Paul Oldham

Paul ‘Nazz’ Oldham is a Lecturer and Program Director at the University of South Australia (UniSA), leading the Regions and Aboriginal Pathway Program (APP) at UniSA College. He holds academic roles at both UniSA College and UniSA Creative, where he teaches courses like Communication for Academic Purposes and Popular Music: Industry, Culture & Identity. He is a member of UniSA Creative’s CP3 Research Concentration, focusing on Creative People, Products, and Places. Nazz earned his PhD in 2017 with a thesis on Melbourne’s 1960s–1980s sharpie youth subculture, and received the 2011 UniSA Honours Medal in recognition of his academic contributions.

Research Interests: Nazz’s work spans Cultural Studies, Popular Music Studies, Media Studies, and Enabling Education. His recent projects explore youth subcultures (e.g., sharpies), Australian music history (e.g., Lobby Loyde, Coloured Balls), and pedagogical strategies for widening participation in higher education. His research often bridges academic rigor with personal insights from his career as a journalist and musician.

Awards: 2011 UniSA Honours Medal (Division of Education, Arts and Social Sciences).

Teaching & Supervision: Known for his welcoming and inclusive style, Nazz coordinates courses and supervises research students. He co-developed the Communication for Academic Purposes course with Tanya Weiler, emphasizing scaffolding and student-centered approaches.

Labs/Teams: Active in CP3 Research Concentration (UniSA Creative) and contributes to UniSA College’s Wellbeing Committee.