Professor Calma is an Aboriginal elder of the Kungarakan tribal group, a member of the Iwaidja tribal group and a tireless champion for the rights, responsibilities and welfare of Aboriginal Australians. He has been involved in and with the tertiary education sector since 1980 as an academic, in representing Australia's interest in higher education internationally, on research grants, in reviewing administrative and academic structures and on advisory boards and committees at eight universities.
Professor Calma has been awarded three honorary doctorates in recognition of his contribution to Aboriginal affairs at a community, state, national and international level and is an Alumnus of the University of South Australia.
Born in Darwin, Tom moved to Adelaide to study an Associate Diploma of Social Work at the South Australian Institute of Technology, one of UniSA’s antecedent institutions, and upon graduating in 1978, led the creation of the Aboriginal Task Force program at the Darwin Community College. Beginning with that role, Tom has worked tirelessly for the improvement and advancement of Indigenous peoples’ health, justice, education, and employment.
