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Rhonda Smith
Communication and Administration Officer
Rhonda was born in Tingha NSW, home to the Nucoorilma (Ngoorumba) people, her mother’s ancestors of the Gamilaraay language group/nation. 
Rhonda’s father is from Wellington within the neighbouring Wiradjuri language group/nation.
Rhonda completed a B App Sc from the University of Canberra in 1994.
One of her external units was basic Pitjantjatjara which she loved, through the University of South Australia. Rhonda worked briefly with the Department of Environment prior to leaving to raise two children. In Canberra Rhonda attended the first of many Wiradjuri language classes with Mr Stan Grant Snr, and Dr John Rudder, which were initially held at Charnwood.
This led Rhonda to begin her part-time linguistics studies online through University of New England, in Armidale NSW. Rhonda completed her Graduate Diploma in Linguistics in 2009.
Rhonda is also happy to have the opportunity to undertake research on her people’s languages while working at AIATSIS.
Rhonda briefly worked in 2010 at AIATSIS on the ASEDA database, and then later returned in late March 2011 as Administration and Communications Officer in AIATSIS Centre for Australian Languages.