Dr Karl Neuenfeldt barely had time to unpack his bags before he took off again to attend the National Library of Australia oral history interviewers' seminar and training day on Thursday (June 14).

Associate Professor Neuenfeldt - based at CQU Bundaberg - recently returned from the Torres Strait where he spends a significant portion of each year researching historical and contemporary popular culture in Indigenous cultures.

Associate Professor Karl Neuenfeldt focuses on historical and contemporary popular culture in Indigenous cultures

His current research project - conducted in collaboration with the National Library of Australia and the Torres Strait Regional Authority - will document and analyse traditional and contemporary music and dance in the 5 'island clusters' of the Torres Strait region.

"The first pilot project will be in the lovely Central Islands, where the SBS television series Remote Island Nurse was filmed," said Associate Professor Neuenfeldt.

"These islands are threatened by sea-rises so it is timely to document their distinct cultures," he said.

The Canberra workshop offered opportunities to participate in training, discussion and presentations on the library's collecting approaches and intentions, bringing interviewers up to date with new systems and technologies.

Associate Professor Neuenfeldt's current research interests include historical and contemporary popular culture in Indigenous cultures and in regional Australia; music media and cultural production; and soundscapes.