During her first year of university, Esther Anderson stumbled across Anthropology and instantly fell in love. After completing her undergraduate degree and honours, she went on to study her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) to immerse herself in the compelling research landscape.
‘Something I adore about anthropology is being able to observe and portray people in a nuanced, tender and empathetic way. I am able to cultivate meaningful and purposeful narratives that highlight social issues affecting certain people.’
‘I didn’t know from the outset that I wanted to become an anthropologist, an academic or a researcher. A PhD has helped direct me towards a pathway that I didn’t even know existed or was possible. Luckily it turned out to be what I think is the right one.’
Esther has since spoken at several anthropology conferences overseas and in Australia, presenting the research she completed during her PhD at UniSQ.
‘I’m a lot better at networking than I ever thought I was. The connections I’ve made with other people in the discipline have transformed, not just into potential collaborations, but into incredible friendships.’