
2009 - ongoing Nganampa Wangka Radio Show Public Community Engagement Adelaide University Australia

Date Institution Department Organisation Type Country
2024 - 2025 Department for Education (SA) Curriculum Policy and Standards Directorate Instructional and training Australia
2024 - 2024 Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation ALNF Instructional and training Australia
2023 - 2024 Kokatha Aboriginal Corporation Chief Executive Officer Cultural or historical Australia
2022 - 2022 Red Ridge (Interior Queensland) Limited CEO Cultural or historical Australia
2022 - 2022 SA Attorney Generals Department Native Title Legislative and political Australia
2021 - 2021 Ceduna Aboriginal Corporation Far West Languages Centre Cultural or historical Australia
2021 - 2021 Ceduna Aboriginal Corporation Far West Languages Centre Cultural or historical Australia
2021 - 2021 SA Department of Human Services Briefings and Business Support Health services and related Australia
2021 - 2021 Red Ridge Inc CEO Cultural or historical Australia
2020 - 2021 South Australian Museum Archive and Science Cultural or historical Australia
2020 - 2020 South Australian Native Title Services SANTS Legislative and political Australia
2019 - 2021 SA Department for Education Curriculum Policy and Standards Directorate Instructional and training Australia
2019 - 2020 Leigh Creek Community Progress Association Inc LCCPA Sports and recreation Australia
2019 - 2020 Ardugula Aboriginal Corporation AAC Cultural or historical Australia
2018 - 2019 Ceduna Aboriginal Corporation Far West Languages Centre Cultural or historical Australia
2016 - 2017 Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation Chaiperson Cultural or historical Australia

Date Event Name Event Type Institution Country
2020 - ongoing Launch of Uncle Terry Coulthard's Adnyamathanha Language and Culture Guide Product launch University of Adelaide -
2017 - ongoing 4th Biennial Colloquium of LCNAU, University of Adelaide, 27-29 November 2017 Colloquium University of Adelaide -
2013 - ongoing AUSTRALEX 2013 (biennial conference of the Australasian Association for Lexicography) Conference University of Adelaide and Australasian Association for Lexicography -

Date Case Institution Country
2015 - ongoing Lake Torrens Overlap Proceeding University of Adelaide Australia

Date Engagement Type Partner Name
2026 - ongoing Collaboration Bungala Aboriginal Corporation
2026 - ongoing Collaboration Oral Health Association of Australia
2026 - ongoing Collaboration Nauo Aboriginal Corporation
2026 - ongoing Collaboration Arid Recovery
2025 - ongoing Collaboration Raising Literacy Australia
2024 - 2026 Collaboration Adelaide Festival Centre: defi-Nations [first-languages-in-verse] exhibition series
2024 - ongoing Collaboration Beach Energy Limited
2024 - ongoing Collaboration Nukunu Wapma Thura Aboriginal Corporation
2024 - 2027 Research Contract South Australian Museum
2023 - ongoing Collaboration The Dieri Aboriginal Corporation
2023 - ongoing Collaboration Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation
2022 - ongoing Collaboration Kokatha Aboriginal Corporation
2022 - ongoing Collaboration Yankunytjatjara Native Title Aboriginal Corporation
2021 - ongoing Collaboration Wangkanurru Yarluyandi Aboriginal Corporation
2021 - 2021 Collaboration KuArts (Ananguku Arts and Cultural Aboriginal Corporation)
2019 - ongoing Collaboration Sharing Stories Foundation
2019 - ongoing Collaboration River Murray Mallee Aboriginal Corporation
2019 - ongoing Collaboration Tauondi Aboriginal Corporation
2015 - ongoing Collaboration Arabana Aboriginal Corporation

Date Topic Presented at Institution Country
2015 - ongoing Ordinary language and ordinary ethics in a diglossic milieu: the case of Pitkern-Norf’k on Norfolk Island 2015 Australian Anthropological Society (AAS) Annual Conference Australian Anthropological Society -

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