Matthew Doyle, also known as ‘Uncle Matt’, is NIDA’s Uncle-in-Residence and First Nations Cultural Advisor.
As Elder in Residence, Matthew supports First Nations students as they navigate their courses, and shares his knowledge in First Nations culture and traditions with students and staff alike. His extensive career experience in Indigenous arts communities allows him to counsel from a holistic Indigenous perspective.
Matthew provides guidance and education for students and staff, whether it’s by meeting with staff members to discuss First Nations protocols, or connecting First Nations students with Indigenous arts communities.
Matthew has over 35 years’ experience in the performing arts across all genres. His celebrated career includes his work as a dancer, musician, composer, songman, didgeridoo player, cultural consultant and educator.
Born and raised in Sydney, Matthew is a descendant of the Muruwari People from Northwest NSW. He studied at NAISDA College from 1985-88, before becoming a founding member of Aboriginal Islander Dance Theatre (AIDT) company.
He has performed in major events such as the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games closing ceremony, the 2000 Sydney opening and closing ceremonies, the World Expo Japan, the ABC Millenium broadcast on top of the Sydney Opera House, the opening of the Indigenous Gallery Musee Du Quai Branly in Paris, and the opening of the new Australian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale with Djakapura Munyarryun and William Barton. He performed in Wesley Enoch’s I am Eora for Sydney Festival, and in 2021 he appeared on The Voice with Jessica Mauboy. He has also welcomed the Pope and members of the Royal Family to Sydney.
He is also a prolific musician with several albums of his own, as well as co-composing and being a cultural consultant for Bangarra Dance Theatre.
For the past 20 years, Matthew has worked in the Indigenous Arts in education, and is a panel member of the Indigenous Advisory Panel for the City of Sydney Council. He currently works with Jannawi Dance Clan and The Gamay Dancers. Matthew also consults for the Sydney Opera House and volunteers for The Leukaemia Foundation to raise Indigenous community awareness of blood diseases.
NIDA is grateful to The Balnaves Foundation for funding towards the Uncle In Residence position as Principal Partners First Nations Programs.
