Madeleine Kelly
Research Associate
College of Science and Engineering
Madeleine is an early career archaeological/anthropological scholar and rock art specialist. They are passionate about decolonial and multidisciplinary approaches to First Nations heritage and research, working collaboratively with First Nations Traditional Owners throughout Australia to weave Western and First Nations ontological and epistemological frameworks in the context of rock art and water. Their research projects include recording and analysing GunaiKurnai cave engravings in eastern Victoria, ethnoarchaeological approaches to Wardaman rock art in the Northern Territory, and thinking two ways about groundwater in Central Australia with Anangu Traditional Owners and scholars and Flinders University Hydrogeologists.
Additionally, Madeleine is a member of the Women, Trans and Non-Binary Person Network Organising Collective within the Centre of Excellence for Australia Biodiversity and Heritage. In collaboration with senior colleagues, Madeleine has developed workshops and multimedium publications to build support networks for women and LGBTQIA+ people within academia.
Madeleine completed their PhD at Monash University in 2023 working on an archive of rock art and anthropological recordings from Wardaman Country in the Northern Territory with Wardaman Traditional Owners. The project focused on relational approaches to rock art, weaving together Western archaeological and Wardaman knowledges through a spatial and temporal analysis of rock paintings. An ongoing collaboration with Wardaman Traditional Owners focuses on returning Elders stories and rock art recording and conservation.
Madeleine's teaching interests centre on decolonising Western research practices, First Nations heritage and Country, and the theory and practice of archaeology and rock art research in Australia and globally. They are passionate about creating inclusive and safe spaces for students to creatively and critically engage with archaeological research and decolonial theory through practical activities, student-led group discussion, and engaging seminars.
While completing their PhD, they were a tutor for 3 years and an Assistant lecturer (Level A) for 2 years in the Monash Indigenous Studies Centre at Monash University. They also presented and continue to present guest lectures for archaeological courses at Australia National University and elsewhere within Monash University. These roles have involved planning, presenting, and facilitating 2nd and 3rd year lectures, class activities, and discussions on the history of Australian First Nations archaeology and history, rock art research, and archaeological theory and practice in global contexts.
Sturt Rd, Bedford Park
South Australia 5042
South Australia | Northern Territory
Global | Online
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