Paul Girrawah House has multiple First Nation ancestries from the South-East Canberra region, including the Ngambri-Ngurmal (Walgalu), Pajong (Gundungurra), Wallaballooa (Ngunnawal) and Erambie/Brungle (Wiradyuri) family groups. Paul acknowledges his diverse First Nation history, he particularly identifies as a descendant of Onyong aka Jindoomang from Weereewaa (Lake George) and Henry ‘Black Harry’ Williams from Namadgi who were both multilingual, essentially Walgalu-Wiradjuri speaking warriors and Wallaballooa man William Lane aka ‘Billy the Bull’ - Murrjinille. 

Paul was born at the old Canberra hospital in the centre of his ancestral country and strongly acknowledges his First Nation matriarch ancestors, in particular his mother Dr Aunty Matilda House-Williams and grandmother, Ms Pearl Simpson-Wedge. 

Paul completed a Bachelor of Community Management from Macquarie University, and Graduate Certificate in Wiradjuri Language, Culture and Heritage and Management from CSU and Graduate Certificate of Management from ANU. 

Paul provided the Welcome to Country for the 47th Opening of Federal Parliament in 2022. Paul is a Member Indigenous Reference Group, National Museum of Australia. Paul is a member of the National Gallery of Australia First Nations Advisory Group. Paul works on country with the ANU, First Nations Portfolio as a Cultural & Community Engagement Specialist.