Australian Catholic University

ACU was officially established on 1 January 1991, formed through the merger of four Catholic tertiary institutions in eastern Australia—Catholic College of Education Sydney, Institute of Catholic Education Victoria, McAuley College (Queensland), and Signadou College (ACT)—though its roots go back to religious orders in the mid‑1800s preparing teachers and nurses. Today, it operates seven campuses across Australia—in Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney (Blacktown, North Sydney, Strathfield)—as well as a Rome campus, and offers online study options.

As a public Catholic university, ACU integrates faith with reason, focusing on human dignity, ethics, social justice and service. It comprises four main faculties: Education & Arts, Health Sciences, Law & Business, and Theology & Philosophy, delivering both teaching and research-led degrees. A key highlight in 2023 was the prestigious Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, marking ACU as among the first Australian universities officially recognized for strong ties and contributions to local communities.

In 2023, ACU had approximately 32,000 students, staffed by over 1,200 academic and 1,200 professional personnel . Governed by a Catholic public company model, the university is overseen by a Senate and led by Chancellor Martin Daubney (since 2022) and Vice‑Chancellor Professor Zlatko Skrbis. ACU places an emphasis on small class sizes, personal support, community engagement, internships, and service learning—offering students practical, real-world experiences as part of their education.