Sector
Submit a multi-organisation proposal for a project to address a large or systemic issue which affects several organisations in the community sector.
Learn moreTheme 1: Addressing issues of social justice in a changing world
Social injustices can emerge in a variety of contexts, often the result of global or regional changes, such as geopolitical developments, war, persecution, mass migration, globalisation, climate change and natural disasters, pandemics, and global or regional crises.
Inspired by ACU’s vision which seeks to build an ethical future and foster thriving communities, we are seeking research proposals that focus on addressing the social injustices caused by such global or regional changes.
We are happy to receive proposals that explore a social justice issue at any of the following levels – international*, national, state-based, or local.
*In-line with Vision 2033 there is a particular focus on the Asia-Pacific region.
Projects in this category may, for instance, seek to produce outcomes and impacts concerning (but not limited to):
- people seeking asylum
- refugees
- victims of modern slavery
- veterans
- populations affected by environmental and health crises
Theme 2: Improving the wellbeing of communities
Projects in this category seek to focus on improving the access, opportunity and wellbeing of community members. Consistent with the principles of Catholic Social Thought (CST), there is a particular focus on groups who experience systemic barriers to full participation in society yet also bring with them many gifts and assets.
Inspired by ACU’s vision which seeks to foster thriving communities and enable individuals to flourish and achieve a sense of wellbeing, we are happy to receive proposals that address or seek to improve the access, opportunity and wellbeing of community members or groups. Projects in this category should seek to take a strengths or assets-based approach to community development.
Projects may, for example, seek to improve access, opportunity or wellbeing related to:
- disability
- ageing
- mental health
- homelessness
- incarceration
- financial stress or cost of living pressures
- education or employment
- the use of technologies (including social media and AI).
Projects may explore outcomes and impacts related (but not limited to):
- adults
- young people and/or children
- focus on specific individuals and communities, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (including reconciliation and Closing the Gap initiatives) and LGBTIQ+ communities, for example
- women and children affected by family and domestic violence.
Theme 3: Exploring Catholic identity and organisational practice
Projects in this category interrogate Catholic identity, with Catholic organisations committed to examining the expression of their Catholic mission, ethos and traditions across their organisational practices. Applications that correlate with the social justice work of Catholic organisation/s are especially encouraged in this category.
As a Catholic university, ACU embraces the Catholic intellectual tradition and facilitates a deep understanding of our Catholic ethos. Our academic culture, including our research, is informed by our Catholic identity. As such, we are happy to receive projects that support other organisations to explore the expression of their Catholicism. Projects in this category may focus on one or several organisations and may choose to examine Catholic identity at either international, national, state-based, or local levels.
Projects may, for instance, explore the efficacy of (but not limited to):
- formation activities
- understandings and applications of Catholic identity within organisation/s (including the role of Catholic Social Teaching)
- initiatives to promote ecumenism and interfaith collaborations between organisations working in the social and community services
- the alignment of social justice initiatives with Catholic identity while being inclusive of people of all or no faiths