Last year she submitted her PhD. Now Dr Edith Hill is teaching in her “dream job” at Flinders. She explains her passion for the role, and why she transforms donated blankets into cardigans to raise funds for Catherine House.
What is your role at Flinders?
I’m an Associate Lecturer (teaching specialist) in Learning and Teaching Innovation. I first came to Flinders in 2013, when I was in Year 12 doing extension studies, and have since completed my undergrad, honours, and recently my PhD in Life Writing. I submitted my PhD at the end of 2022 and was lucky enough to land my dream job in the Student Learning Support Service earlier this year. In my new role, I teach our Foundations Studies program. I’m also assigned to the College of Nursing and Health Sciences to provide support to students and staff, so you’ll often see me around both the Bedford Park and Sturt campuses.
Tell us a little about your research.
My PhD investigated life stories of health and illness on YouTube, TikTok and Instagram. I’m fascinated by how people use social media platforms to share health narratives. I’m still publishing in my field, with new articles in The Conversation, and I have two book chapters and a few articles coming out next year. My current research investigates storytelling in the enabling classroom, the function of English language diagnostic tests, and team teaching in enabling programs.
What do you love most about your work?
I wake up every day excited to do my job. I work with an incredible team in the Student Learning Support Service. Everyone is so generous with their time and energy, and we have a very positive work environment where I learn so much every day. I love that every day is different. One day I will be at Sturt campus talking to our Nursing students, the next I’m learning HTML to add a scavenger hunt to our CANVAS site, or teaching Foundation Studies students until 9pm. I find that working in the Student Learning Support Service is incredibly rewarding and I love knowing that the work I do directly helps students feel successful and supported.
How did you get into this field?
When I started my PhD, my aim was to emerge as a research-focused academic. However, my pathway changed once I taught my first class. I love teaching. I was lucky enough to teach some English topics in the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences during my PhD, and I also had a casual job as a Learning Advisor in the Student Learning Lounge. I quickly found that teaching in the enabling programs at Flinders is where I want to be. I really enjoy being the person who makes sure someone has a positive start to their university journey.
What is your proudest accomplishment?
Finishing my PhD. As cliché as it might sound, my PhD changed me as a person. It was incredibly hard academically, but also emotionally, personally and physically. It took everything I had for three years to get it done, and I’m incredibly proud of myself for making it out the other side – and still loving my project.
How do you spend your spare time?
I love crafts, especially embroidery and crochet. I love making toys for my friend’s children, and making embroidery portraits of people’s pets. My biggest project outside of work is my charity cardigans. I obtain blankets from op shops around South Australia, take them apart and re-make them into cardigans. I sell these cardigans through my Instagram account and donate the profits to Catherine House, the women’s shelter in Adelaide. Catherine House does incredible work for women experiencing homelessness in Adelaide, and I feel very fortunate to be able to contribute in a small way.
***
Check out Edith’s creations on her Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/_loop_holes_/
