Abbey Sullivan (Class of 2022) Receives Prestigious Berndt Memorial Prize
Santa Maria College is proud to celebrate alumna Abbey Sulivan (Class of 2022), who has been awarded the Berndt Memorial Prize in Anthropology at the University of Western Australia (UWA).
Presented annually to the student who demonstrates outstanding merit in Level 2 or 3 anthropology units, the Berndt Memorial Prize honours the legacy of Foundation Professor Ronald M Berndt and Dr Catherine H Berndt. For Abbey, the award marked a meaningful and affirming conclusion to her undergraduate studies.
“Receiving the Berndt Memorial Prize was a truly gratifying end to my bachelor’s degree… it has given me confidence that my hard work, resilience, and passion can take me anywhere from here.”
A Passion Sparked at Santa Maria
Abbey’s interest in the humanities began at Santa Maria College, where she developed a love for Modern History ATAR classes with Mrs de Byl. That passion carried through to university and eventually led her to anthropology after attending a UWA Open Day. She was drawn to the discipline’s focus on human cultures, societies and shared experiences, describing it as a bridge between history and the future, and between academic study and real-world impact.
Studying with Passion and Purpose
Motivated by a desire to understand people from multiple perspectives, Abbey completed majors in History and Anthropology, alongside a minor in Curatorial Studies. Her approach to study is grounded in passion, organisation and balance.
She credits consistency, careful planning and breaking large projects into manageable tasks as key to maintaining high standards, while still making time for friends, family and hobbies.
Studying anthropology and history has fundamentally shaped the way Abbey engages with the world, strengthening her critical thinking skills and challenging her to consider ideas from a wide range of perspectives.
“I think that studying the humanities is so important because they expose you to diverse ways of thinking and challenge what you think you know. They also help you develop strong critical thinking skills that change the way you approach tasks, ideas and the world around you. Anthropology in particular has taught me that we should always lead with empathy and seek to understand before we can hope to make meaningful change in the world.”
Looking Ahead with Confidence
Receiving the Berndt Memorial Prize has encouraged Abbey to think more ambitiously about her future. She is particularly interested in working within museum and cultural spaces, with aspirations to join the WA Museum in education, archival or curatorial roles. She is passionate about inspiring curiosity, open-mindedness and compassion through storytelling and the sharing of knowledge.
Exploring ‘Craftivism’ and Women’s Voices
A standout focus of Abbey’s studies has been her interest in ‘Craftivism’, a form of activism rooted in craft, creativity and feminism. She is deeply passionate about uplifting women’s stories, histories and practices, and is interested in craft as both an artistic practice and a powerful tool for social change.
“Just like stitching with a needle and thread, where each small stitch contributes to a bigger picture, small everyday actions – when they’re motivated by intention, creativity, and collaboration – can foster meaningful change. Craftivism emphasises care, social bonds and the opportunities for change that we can stitch, weave, knit, sculpt or sew into any part of our lives.”
Creativity, Movement and Balance
Outside of study, Abbey is highly creative and active. She is a passionate crafter, experimenting with crochet, embroidery, sewing and visual art. She is also an avid dancer, an important outlet for her physical and mental wellbeing. Reading and creative hobbies play a key role in helping her stay balanced and engaged beyond the classroom.
Encouraging Future Humanities Students
Reflecting on her journey, Abbey strongly encourages current Santa Maria students to consider the humanities and social sciences as part of their studies, describing them as both rewarding and transformative.
“For any Santa students thinking about studying any subject within the humanities and social sciences, I cannot recommend it enough. It is such a rewarding journey, that can take you in so many directions where your ideas, voices and perspectives are valued and necessary.”
She is particularly passionate about the way humanities subjects amplify women’s voices and help students better understand their place in the world. While acknowledging the importance of women in STEM, Abbey believes the humanities play a vital role alongside all career pathways.
She also encourages students who may be undecided to explore anthropology during their university studies, describing it as a discipline that brings together history, science, psychology, economics, politics, law, religion, gender studies, geography and human rights, “a nice bridge between the arts and sciences that welcomes students of all backgrounds and exposes you to many unique ideas and fields.”
An Exciting New Chapter
Having recently graduated from UWA, Abbey is now working towards commencing an Honours degree, where she will contribute to the design of an exhibition focused on photography in Africa. She hopes this experience will open the door to future curatorial opportunities and ongoing work with material culture in museums across Perth and Australia.
We congratulate Abbey on this exceptional achievement and we look forward to following her continued journey.
- Abbey Sullivan, Alumni Spotlight, Berndt Memorial Prize, Craftivism, Featured, Humanities & Social Sciences, Santa Maria College alumni, UWA Anthropology, Women in Leadership
Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.
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