Dr. Rod Lucas

Rod was awarded a PhD in Anthropology and Psychiatry at the University of Adelaide in 1999 and lectured in anthropology at the University of Adelaide from 1999 until 2016.  In addition to introductory anthropology courses he taught upper-level medical anthropology courses over many years and supervised research PhDs in the areas of health and medicine until 2019. He contributed annually to the University of Adelaide’s psychiatric training programme and has also worked on the analysis of south-east Asian medical systems. He has taught an upper-level tertiary course on the anthropology of Aboriginal land tenure and sacred sites and lectured in the University of Adelaide’s Summer School in native title practice. Since 1989 he has worked as a consultant on Aboriginal heritage surveys, Work Area Clearances and several native title matters in South Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory.

Rod has worked with Aboriginal people who identify as Arabana, Antakirinja, Barngarla, Dieri, Gawler Ranges, Kaurna, Kokatha, Ngarrindjeri, Yankunytjatjara, Walmanpa and Wangkangurru/Yarluyandi and Yolngu.  He has co-researched six native title claims and peer-reviewed expert anthropology reports for the South Australian Attorney-General. Dr Lucas has experience giving expert evidence in the Federal Court of Australia.