![](/-/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.
15 May 2024
Share
The average person spends a third of their day at work. So, how can we turn this time into an opportunity for spiritual transformation, so that we can achieve the fullness of life that we are all called to.
A Catholic view on work is not a reality to which there is no other choice or simply a means to acquire wealth and comfort - instead, the Catholic view is that work is an integral part of what it means to be human.
According to the Catholic view, work allows us an opportunity to participate in the creativity of God. In a general audience in 2013 Pope Francis said, work "is a fundamental element for the dignity of a person. Work, to use an image, 'anoints' us with dignity, fills us with dignity; it makes us like God, who worked and still works, who always acts (John 5:17)."
Work transforms us as individuals through the growth of skills and virtues by which we come closer to reaching our full potential. While we all work to sustain a lifestyle, the Catholic view is that work also provides us with the opportunity to support those around us. Through the skills and finances, we accrue, we can better live out Jesus’ call to love our neighbour.
Work is a means through which we can transform society, through our contribution to the production and delivery of the goods and services of our organisation, we can have a powerful positive impact on the world.
However, the question remains: how do we turn our often mundane and administrative tasks into real spiritual transformation?
This process of spiritual transformation begins with a very simple reframing of our daily duties as more than just tasks to complete, but into opportunities to encounter Jesus and to work for and with Him. This isn’t achieved by simply praying words as we work, although it might be helpful to spend a few moments before we begin our workday recalling our goal. Rather, we should aim to do our tasks out of love of God and a desire to serve others.
If our work is done for both God and others, it inspires us to give our best in each of our tasks, and in carrying them out from a position of love, we become more like Jesus, who gave His entire life for love of others. When we do something out of love, we want to do it well. We want to put our hearts into it.
This may seem simple, but the challenges comes when we are not just doing one task with this mindset but every task with this mindset, until it becomes second nature.
This is a way that we can begin to experience a spiritual transformation through our daily tasks.
A spiritual reflection from Campus Pastoral Associate (students) Jake Santitto, Melbourne campus.
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.