Uncle Kevin (Dookie) O’Loughlin

Uncle Kevin (Dookie) O’Loughlin - Narungga-Kaurna Elder

Narungga-Kaurna, Dr and Elder, Uncle Dookie O'Loughlin grew up at Point Pearce Mission on the Yorke Peninsula.

He has been an educator, coordinator, trainer, and mentor, who has developed and implemented programs for Aboriginal studies and cultural tourism, including educational resources and publications, and was a devoted teacher at Tauondi College for many years.

Uncle Dookie is a storyteller, cultural consultant, and a champion for cultural understanding and valuing of Aboriginal knowledges.

He has received many awards in recognition of his work, including a 2006 Order of Australia for Reconciliation and Aboriginal studies and was NAIDOC Scholar of the Year in 1993.

He has served on numerous committees for Aboriginal advancement.

In 2017 Uncle Dookie received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of South Australia for his contribution (over 50 years) to Aboriginal Education.

UniSA Vice Chancellor, Professor David Lloyd said the University was proud to recognise the outstanding achievements of an Aboriginal leader who had given so much to students, staff and the community.

“Kevin is well-known and loved for his generosity in teaching of Aboriginal culture to students and staff in our Divisions of Information Technology, Environment and Engineering; and Business. He is a vast ‘storehouse’ of traditional cultural knowledge, contributing to many educational resources and publications; and has been a distinguished and influential cultural ambassador in South Australia since the 1960s. He supported the learning needs of a diverse student cohort, took them on country for reconnecting to culture and developed a group of cultural educators who have amplified the impact of this work. It was in this work that his connection to UniSA developed as his cultural education expertise and abilities were recognised as an invaluable asset to the University.”

-Vice Chancellor, Professor David Lloyd