The Blackfriars Lecture Series was established to honour the contributions of the Dominican Friars to the Canberra Campus of Australian Catholic University.

For 800 years the Dominican Orders have been committed to the ongoing, systematic and critical search for Truth in all its forms. These lectures provide an opportunity for the University to engage the community in the ongoing quest for the true, the beautiful and the good.

Lectures

8 June

Mental health education: supporting young people to thrive by Heidi Prowse, Chief Executive Officer, Mental Illness Education ACT

As the primary local mental health education provider in Canberra, MIEACT engage with young Canberrans of all ages, background and schools. Through mental health education we build the essential skills to live a productive and healthy life, but we can only do that if we truly understand the barriers, issues and challenges they face. In this session we will unpack what the reality is for young people in our community and how to support them to thrive.

Time: 5.45 – 7pm

Location: 301.1.20

Download the event flyer (PDF, 154KB)

Download the recording

20 July

Closing the gap through Indigenous health initiatives by Mr Craig Ritchie, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies

Time: 5.45 – 7pm

Location: 301.1.20 

Download the event flyer (PDF, 117KB)

Download the recording

2 November

How does social capital enhance health and wellbeing? by Dr Ursula Stephens, Chief Executive Officer, Catholic Social Services Australia

What have we learnt from the events of 2020 about how people are striving to live their best life?

In this lecture we consider the importance of understanding the relationships between significant social factors, including social capital, cultural diversity and social environmental factors and their impact on health and well-being.

We consider the social determinants of health and draw on the work of Catholic Social Services to explore the important links between social capital and life - long wellbeing.

Time: 5.45 – 7pm

Location: 301.1.20

Download the event flyer (PDF, 2.5MB)

23 November

Ageing well – flourishing or surviving by Adjunct Professor Stephen Cornelissen, Group Chief Executive Officer, Mercy Health

Using the lens of Catholic Social Teaching and the International Charter of Human Rights, the talk will challenge the social construct of ageing in Australia. The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety findings will be explored as well as the dichotomy between the medical and social models of health to examine the issues which need to be addressed to allow Australians to truly age well.

Time: 5.45 – 7pm

Location: 301.1.20 

21 May 2019

‘The Future of School Education:  future classroom, future learning through an innovative lens’ – by Ross Fox, Director of Catholic Education, Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn; Natalie Howson, Director-General, ACT Education Directorate; and Andrew Wrigley, Executive Director for the Association of Independent Schools of the ACT.

Time: 5:30 – 7pm

Location: 301.1.20

Learn more


25 June 2019

‘The Future of School Education: future classroom, future learning through practical applications’ – by Kate Woods, Principal of the Margaret Hendry School and Michael Lee, Principal of St Mary Mackillop College.

Time: 5.30 – 7pm

Location: 301.1.20

Learn more


30 July 2019

‘Teacher Experience and Insights’ – by Petra Cole, Lighthouse Literacy; Garreth Wigg, Administration Coordinator, STEM & Student Innovation at St Gregory’s Primary School; and Karen Mahony, Teacher at St Jude’s Primary School.

Time: 5.30 – 7pm

Location: 301.1.20

Learn more


27 August 2019

‘Parental Choice in Education’ – by Selina Walker, Chair of the Catholic School Parents Coucil, Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn; Hugh Boulter, President of the Association of Parents and Friends of ACT Schools; and David Holmesby, Chair of the Anglican Schools Commission.

Time: 5.30 – 7pm

Location: 301.1.20

Learn more


24 September 2019

‘Innovations in Teaching Practice’ - by Kate Liston-Mills, Author and ACU Almna; and Anna Owen, Principal, Canberra Girls Grammar School

Time: 5.30 – 7pm

Location: 301.1.20

Download flyer (PDF, 163KB)

15 August 2018

‘Tsunami or surfing – transforming lives in the digital age’ – by Dan Billing, Founder and Director of the Indigenous Reading Program.

Time: 5:30 – 7pm

Location: 301.1.20


19 September 2018

‘Designing for transformation: a tale of two worlds’ – by Danielle Dal Cortivo, Founder of the Raize the Roof charity organisation.

Time: 5:30 – 7pm

Location: 301.1.20


10 October 2018

By Dr Justin Barker, Executive Director of the Youth Coalition of the ACT.

Time: 5:30 – 7pm

Location: 301.1.20

20 June 2017

“It Starts with Equal” – Development and Power by Ms Sally Moyle Chief Executive Officer, CARE Australia

Time: 5:30 – 7pm
Location: 300.G.23, Blackfriars Building, 127 Philip Avenue, Watson ACT


26 July 2017

Re-imagining Disability in Australia by Mr Graeme Innes AM

Time: 5:30 – 7pm
Location: 300.G.23, Blackfriars Building, 127 Philip Avenue, Watson ACT


16 August 2017

Diversity in Islam: Contemporary and Prophetic by Dr Tanya and Mr Omar Hashmi, Canberra Chapter of Muslims for Progressive Values

Time: 5:30 – 7pm
Location: 300.G.23, Blackfriars Building, 127 Philip Avenue, Watson ACT


6 September 2017

Diversity, Empathy, Tradition: Challenges to Australian Leaders by Mr Michael Cooney, National Director, Australian Republic Movement

Time: 5:30 – 7pm
Location: 300.G.23, Blackfriars Building, 127 Philip Avenue, Watson ACT


17 October 2017

Ahead of the game: recognising the opportunities of our ageing population by Commissioner Dr Kay Patterson AO, Age and Discrimination Commissioner, Australian Human Rights Commission

Time: 5:30 – 7pm
Location: 300.G.23, Blackfriars Building, 127 Philip Avenue, Watson ACT

19 October 2016

"Safeguarding our young - Empowering our young - reflections from a Royal Commissioner" by Commissioner Robert Fitzgerald AM, Royal Commissioner of the Royal Commission on Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse

Time: 5:30 - 7pm
Location: B10, Blackfriars Building, 129 Philip Avenue, Watson ACT


2 November 2016

"The state of Reconciliation in Australia - Our history, our story our future" by Justin Mohamed, CEO Reconciliation Australia

Time: 5:30 - 7pm
Location: B10, Blackfriars Building, 129 Philip Avenue, Watson ACT


29 November 2016

Julie Tongs OAM, CEO Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service

Time: 5:30 - 7pm
Location: B10, Blackfriars Building, 129 Philip Avenue, Watson ACT

17 November 2015

"Parent Engagement & Student Learning" by Dr Dianne Jackson, CEO of Australian Research  Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY)

Time: 5:30-7:00pm
Location: Blackfriars Building, 129 Philip Avenue, Watson ACT


20 October 2015

"Sex Abuse in the Catholic Church" by Mr Francis  Sullivan, CEO of the Truth, Justice and Healing Council


25 August 2015

"Children at the Centre: putting child rights into practice" by Ms Megan  Mitchell, National Children’s  Commissioner


21 July 2015

"Reforming in Child Protection: time for a new paradigm?" by Dr Adam  Tomison, Honorary  Professor with the Institute of Child Protection Studies


9 June 2015

"The deliberately silenced and the preferably unheard: families and children in a polarized society"
Dr John Falzon

 

23 September 2014

"Human Rights and Human Dignity"by Professor Raimond Gaita


28 August 2014

"Asylum Seekers and the Limitations of Human Rights" by Dr David Corlett


7 August 2014

"A Case Study on Human Rights in the ACT – 2014 Audit of Women’s Conditions of Detention at the Alexander Maconochie Centre" by Dr Helen Watchirs


26 June 2014

"Two cheers for human rights"
Dr Anne Gallagher AO, United Nations Adviser


29 May 2014

"The end of rights and the beginning of responsibilities"
Mr Tim Wilson, Australian Human Rights Commissioner


10 April 2014

"Human Rights, the national interest and the will of the people"
Fr Frank Brennan SJ

 

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