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Institute for Advancing Community Engagement Profile

Australian Catholic University (ACU) – established as Australia’s only Catholic, national, publicly funded university – is open to all. The University empowers its students and staff with a strong sense of social responsibility and concern for the moral and ethical dimensions of their professional and personal lives.

ACU has a distinctive mission "to make a specific contribution to its local, national and international communities". The Institute for Advancing Community Engagement (IACE) has been established by ACU to advance the development of mutually beneficial and sustainable community engagement.

Community engagement is the process through which the University brings the capabilities of its staff and students to work collaboratively with community groups and organisations to achieve mutually agreed goals that build capacity, improve well-being, and produce just and sustainable outcomes in the interests of people and their communities in the hope of a better tomorrow.

Vision

ACU, through IACE, seeks to be recognised, nationally and internationally, for distinctive leadership in University-community engagement that is designed to achieve a better tomorrow for the communities with whom the university, and its partners, engage.

Focus

IACE’s focus on community engagement is the Beyond Today agenda which aims to create a real sense of hope and belief in a better tomorrow. The three key themes that IACE focus on are:

  • Beyond Disadvantage – reaching out to the disadvantaged and marginalised people in our society and those most in need
  • Beyond Borders – participating in action for change beyond our national boundaries
  • Beyond Differences – promoting community engagement enriched by inter-faith and inter-cultural understanding.

Outcomes

ACU’s community engagement aims to engage and empower people and their communities to improve independence, long-term well-being, and social and economic inclusion in society (Yashin-Shaw, Howard and Butcher 2005).

In working to create a more just and equitable society a secondary outcome is the reduction in the footprint on social welfare, mental health, and legal and justice systems.

ACU’s extensive scholarship and research provides a strong foundation for influencing public policy and practice.

Method of Engagement

ACU has a long and distinguished history of community engagement.

IACE works in an innovative and transformative “strengths” based model where people are empowered to use their own strengths to seek a better tomorrow. The outcome is a marked improvement in disadvantaged peoples’ long-term well-being, self-management, and social and economic engagement.

Traditional community service models tend to work on a deficit based model where people’s needs are serviced.

Beyond Today Programs

Beyond Today current programs include:

Beyond Disadvantage

Education for homeless people (Clemente Australia), Indigenous initiatives and programs for the Sudanese Community and Mt Druitt Community.

The Clemente Australia program is a collaboration between ACU, Mission Australia and St Vincent de Paul. The program was launched in 2003 and to date 100 people have been involved with some graduating at the Certificate, Degree and Masters Level. ACU, its partners and the Clemente Australia program were featured in the media and on the ABC’s 7.30 Report in July 2007.

Beyond Borders

IACE is currently working in East Timor with four organisations and the Instituto Católico para Formação de Professores (ICFP) to develop quality educational and institutional capacities in East Timor. The first 97 primary teachers graduated across November 2006 and October 2007. Currently, there are 150 students enrolled in the Bachelor of Teaching course. Student retention rates are extremely high at more than 96%. ACU, through IACE, is also working with a wide range of people in various countries including Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and on the Thai-Burma border.

Beyond Differences

IACE believes engagement creates understanding and tolerance. By inviting everyone to the table IACE is working to bring understanding of the needs of all constituents. Programs include work with youth, cross-generational constituents and community leaders in programs including Indigenous Programs as well as Young Muslim leaders in IACE’s Beyond Today Leadership Programs.

Inter-faith and inter-cultural understanding is critical in promoting tolerance and inclusion of all.

Community engagement is a clear avenue for ACU to carry on its university-wide mission of working for the common good in a manner that highlights the University’s distinctiveness. ACU’s strong sense of identity, rich history of community engagement, and mutually beneficial partnerships with organisations and businesses, shows outstanding leadership in working towards a more just and equitable society.

References

Yashin-Shaw, I., Howard, P. & Butcher, J. (2005). Educating disaffected adult learners: Re-engaging the homeless through tertiary level humanities studies. Proceedings of the 13th Annual International Conference on Post-Compulsory Education and Training. Brisbane: Australian Academic Press.