Catholic Health leader receives ACU National honorary doctorate
Photo: Chancellor Francis Sullvan and VC
Australian Catholic University (ACU National) is proud to have awarded an honorary doctorate to teacher and public health advocate Francis Sullivan at the Sydney Health Sciences graduation ceremony on Tuesday 22 April, where Mr. Sullivan delivered the Occasional Address.
Francis Sullivan began his distinguished professional life as a teacher in Western Australia and later served as senior adviser to the West Australian Minister for Health.
During this period, Australia experienced a twenty five percent increase in the number of Catholic hospitals and a thirteen percent increase in the number of residential beds for the aged. Due to the tireless work of Francis Sullivan and the collaboration of dedicated religious congregations, Catholic Aged Care became the largest provider of aged care in the country.
In his role as Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Health Australia, Francis Sullivan has made a deep and singular contribution to health care, public policy, and the Catholic voice on health care. His views have impacted very influentially on the Australian community and welfare-concerned bodies and individuals overseas.
"Hospital and health care more generally are not the specific domain of the Church as much as they are the loci for the people of God to witness their ministry to all who approach the Catholic health care institutions for assistance, better health care or support. Francis Sullivan has always been an ardent believer in the potential for the Catholic Church to be an authentic witness of Christ to all, regardless of belief," said ACU National Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Craven.
