School of Religious Education
Spiritual, Moral and Religious Education is a key area for Teaching and Research in Australian Catholic University

Religious Education in the Mission of Australian Catholic University

Historical Background: Giving special attention to the spiritual and moral dimension of life was one of the foundational aspects of the earliest universities since they were instituted in the Middle Ages. This tradition has remained in the Catholic universities where Theology and Philosophy, and more recently, Religious Education, are key areas of the curriculum.

In Australia, this principle was reflected initially by the way in which Religious Education was a fundamental aspect of the mission of the Catholic Teachers Colleges since their institution by religious orders early in the history of Catholic education in this country. This commitment has been continued by Australian Catholic University which was formed through an amalgamation of these Colleges in 1991.

A specialisation in Religious Education for the preparation of teachers for Australia's Catholic school systems became a distinctive feature of the identity of the Catholic Teaches Colleges and then of Australian Catholic University.

The Discipline of Religious Education: The General Directory for Catechesis, Rome, 1997, #73, refers to the discipline of Religious Education as being "An original form of the ministry of the word, making present the Gospel in a personal process of cultural, systematic and critical assimilation". This discipline attracts special commitment from Catholic Universities both because of its intrinsic importance, along with Theology, Scripture and Spirituality, and because of its importance for the maintenance and development of Catholic Religious Education in schools and other settings.

In Australia, the Catholic school systems, jointly funded by the government and school fees, see Religious Education as being a part of their raison dêtre. Hence school Religious Education is an area of special interest within the discipline of Religious Education in Australian Catholic University, and the University's School of Religious Education maintain an important interface with diocesan Catholic Education authorities, schools and teachers. While Theology is developing as a fundamental discipline in ACU in its own right, the majority of students studying Theology and Scripture at Australian Catholic University, at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, do so out of their involvement in School Religious Education.

In addition, the School of Religious Education academics at ACU have been involved with the development and implementation of new state Religion Studies courses in schools. The School publishes The Journal of Religious Education, a prestigious international journal of religious education. Also, academic members of the School make valuable contributions to the work of professional associations in Religious Education such as the Australian Association for Religious Education (AARE) and the International Seminar in Religious Education and Values (ISREV).

Interface with Religious Education in the Catholic Education Sector: The Australian Catholic University's School of Religious Education links with the Catholic Education sector in Australia across the spectrum from national and diocesan levels, to schools and teachers. It also has the capacity to respond to religious education needs in other contexts.

The ACU School of Religious Education carries an important responsibility for the Australian Catholic Education sector through teaching, research and community service. This responsibility is spelled out in more detail in the section below on the Nature and Purposes of the School of Religious Education.

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