Show Me
As custodian of the internationally recognised Journal of Religious Education, the La Salle Academy plays a leading role in shaping global discourse in religious education scholarship and practice. Strategically positioned at the intersection of research, pedagogy and policy, the journal ensures that high-quality, contemporary research informs classroom practice and educational decision-making.
Published three times each year by the academy in association with Australian Catholic University, the journal reaches a growing international readership. It features rigorously peer-reviewed scholarship alongside practice-focused resources for educators, encompassing theoretical frameworks, empirical research, book reviews and conference reports.
View the Journal of Religious Education on Springer Nature Link
The La Salle Academy’s consultancy work is characterised by sustained sector engagement and trusted research partnerships that respond directly to the evolving needs of Catholic schools and education systems. Through commissioned research and advisory projects, the academy combines academic expertise with practitioner priorities to generate rigorous, evidence-based responses to contemporary challenges of mission, identity and leadership. The consultancy portfolio spans religious education curriculum reviews, formation and accompaniment frameworks, and governance and leadership modules.
The academy maintains extensive collaborative partnerships across Australian Catholic University, national Catholic education authorities and international networks. It provides advisory leadership in national policy development, formation guidelines, leadership reviews and major research alliances, including G.R.A.C.E., ISREV, and collaborative initiatives with Boston College.
The La Salle Academy’s consultancy and advocacy work is grounded in sustained partnerships that operate across multiple organisational levels, from internal university collaboration to national and international engagement. Together, these relationships form a connected ecosystem that supports Catholic education locally and globally.
The academy functions as both a bridge and a catalyst, linking academic expertise with practical sector needs and fostering innovation in faith-based education. Through formal agreements, collaborative projects and long-term engagement, the academy has established itself as a trusted and influential partner in advancing Catholic educational mission across diverse contexts.
The academy’s placement within the Faculty of Theology and Philosophy, together with the strategic direction articulated in its Terms of Reference, enables strong intra- and inter-faculty collaboration. This positioning supports meaningful engagement with university-wide planning and priorities through the Dean’s ex officio membership on Faculty Boards for Education and Arts, and Theology and Philosophy, as well as participation in the Executive Planning Group (EPG) and the Vice-Chancellor’s Strategy Group (VCSG).
The academy serves as a key advisory body in Australian Catholic education policy and practice, contributing to the development of national standards and facilitating critical conversations about the future of Catholic education. This leadership role promotes coherence and quality across diverse educational contexts. Key contributions include the review of formation for mission guidelines, convening national colloquia on religious education and formation, contributing to major educational leadership reviews (including the Morley Review), and providing province-wide advisory leadership on the review of national leadership standards for principals and religious education.
The Academy’s conference portfolio demonstrates adaptive leadership in professional learning, providing platforms for knowledge exchange, scholarly dialogue and collaboration. These gatherings position Australia as a hub for innovative Catholic education discourse. Highlights include online symposiums held across Canberra, Melbourne, Tasmania and the United Kingdom (2020), and the delivery of the biennial Current of Grace international conference, attracting more than 320 participants from 13 countries in partnership with Catholic Schools Youth Ministry International and Catholic Education Canberra Goulburn.
The academy’s commitment to grassroots professional learning is demonstrated through sustained engagement in school- and system-level formation activities. This direct involvement ensures programs remain responsive to educator needs while strengthening long-term sector relationships.
Academy staff provide sustained leadership and service to a range of mission-focused not-for-profit organisations, nationally and internationally, giving tangible expression to ACU’s commitment to mission with and among the most vulnerable. This includes senior governance responsibilities, international development projects in health, disability, education, and ongoing dialogue around allied health consultancy, online support and student placement opportunities.
Academy leadership has also contributed to the establishment of international pastoral initiatives, including an English language program supporting pastoral ministry across Asia and South America, which has assisted more than 300 religious from 13 countries.
We're available 9am–5pm AEST,
Monday to Friday
If you’ve got a question, our AskACU team has you covered. You can search FAQs, email, live chat, call – whatever works for you.