Summit of Hope through Education,
Research and Service 2025

This four-part webinar series will examine how service, leadership, research and education each play a vital role in fostering hope within Catholic education and the broader university context. Through expert insights and lived experience, the series will explore how these pillars contribute to building resilient, purpose-driven communities grounded in compassion and the common good.

Partnering and Delivering Hope through Service

First Seminar

Date: 24 July 2025
Time: 3.30 - 5pm

Explore ways to encourage and sustain a culture of service, ensuring hope and generosity continue to thrive in our professional and personal communities. Discover how acts of service - from volunteer work to community engagement projects - can inspire hope, and create inclusive and supportive environments for students, staff, schools and the wider community.

Discuss practical examples of service in action, including:

• what ongoing service engagement activities need to flourish and become sustainable
• how to create a holistic view of service within schools, education systems, universities and the wider community
• learning from community service and development experiences
• appreciating and understanding the spiritual and theological dimensions of service.

Providing Environments of Hope through Leadership

Second Seminar

Date: 28 August 2025
Time: 3.30 - 5pm

This seminar explores the crucial role leadership plays in allowing hope to flourish at the individual, group and community level. Discover effective leadership techniques to inspire hope among staff, students and community members. Discuss leadership strategies that emphasise empathy, vision and resilience building.

A diverse panel of experts from ACU, schools and Catholic education organisations will provide unique perspectives on leadership. Topics covered will include:

• research and educational leadership theory
• insights from leaders with experience in large organisations
• Indigenous perspectives and leadership inspirations
• women in leadership
• experiences of school principal as leaders of hope
• practical advice on coordinating and working with leaders.

These discussions will highlight how different leadership approaches benefit institutions and the community, bringing about positive change and inspiring hope. Explore the qualities of inspirational leaders and how they can motivate others to overcome challenges and pursue their goals with optimism.

Evidence of Hope through Research

Third Seminar

Date: 25 September 2025
Time: 3.30 - 5pm

Understand how research informs social policy by uncovering knowledge that creates positive change, especially when the research is human centred. This seminar will highlight how ACU research initiatives provide hope for many in the communities we serve. Discuss how research can be a means to inspire hope by providing solutions for issues experienced by all. This seminar will cover a range of topics, including:

• understanding the current research within the Faculty of Education and Arts and our partners
• the journey of entering a PhD program and what hope looks like as researcher
• the role of research in informing professional practice and program delivery at educational institutions
• principal wellbeing as presented through large-scale data collection and what this means for organisations.

These topics demonstrate how research outcomes can benefit people, policymakers, institutions and community, bringing about tangible changes and inspiring hope.

Enabling Hope through Education

Fourth Seminar

Date: 23 October 2025
Time: 3.30 - 5pm

We appreciate that education is at the cornerstone of hope, aspiration and empowering individuals to achieve their potential. This seminar will delve into the ways education can nurture hope in students, educators and community. Discuss innovative program development and delivery, particular teaching methods and curricular designs that emphasise hope and resilience as an outcome.

The seminar will cover a range of topics, including:

• initial teacher education with imbedded experiences, strategic and holistic approaches to education within the university, underpinned by scholarship of learning
• perspectives from educators on what is required to provide an environment that fosters hope
• how different educational strategies can make learning more accessible for all, benefiting institutions and community in fostering a sense of hope and possibility
• the importance of creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment to provide hope to those that face challenges in their education
• practical examples of how educators can create a foundation of hope through their teaching philosophy and daily interactions with students, parents and community.

These topics will reinforce the concept that access and participation in education for everyone can be a freeing experience allowing hope to flourish.