ACU is an institution committed to serving the common good and supporting the dignity and well-being of all people. We have a nationwide network of over 35,000 people that could bring capacity to your organisations efforts in supporting those who experience disadvantage or marginalisation. 

Operational support

Students at ACU complete a community engagement placement as part of our Core Curriculum. This offers the opportunity to bring capacity to your organisation while providing a mutually beneficial learning experience for students. Staff at ACU are also strongly encouraged to engage with community organisations to share their knowledge and expertise, with access to up to five days of time release per year to participate in approved community engagement activities during their normal work hours.

Learn more

Research support

The Stakeholder Engaged Scholarship Unit (SESU) provides scholarly expertise and research assistance to organisations working in areas that are central to ACU’s Mission and ethos as a Catholic university. Through the facilitation of community-initiated research projects, we can help inform, shape, evaluate and develop your programs and services. If you are a community organisation supporting communities who experience disadvantage or marginalisation, we invite you to partner with us.

Learn more

What do our current partners have to say?

Partnership and reciprocity are hallmarks of community engagement. That has certainly been the experience of CatholicCare as we work with ACU Engagement and ACU students. CatholicCare’s Communications, Fundraising and Marketing (CFM) Team has had considerable benefit from students as interns and as volunteers. The students have benefitted from their involvement in a diverse and busy workplace, and the opportunity to contribute to CatholicCare’s work.

Over the past twelve months we have had six different students in various positions with the CFM Team. This is in addition to the M. Psych graduates who have been able to fulfil their internship as School Counsellors with CatholicCare. Two of them worked on different aspects of CatholicCare’s Family Week – our annual campaign with Catholic primary and secondary schools - helping to review previous years’ work, produce new resources and assist with gathering feedback and analysing a survey. Three media students worked together as a team to produce a video promoting Family Week. A history student helped to research the story of CatholicCare in preparation for its 85th anniversary in 2020.

All of the students showed the skills they have learned through their study. Also, they were willing to take initiatives and showed great flexibility in the way they fitted into the workplace. They showed commendable dedication to their work.

One of our new programs for primary schools in the outer western suburbs has been very well received. However, it needed an external evaluation. Fortunately, an honours student in Psychology is willing to do the research needed.

CatholicCare and Australian Catholic University have shared interests in Community Engagement. We look forward to building on this partnership.

Contact us

Contact us using the form below to discuss what's possible in partnership with ACU.

 

 

You might also like...

Research engagement

ACU research engages communities, government, industry and the non-for-profit-sector to create real and sustainable impacts.

Learn more

Mission, identity and values

As a Catholic university, we’re guided by our clear mission, strong sense of identity and firm set of values.

Learn more

Community Giving

At ACU there is a focus on community giving. Browse giving opportunities and see what's needed in your community.

Learn more

ACU Engagement

Meet the ACU Engagement team and learn more about our mission to provide meaningful community engagement opportunities.

Meet ACU Engagement

Have a question?

We're available 9am–5pm AEDT,
Monday to Friday

If you’ve got a question, our AskACU team has you covered. You can search FAQs, text us, email, live chat, call – whatever works for you.

Live chat with us now

Chat to our team for real-time
answers to your questions.

Launch live chat

Visit our FAQs page

Find answers to some commonly
asked questions.

See our FAQs