![](/-/media/feature/micrositesnewsandevents/staffnews/suzanne-chambers-460px.jpg)
Innovation in practice
News 24 JulyA message from Executive Dean of Health Sciences Professor Suzanne Chambers: Winter has so far been a season of future-thinking and action for the Faculty of Health Sciences.
03 October 2017
Share
A message from the Pro Vice-Chancellor Assisting the Vice-Chancellor and President and Professor of Catholic Philosophy, Professor Hayden Ramsay: My first contact with ACU was giving a guest lecture to nursing students at Ascot Vale shortly after arriving in Australia from Scotland in the mid-‘90s.
I knew ACU’s Victorian campuses well. After teaching philosophy at the University of Melbourne and then at La Trobe I joined the Catholic system, including Catholic Theological College Melbourne, John Paul II Institute, Catholic Institute of Sydney and most recently Notre Dame Sydney. I am absolutely delighted to be here now at ACU.
My role has three main responsibilities: first, to assist the Vice-Chancellor with a number of strategic initiatives; secondly, to contribute to the work of the PM Glynn Institute; and thirdly, to build on the efforts of others in promoting and communicating the Catholic intellectual tradition inside and outside ACU.
Vice-Chancellors are very busy people and I expect to be kept well occupied in that part of my role. P M Glynn has already made a fantastic start and I look forward to involvement in its development. The promotion of Catholic intellectual life begins with learning what is already happening at ACU and then adding what I can.
There is extraordinary potential in the intellectual tradition practised in the great Catholic universities. The tradition returns constantly to two fundamental ideas that have affected world history beyond their immediate relevance to faith: the Catholic understanding of God and of the human person. These ideas are intricately connected: where one advances the other tends to advance also.
Catholic universities build expertise around the human capacity for flourishing—for being deeply and lastingly happy. We flourish as people by developing in a handful of areas that are common to humanity—social life, bodily life, work life, spiritual life and so on. Key to remaining active in any of these areas is excellent intellectual activity—the life of the mind—since thinking is at the bottom of every good thing that we do. We don’t live well un-thinkingly.
Catholicism takes the life of the mind seriously. As well as its superb contributions to social justice, the moral life, art and culture, civil life, health and education the Church also has a rich intellectual tradition to offer.
What if I am not a Catholic? You don’t have to have Catholic faith to find material you can learn from—and contribute towards—in Catholic traditions (whether intellectual, social, moral, cultural…). Australia’s Catholic system includes many staff from other traditions who generously show their respect for their institution’s Catholic faith and proudly share in this work and common life.
What material might people find interesting from the Catholic intellectual tradition? Ten quick thoughts.
My office is next door to my friend Fr Anthony, the Vice President, In North Sydney. I am always ready for a chat about topics in Catholic philosophical tradition and keen to have involvement in any area that invites me.
A message from Executive Dean of Health Sciences Professor Suzanne Chambers: Winter has so far been a season of future-thinking and action for the Faculty of Health Sciences.
From Monday 22 July to Friday 9 August, Service Central will be available for extended hours to support staff.
A message from Vice President Father Anthony Casamento csma: From 5 – 9 August we will celebrate Mission Week across our campuses. This is an opportunity for us to come together as a community to cele...
Are you going to be a grandparent soon? Did you know ACU offers personal leave for staff to care for their child or grandchild after birth or adoption?
Discover the learning and career development opportunities that are available online, including the brand-new leadership development program, 'The Edge Series'.
Join ASCILITE and become a member of one of Australasia’s most vibrant professional technology enhanced learning communities, with more than 2200 members from tertiary institutions across Australia an...
Phones will be removed from all classrooms over the mid-semester break, from 23 September to 27 September.
Include an additional survey item in the Student Evaluation of Learning and Teaching (SELT) survey for units that are offered in Professional Term 5 (202455).
Australia’s first five-time diving Olympian, a Kiwi gymnast and the woman who taught actor Chris Hemsworth to row will be among 15 ACU students and alumni to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Para...
A message from acting Executive Dean of Theology and Philosophy Associate Professor Richard Colledge: Recently, the faculty has hosted opportunities for reflection on the possibilities for reconcilia...
Are you on your parenthood journey? A practical guide is now available to support staff, and their supervisors, through the stages of becoming a parent and transitioning back to work.
Embark on an exhilarating journey into the mysterious world of enrolments. Register to attend an enrolment information session for Semester 2, 2024.
Join upcoming online workshops in preparation for Semester 2. Secure your spot today to learn how you can utilise Canvas and its features to enhance your teaching practices.
A limitless professional horizon awaits ACU students after its three IT programs were awarded certification by the nation’s most trustworthy player in the tech sector, the Australian Computer Society.
Following evaluation and voting by a panel of ACU judges, Co-Lab is delighted to announce Thomas Clark and Xavier Chalkley as the winners of the $1000 prize for the ACU Co-Lab Social Enterprise Pitch ...
ACU Library staff will participate in professional development activities on Thursday 18 July. While away from their usual posts, they'll be working together across three locations to plan our future ...
Applications for 2024 Teaching Development Grants, Citations and Awards are open. Explore guidelines and resources to enhance your teaching project’s impact or gain recognition for your contributions.
As we sit in this small window of the winter break gearing up for Semester 2, it's important to recognise that not everyone experiences this period as downtime. For many, workloads and busy lifestyles...
This week is NAIDOC Week, an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
ACU staff who are also members with UniSuper can now access free expert medical advice and services to support their health and wellbeing through MetLife 360Health.
Visit Service Central to access Corporate Services.