Tonia Chalk

Tonia Chalk is a Lecturer in the School of Education at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ), based at the Toowoomba Campus. She is also a PhD candidate at Griffith University's School of Humanities, Languages, and Social Sciences, examining historical coronial inquests of Aboriginal women and girls through archival and colonial discourse analysis. Her research bridges Indigenous family narratives, Queensland history, and the role of archives as cultural artefacts.

Educations:

• Bachelor of Education (USQ)
• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) (USQ)
• PhD Candidate (Griffith University)

Research Interests: Tonia’s work focuses on decolonizing archival practices, First Nations education frameworks, and the intersection of Indigenous histories with Australian colonial records. She explores how coronial inquest files can reveal silenced narratives of Aboriginal women, contributing to both academic discourse and community-driven knowledge preservation.

Teaching: She teaches courses such as First Nations Education, Diversity in Educational Contexts, and Humanities Pedagogy, emphasizing culturally responsive teaching methods.

Professional Roles:

• Member of USQ Academic Board (2014–2023)
• Member of AIATSIS Board
• Tertiary Representative for QCAA B31 Panel
• Registered Teacher with Queensland College of Teachers

Affiliations: She is a member of the Native American and Indigenous Studies Association (NAISA) and actively participates in Indigenous academic advocacy through USQ’s NTEU committee.