The Plunkett Centre for Ethics has been the ethical heart of Australian Catholic healthcare since 1992. We conduct research, teaching, consultation and public engagement on the ethics of healthcare and biomedical research in partnership with leading healthcare organisations.
We seek to deepen and advance knowledge and understanding of the ethical standards which, relevant to the pursuit of human health and flourishing, are found in clinical practice, medical research, business and management practice, technology and artificial intelligence, and the allocation of healthcare resources.
We bring a Catholic perspective to our work. However, our staff, students and fellows adopt a variety of ethical positions that respect human dignity and flourishing.
Learn more about the Plunkett Centre for Ethics
Would you like to research ethical issues in health and aged care, biomedical research, human flourishing or artificial intelligence? Our staff offer supervision of research degrees at master’s and doctorate levels. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree with honours or equivalent qualification at an acceptable level. Apply today.
Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Zlatko Skrbis has launched a new PhD scholarship program to support the next generation of researchers in human flourishing and bioethics. Funded by ACU’s Graduate Research School, the prestigious stipend scholarships will support two new PhD candidates at the Plunkett Centre for Ethics in 2027.
Open to both domestic and international applicants, the new scholarships will fund research within ACU’s Plunkett Centre for Ethics in Sydney. Applications close 1 October 2026.
The Plunkett Centre publishes a fortnightly email newsletter, containing updates from the centre, news and events, and a curated selection of the latest research in bioethics. Don’t miss our quarterly webinars, lectures and other events. Subscribe now.
The newsletter was launched in February 2025 and welcomes contributions from friends and colleagues. Contact us by email to make a submission.
The centre's long-running quarterly publication Bioethics Outlook is now distributed via this list.
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