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

Research and study interests of academic staff

School of Religious Education

ACU Academic staff from the School of Religious Education
Adjunct Professors, researchers/scholars from other institutions in Australia and overseas

Academic staff in the School of Religious Education are located in 5 campuses of Australian Catholic University. In addition, there are adjunct Professors and other researchers involved in, or supporting research. Click the names to go to the information of staff members.

Australian Capital Territory:
Signadou Campus, Watson, Canberra.

Dr Sally Liddy

Dr Louise Welbourne

New South Wales:
Mount Saint Mary Campus,
Strathfield, Sydney.

Dr Sandra Carroll	Fr Daniel Donovan
Dr Graham English	Prof Graham Rossiter

Queensland:
McAuley Campus, Banyo, Brisbane.

Prof Peta Goldburg (Head of School of Religious Education)	Ms Jan Grajczonek
Dr Maurice Ryan	Mr Michael Chambers

Victoria:
St Patrick's Campus,
Fitzroy, Melbourne.

Mr Michael Buchanan	Associate Prof Kath Engebretson
Dr Brendan Hyde	Dr Richard Rymarz

Victoria:
Aquinas Campus, Ballarat.

Dr Marian de Souza

Adjunct Professors and other researchers involved in support of research
in Moral and Religious Education

Adjunct professors and researchers	Institution and location
Professor David Steward	Adjunct Professor in ACU. Emeritus Professor Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, California, USA. Presently residing in Sitka, Alaska
Dr Marge Steward	Formerly Professor of Psychology and Assistant Dean of the Medical School, University of California, Davis, California, USA. Presently residing in Sitka, Alaska.
Professor Gerard Rummery	Adjunct Professor in ACU. De La Salle National Education Centre, Bentleigh, Victoria.
Professor Patricia Malone	Adjunct Professor in ACU. National Leadership Team of the Sisters of St Joseph, North Sydney, NSW.
Professor James Conroy	Professor of Religious and Moral Education, and Head of the Department of Religious Education, the University of Glasgow, United Kingdom. Visiting Professor at Strathfield 2002-2003.
Professor Brian V Hill	Emeritus Professor of Education, and former Dean of the Faculty of Education, Murdoch University, Western Australia. Resides in Perth, WA.

Australian Capital Territory: Signadou Campus, Watson, Canberra

Dr Sally Liddy

Ph: 02 6209 1131
Fx: 02 6209 1184
Email:
s.liddy@signadou.acu.edu.au

Research and study interests

Links to current work and publications

Spirituality of Religious Educators: spiritual and professional development
Creativity, critical thinking and discernment in religious educators.
Theory and practice of Religious Education
Theological perspectives on Religious Education
Ecological perspectives in Theology

Current and recent research projects.

Publications.

Links to study materials.

Dr Louise Welbounre (Editor, Journal of Religious Education)

Ph: 02 6209 1148
Fx: 02 6209 1178
Email:
l.welbourne@signadou.acu.
edu.au

Theory and practice of school Religious Education
The Religious Education role of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine
Philosophical perspectives on Religious Education
Sacramental education of children
Models for the Christian initiation of children
Comparative theory of Religious Education

Dr Louise Welbourne has been editor of the Journal of Religious Education since 1977

Current and recent research projects.

Publications.

Abstract of Doctoral research

Conferences and study visits.

New South Wales: Mount Saint Mary Campus, Strathfield, Sydney.

Dr Sandra Carroll Ph: 02 9701 4169 Fx: 02 9701 4197 Email: s.carroll@mary.acu.edu.au	Research and study interests	Links to current work and publications
	New developments in Mariology Theory and practice of school Religious Education Teaching the Bible in Religious Education Spirituality in Religious Education	Current and recent research projects. Publications. Links to study materials.
Fr Daniel Donovan Ph: 02 9701 4145 Fx: 02 9701 4197 Email: d.donovan@mary.acu. edu.au	Primary school Religious Education History of Catholic Religious Education in Australia in the early 20th century Liturgical education -- The teaching of Liturgy as part of Religious Education and Faith Development Sacramental education of children, with a special interest in Eucharistic formation and catechesis of children through the eucharistic prayers.	Father Dan Donovan has a long history in the education of primary school teachers in Religious Education. He has given special attention to teaching beliefs and values courses, and to field supervision of students in practicum. Research projects and publications Links to study materials used in primary religious education units. Conferences and study visits. (Paper at Third National Symposium on Religious Education and Ministry).
Dr Graham English Ph: 02 9701 4310 Fx: 02 9701 4197 Email: g.english@mary.acu.edu.au	Research and study interests	Links to current work and publications
	Theory and practice of school Religious Education Hermeneutics and Religious Education Religious Education and cultural changes in the Church History of Religious Education Secondary and Primary school Religion curriculum	Current and recent research projects. Publications. Dr English coordinates online units in Religious Education Links to study materials.
Professor Graham Rossiter Ph: 02 9701 4239 Fx: 02 9701 4275 Email: g.rossiter@mary.acu. edu.au	Research and study interests	Links to current work and publications
	Theory and practice of school Religious Education. Spiritual and moral dimensions to the school curriculum. Young people's spiritual and moral development. Spiritual/moral influence of film and television. Perspective on moral / values education.	Current and recent research projectsList of publications and downloads of articles Conferences and study visits Community Theological Education Program at the Strathfield campus, in conjunction with Rev Kevin O'Shea cssr. Comments on contemporary issues for Religious and Moral Education New Book: Reasons for Living: Education and young people's search for meaning, identity and spirituality Video: Video highlights of the book launch 29th November 2006. Picasa photos: Book launch photos

Queensland: McAuley Campus, Banyo, Brisbane.

Professor Peta Goldburg (Head of the School of Religious Education) Ph: 07 3623 7303 Fx: 07 3855 7427 Email: p.goldburg@mcauley.acu. edu.au	Research and study interests	Links to current work and publications
	Studies of Religion curricula in secondary schools. Religious education and the creative arts. Film and religion. Theory and practice of Religious Education.	Current and recent research projects. Publications.
Dr Jan Grajczonek Ph: 07 3623 7178 Fx: 07 3855 7427 Email: j.grajczonek@maculey.acu. edu.au	Early childhood Religious Education Primary school Religious Education Sacramental education of children The 'innate' spirituality of young children and their spiritual and moral development The use of children's literature in Religious Education	Abstract of doctoral research project. Publications.
Dr Maurice Ryan Ph: 07 3623 7183 Fx: 07 3523 7427 Email: M.Ryan@mcauley.acu. edu.au	Research and study interests	Links to current work and publications
	Theory and practice of school Religious Education Religious education curriculum Biblical Studies: Teaching the Bible --- distinctive meaning of a Biblical education Jewish-Christian relationships	Current and recent research projects. Publications.
Mr Michael Chambers Ph: 07 3623 7204 Fx: 07 3523 7427 Email: m.chambers@mcauley.acu. edu.au	Religious Education curriculum in secondary schools Professional development of Religious Education teachers (especially in scripture and beliefs) Religious Education assessment and consistency of teacher judgement. School policies and their impact on the religious dimension of schools	Current and recent research projects. Publications.

Victoria: St Patrick's Campus, Fitzroy, Melbourne.

Mr Michael Buchanan

Ph: 03 9953 3294
Fx: 03 9953 3575
Email: m.buchanan@patrick.acu.
edu.au

Research and study interests

Links to current work and publications

Leadership in Religious education
Religious education curriculum
Influences on curriculum development
Religious education theory and practice at primary and secondary level
Religious education and spirituality in the Ignatian tradition
Prayer and Liturgy
Gendered contexts in Religious education
Theological perspectives in Religious Education

Publications.

Links to study materials.

Abstract of doctoral research project.
Word document or pdf file

Full Doctoral Research Proposal
Religious Education, pedagogies, and curriculum change.
Word document or pdf file

Conference presentation Third Symposium on Religious Education and Ministry.

Assoc Prof Kath Engebretson (Deputy Director, Research Centre & Flagship,Vic State Coordinator School of Religious Education)

Ph: 03 9953 3292
Fx: 03 9953 3575
Email:
k.engebretson@patrick.acu.
edu.au

Secondary religious education.
Development of Religion teachers.
Excellence in Religious Education practice.
Youth spirituality, especially the spirituality of teenage boys.
Benchmarks and learning outcomes
Cognition and skill dimensions.
Reflection and storytelling.
Student resources for Religious Education.

Current and recent research projects.

Publications.

Links to study materials.

Conferences and study visits.

Dr Brendan Hyde

Ph: 03 9953 3296
Fx: 03 9953 3575
Email:
b.hyde@patrick.acu.edu.au

Research and study interests

Links to current work and publications

Religious Education theory and practice.
Primary school religious education.
The spirituality of children.
Education and the spiritual development of children.

Abstract of doctoral research project.

Publications.

Links to study materials.

Conferences and study visits.

Comments on contemporary issues for Religious and Moral Education.

Dr Richard Rymarz

Ph: 03 9953 3270
Fx: 03 9953 3575
Email:
r.rymarz@patrick.acu.edu.au

Theory and practice of Religious Education
The use of student texts in Religious Education
Spirituality of young adults and its relationship with schooling
Distinctive spirituality of 'generation X'.
Spirituality of Church youth in Catholic schools.

Current and recent research projects

List of recent publications

Victoria: Aquinas Campus, Ballarat.

Dr Marian de Souza Course adviser, Ballarat campus.Acting editor, Journal of Religious Education

Ph: 03 5337 5316
Fx: 03 5337 5305
Email:
m.desouza@aquinas.acu.
edu.au

Research and study interests

Links to current work and publications

Adult and young people's spirituality -- especially frameworks for spirituality in contemporary culture.
Affective dimensions to Religious Education -- cognition through affective learning.
Addressing the spiritual dimension in education.
Linking teaching and learning in RE to other subject areas, particularly the arts.
Lifelong learning and Religious Education.

For a link to the ACU digital library for a summary of the research and publications of Dr de Souza

Current and recent research projects

List of publications and downloads

Conferences and study visits

Adjunct Professors and other researchers linked with the School of Religious Education

Professor David Steward

Research and study interests

David Steward is Adjunct Professor in ACU. Emeritus Professor from the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, California, USA. Presently residing in Sitka, Alaska

Theological and interdisciplinary dimensions to education
Empirical research methodology.
The research supervision process.

Professor Marge Steward

Marge Steward was formerly Professor of Psychology and Assistant Dean of the Medical School, University of California, Davis, California, USA. Presently residing in Sitka, Alaska.

Research methodology both qualitative and quantitative
Psychological and sociological aspects of human development
Research development
Research supervision

Professor Patricia Malone

Sister Patricia Malone rsj, is Adjunct Professor in ACU. She is on the National Leadership Team of the Sisters of St Joseph, North Sydney, NSW.

Religious Education theory and practice.
Curriculum planning, development and evaluation
Impact of contemporary educational theories on Religious Education.
Research development and research design/research supervision.

Professor Gerard Rummery

Brother Gerard Rummery fsc has had a very long and prestigious career in Catholic Education. He was the first editor of Word in Life, when it was developed from the De La Salle journal, Our Apostolate..

Religious Education theory and practice.
History of Religious Education from an international perspective
Contribution of religious orders to the educational mission of the Catholic Church.
Research design and supervision
Keynote address at the Second International Symposium on Religious Education and Ministry

Professor Brian Hill

Professor Brian Hill is Emeritus Professor of Education, and former Dean of the Faculty of Education, Murdoch University, Western Australia. Resides in Perth, WA.

Prof Hill has a long history with extensive expertise in Philosophy of Education, Christian Education, Values/Moral Education.

He was for many years the editor of the Journal of Christian Education. In 2002 he spent some months as a visiting Research Professor in the Cardinal Clancy Research Centre. His project on Religion in the School Curriculum will be published late in 2004 by Open Book.

Lecture presented at Strathfield on values in Education

Professor James Conroy

James Conroy is Professor of Religious and Moral Education, and Head of the Department of Religious Education, the University of Glasgow, United Kingdom.

He was a visiting Research Professor in the Cardinal Clancy Research Centre and worked at Strathfield from April 2002 to April 2003.

The publication deriving from this work is expected late in 2004

Guest lecture on religious education given at Strathfield

Dr Andrew McGrady

Dr Andrew McGrady has long been a member of Staff of Mater Dei Institute of Education, Dublin City University, in Dublin. He has specialised in research on Catholic Education, and youth spiritual development.

He is working on cooperative research projects with staff from the ACU School of Religious Education. He visited ACU as part of his research on Catholic Education.

Guest lecture on Religious Education in Ireland, given at Strathfield

Return to School of Religious Education website.