Melville Thomas

Melville Thomas is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Western Australia's School of Indigenous Studies, with over 25 years of teaching experience. He serves as Coordinator of the Indigenous Knowledge, History and Heritage Major and has held roles such as Indigenous Law Coordinator and Associate Dean of Research. He holds a BA in History, LLB, and LLM from UWA, with his LLM thesis focusing on international law and human rights.

His research focuses on Indigenous rights, international law, LGBTQ+ rights, and legal education. He has authored two books, including Meaning in International Law and Gay Humanism and Higher Education, and has contributed to numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. He has received notable awards, including the Senior Fellowship from the Higher Education Academy (2020) and the Neville Bonner Award for Indigenous Education (2009).

Thomas teaches courses such as Aboriginal Encounters and Indigenous Peoples and Global Issues, and has led initiatives like the UWA Indigenous Pre-Law Programme, which has produced over 60 Indigenous lawyers. He is also a key figure in the Australasian Law Teachers' Association's Social Justice Forum.