Working with our partners

An innovative new partnership to spearhead a long-term, unified formation program for pastoral minsters across the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle. Anchored in ACU's Graduate Certificate in Mission and Culture, this program is designed to provide participants with the capability to think critically, creatively, and theologically around their participation in the Catholic character and ethos of their diocese. This model is an Australian first, developed to respond to the multiple challenges that confront faith-based organisations today.

Our partner: Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

This dynamic and flexible process and resource trains leaders in evangelisation at the service of Dioceses of Queensland and beyond. It is aimed at placing the Church’s mission to evangelise at the heart of the Holy Spirit Seminary’s formative process. Participants are equipped with the practical and theoretical tools to respond to their calling in their own context. The model of the Xavier School of Mission, which forms leaders for mission alongside one another, can be used as a model for other areas of theological formation.

Our partner: Holy Spirit Seminary, Brisbane

Learn more about the Xavier School of Mission

Acknowledged by the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life as promoting “best practice” in lay formation, this leadership program for young women across Australia provides a series of educational and formative encounters, bringing together the leadership experiences of women in the Church within the context of an academic and collaborative learning environment.

Our partners: National Centre for Evangelisation, Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and Catholic Mission

Read more about Leadership for Mission

Short courses in theology offer the opportunity to explore Christian faith and world religions without committing to a full degree. If you’re teaching religious education or working in a Catholic school, you’ll gain hours towards your professional development accreditation*. Taught by leading theology, bible and philosophy scholars and experts, they are suitable for parishioners, teachers, youth groups, university staff, students and the general public. Our short courses in theology will be offered online from 2020.

Explore current short courses offerings

^{*Professional development accreditation under specific programs is provided with the local Catholic Education Office (CEO) and differs by state. Please visit the relevant city’s short course page for specific information about accreditation. Short courses do not involve assessment and cannot be used for university credit. They are general introduction courses, open to the public.}

A contextualised professional learning approach enabling Catholic school principals to explore leadership in and of a Catholic school, and within the contemporary Australian landscape. Learning is anchored by the world of the participant, with their individual context – their interests, needs and questions – the starting point for theological learning and reflection. Participants explore the possibilities and challenges of leadership through dialogical exploration; a process involving self, community and tradition, with each person invited to enact a transformation within and for their community. Reflection is undertaken collaboratively within the network and guided by theologians. This enables learning to be shared, and theological understanding to be developed collectively and collaboratively, as well as progressively.

Our partner: North Melbourne Principals Network

Talk to us about professional learning opportunities

Originating at KU Leuven, the ECSI project utilises ongoing international research to provide school communities with a theological framework to better understand their Catholic identity, beliefs and practices. The project provides empirical and practical-theological instruments to measure the Catholicity of a school, and to assist school leaders in charting future directions and practices. In collaboration with local Catholic education offices, we actively adapt, develop and apply a theological-formative approach to ECSI that responds to the Australian and localised contexts.

Locations: Brisbane, Parramatta, Rome, Adelaide, Ballarat

Find out more about the ECSI project