Jacek Anderst

Jacek is a Research Fellow with a primary focus on housing and health in the  Guunu-Maana (Heal), Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Program. They are committed to advocacy and developing culturally-grounded solutions to improve housing and health, directly informed by the priorities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities in Sydney and across NSW. Their practice is informed by collectivist, respectful, reciprocal, and relational elements akin to Indigenous and decolonising approaches to research.

Jacek’s PhD was guided by Dharawal and Bidjigal people at La Perouse, aiming to understand the meanings of home and priorities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in mainstream (not Aboriginal-community-controlled) social housing in Sydney. Together with Aboriginal social housing tenants, tenant advocates and social housing providers, they developed free housing resources to support tenants navigate NSW's complex social housing system.

As of 2026, Jacek is involved in housing research projects and collaborations, working cross-institutionally alongside colleagues in public health, the built environment, law, and human geography. They sit on the Management Committee of the Eastern Area Tenants Service, a Sydney-based tenant advocacy service, are part of the HEAL Network and a member of UNSW’s Australian Human Rights Institute. 

Jacek joined The George Institute for Global Health in 2018, initially as a Project Officer supporting commissioned research, and the early development of the Institute’s practice of consumer and community engagement in health research. Subsequently they were a Research Associate in the Injury Program, and Coordinator of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging, before undertaking their PhD between 2021 and 2025. In addition to research, Jacek has led organisational change, establishing and Chairing the Institute’s first Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Working Group in 2019, and spear-heading initiatives to improve cultural safety with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, gender equity and LGBTQI+ inclusion.