Callum Clayton-Dixon

Callum Clayton-Dixon is an Ambēyang / Anēwan researcher and language revivalist, currently serving as Ern MacDonald On-Country Research Fellow at the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research, University of Technology Sydney (UTS). He concurrently holds an Adjunct Lecturer position at the University of New England's School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. His work focuses on land-based language revival using decolonial methodologies, with expertise in linguistic reconstruction and archival reclamation.

Educations:

• Bachelor of Journalism, Bond University
• Master of Applied Linguistics, University of New England
• Master of Philosophy, University of New England
• Doctor of Philosophy (2025), University of Technology Sydney

Research Interests: Callum’s multidisciplinary research integrates historical analysis with linguistic revitalization. He specializes in reconstructing endangered languages of southern New England, particularly the Ambēyang/Anēwan language, while documenting Indigenous resistance narratives during colonial expansion. His work emphasizes reconnecting language to Country through community-driven methodologies.

Key Contributions: His award-winning book Surviving New England (2019) reinterprets colonial history from Indigenous perspectives. Recent research includes the Defending Country grant (2024–2027), exploring contemporary land justice frameworks.

• Awards: NSW Premier’s History Award (2019)

Grants & Engagement: Principal Investigator for the Defending Country project (AU$1.2M, Philanthropic Funding). Co-founded the Anaiwan Language Revival Program in 2016, fostering community language revitalization efforts.

Labs/Teams: Active in the First Nations Land Justice Hub at Jumbunna Institute, collaborating with Indigenous communities across New South Wales.