Melanie Oppenheimer Explained

Melanie Oppenheimer
Birth Date:9 November 1957
Birth Place:Sydney, New South Wales
Nationality:Australian
Occupation:Historian and academic
Professor
Awards:Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (2017)
Education:University of New England (BA, DipEd, MLitt)
Macquarie University (PhD)
Thesis Title:Volunteers in Action: Voluntary Work in Australia, 1939–1945
Thesis Url:https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/7869126?q=Melanie+Oppenheimer&c=book&versionId=9074292+41450654
Thesis Year:1997
Discipline:History
Sub Discipline:Volunteering
Gender and war
Biography
Workplaces:Flinders University
University of New England
University of Western Sydney

Melanie Nivison Oppenheimer, (born 9 November 1957) is an Australian historian, who specialises in the history of volunteering, and a former actress.

Early life and acting

Oppenheimer was born in Sydney, New South Wales, and studied for a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of New England (UNE). When UNE opened a drama department, she "fell in love with acting" and went on to enrol at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London before starting a career as an actress on Australian television. She played Sarah Carson, the daughter of lead character Jennifer Carson (played by Lorraine Bayly), on the television series Carson's Law from 1984 to 1986.[1]

Academic career

Oppenheimer returned to UNE to complete a Master of Letters, and then a Doctor of Philosophy at Macquarie University. She worked as a research assistant in the history department of the University of Sydney, then held associate professor positions at the University of Western Sydney and the University of New England.[2]

The Australian Red Cross commissioned Oppenheimer to write an official history of the organisation in 2010, its centennial year. The book, The Power of Humanity: 100 Years of Australian Red Cross, was published by HarperCollins and launched by the Governor-General of Australia, Sir Peter Cosgrove, in August 2014.[3] She has written several biographical articles for the Australian Dictionary of Biography.[4]

On 1 July 2013, Oppenheimer took up a professorship as Chair of History at Flinders University in South Australia.[5] She was elected a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (FASSA) in 2017.[6]

Selected works

As historical consultant

Notes and References

  1. News: Best Teacher: Melanie Oppenheimer. 23 May 2016. Empire Times. 6 November 2015.
  2. Web site: Margaret George Award 2006. National Archives of Australia. 23 May 2016.
  3. Web site: Governor General launches Centenary book. Australian Red Cross. 23 May 2016.
  4. Book: Nolan. Melanie. Fernon. Christine. The ADB's story. 2013. ANU E Press. Canberra. 978-1925021202.
  5. Web site: Melanie Oppenheimer. A Land Fit for Heroes?. State Records NSW. 23 May 2016.
  6. Web site: Academy Fellow: Professor Melanie Oppenheimer FASSA. 2020-10-14. Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia.