Australian Catholic University

Australian Catholic University

The Australian Catholic University (ACU) is an Australian public university. ACU has campuses in Adelaide, Ballarat, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, and Sydney (Blacktown, North Sydney, Strathfield). The university opened the Rome Centre, a collaboration with the Catholic University of America, in Rome, Italy, in 2015.  It had 34,834 students in 2018.  ACU has four faculties that offer bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees.

The Australian Catholic University was founded on January 1, 1991, as a result of the merger of four Catholic tertiary institutions in eastern Australia-

• Catholic College of Education Sydney, New South Wales
• Institute of Catholic Education, Victoria
• McAuley College, Queensland
• Signadou College of Education, Australian Capital Territory

These institutions began in the mid-1800s when religious orders and institutes began to prepare teachers for Catholic schools and, later, nurses for Catholic hospitals. More than 20 historical entities contributed to the creation of the university through a series of amalgamations, relocations, transfers of responsibilities, and diocesan initiatives.

According to various global ranking agencies, Australian Catholic University (ACU) is among the top 2% of universities worldwide. It is also one of the top ten best Catholic universities in the world. Its mission is to remain dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge, human dignity, and the common good. ACU stays true to its mission by working with a diverse group of industry, community, research, and Catholic partners. These collaborations strengthen its actions and efforts to make a significant and positive difference in hospitals, schools, businesses, and community organisations throughout Australia and beyond.

ACU has numerous institutes and centres, as well as four faculties.

• Education and Arts- Education, arts and humanities, global studies and international development studies, media communications, social science, youth work, creative arts, visual arts, and design are all areas of study.

• Health Sciences- Counselling, environmental science, exercise physiology, exercise science, mental health, midwifery, nursing, occupational therapy, paramedicine, physiotherapy, public health, psychology, social work, and speech pathology are all areas of study of health sciences.

• Law and Business- Accounting and finance, business administration, commerce, human resource management, information technology, law, management, marketing, occupational health, safety, and environmental management are all areas of law and business.

• Theology and Philosophy- Biblical studies, Christian thought, Christian practise, liturgy, ministry, moral theology, religious studies, ethics, bioethics, metaphysics, philosophy of world religions, politics, and epistemology are all areas of study in theology and philosophy.

ACU launched a research intensification programme in 2014. The university established seven new research institutes in the first stage of the five-year strategy, aligned with four priority research areas: theology and philosophy, health, education, and the common good and social justice.

Each ACU campus has a student representative council and there is a national student body called the Australian Catholic University National Students' Association (ACUNA), which advocates on behalf of students both individually and collectively. The university hosts an annual national sporting event – the ACU Games – and students also compete in Australia's largest annual multisport event, the Australian University Games. ACU has its own national community radio station, ACU Wired, a joint venture between staff and students which broadcasts to all six ACU campuses. Campus Life manages a range of clubs and societies as well as organising events, competitions and national programs. The Office of Student Success manages a range of support services on every campus including academic, disability, counselling, and Indigenous support. Lockers, microwaves, a play area, a gymnasium, a pool, and other amenities are available to students on campus.