The Clemente  Australia program

ACU is proud to sponsor and host the Clemente Australia program. This university-level course in the humanities, provides a transformative education experience to Australians (and those eligible to study in Australia) who, because of social and/or economic marginalisation, have experienced barriers to participation in university education.

Part of an international Clemente network originating in the USA, Clemente was established in Australia in 2003 in partnership with community organisations, industry, government agencies and individual volunteers.

Free to students, the program includes the study of four humanities units (such as sociology, history, philosophy and literature etc) that are delivered by highly qualified lecturers. Volunteer learning partners support students to help them succeed in the program. Currently, the Clemente Australia program is offered in eight campus and community settings across the Australian east coast.

Professor Zlatko Skrbis Vice-Chancellor and President
"The broad approach to education we offer at ACU reflects our core values of truth, academic excellence and service. This is especially evident in programs that remove barriers to university participation and success; and engage marginalised people in the ACU community and the wider society. Clemente Australia is one such program. It demonstrates the reciprocal and enriching nature of service, access and equity – through giving, we also receive; through opening doors, we expand our own horizons."
Professor Zlatko Skrbis
Vice-Chancellor and President

Program locations

  • ACU Canberra Campus (Signadou)
  • ACU Blacktown Campus
  • Parklea Correctional Centre
  • Mission Australia Centre, Surry Hills
  • Brisbane Campus, (McAuley) Banyo
  • Brisbane Common Ground, South Brisbane
  • Ballarat Campus (Aquinas)
  • Melbourne Campus (St Patrick’s)

Clemente stories

Kyme

“Being part of Clemente has taught me many things. Yes, I’ve studied some amazing units, but my biggest lessons I have learnt are that I am capable of anything that I set my mind to and that I should never underestimate myself.”

Debbie, Student

“Being a single mother of three, it is difficult to study. I joined the Mt. Druitt Thrives Program because I attempted to study online last year and failed my first essay and oral presentation quite miserably. This course allows me to return to tertiary study with all the support that I need. The time slot, in the middle of the day, is perfect. I also get to meet new people.”

Jane, Student

"All up until that time period of being 38, I’d struggled with jobs, courses and didn’t know why I wasn’t achieving things. When I first came here, I didn’t have a voice, not because people had made me like that but I had lost my voice through the mental illness… And as every week went on, my confidence just grew.”

Ian, Learning Partner/Academic

“One of the most striking things about teaching in Clemente is how eager all the continuing students have been to learn. The students are real life-long learners! So, for me as a person, the students have taught me to always keep learning. As an academic, the students have taught me to engage more with real-world experience. This is not meant to sound trite or patronizing, but more that I need to listen more closely to the way non-sociologists narrate sociology.”

Sr. Maria, Learning Partner

“My role is to provide help and encouragement to the students. This might mean helping them interpret a question, discussing their assignments, reading assignments, pointing out that they haven’t answered the question, spelling needs to be checked or a reminder to add references or acknowledge work quoted. Sometimes it is just providing a listening ear over a coffee. A student will often email or phone at home me when a problem arises with their assignments.”

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