Since graduating with a Master of Arts in International Relations in 2014, life has been and is more interesting than ever for Anna Burchfield.

Her work in marketing has taken her into the 'tech cloud', health, transport, websites and digital marketing – even through the doors of the Western Australian Parliament.

However, the lure of the arts and the thrill of performing saw her return to the Perth and national cabaret scene in 2017. The three years which followed would be both the most testing and rewarding period of her life.

They included two redundancies, five contract roles, multiple performances across Perth, interstate and on cruise ships, a Certificate in Fashion Styling, topped off with spending five months unemployed during lockdown in 2020.

“During July 2020 I started in a new role as a Content Coordinator for APM, Australia’s largest provider of Disability Employment Services. Over the last year, I’ve really had my eyes and mind opened to the realities and challenges of living with an injury, illness or disability,” Anna said.

“When your university degrees give you a thirst for knowledge and great research skills, I’ve found a great space to apply it all and see the finer details and the bigger picture.

“In the face of personal, even global upheavals, I feel profoundly resilient. I look back on the last couple of years proudly. All the change, all the tears. All of it."

Anna Burchfield

“I know improving the lives of others, acquiring a little more knowledge on accessibility, diversity and inclusion for everyone is a powerful thing. It can be as simple as thinking how accessible the entrance to your premises are, or which voices we can add to our conversations.

“Greater still, in my current role, it is deeply satisfying to have found a specialisation in my field. I have very much leaned into life as a ‘Word Nerd’!”

Since scoring a job at APM, Anna’s life has been awash with a lot of laughter, the click of keyboard keys, emcee-ing and performing at Perth Fringe, and publishing multiple editorials in The West Australian, including the release of one giant confetti popper when she passed her probation.

The contrast between her life of leisure and her work has become highly fulfilling.

“My 'stage persona' and I coexist quite wonderfully, whether behind a keyboard or a microphone, under office lights or stage lights,” Anna proudly admits.

“In the face of personal, even global upheavals, I feel profoundly resilient. I look back on the last couple of years proudly. All the change, all the tears. All of it.

“When I think about my recent past, my present and even think about the future – the arts has always been part of it.

“And we need only look to the arts for great resilience, not simply to survive, but to thrive.”

Read the full issue of the Winter 2021 edition of Uniview. [PDF 3MB]