Diocesan News
The Australian Catholic University (ACU) in Ballarat celebrated 35 years of service and excellence in education, bringing the community together to honour the rich legacy of the Aquinas Campus and its ongoing contribution to Catholic education in the region.
Alumni, staff, students and community partners gathered at ACU Ballarat on October 25 to celebrate the longstanding contribution of the Aquinas campus to education across the region. The day provided an opportunity to honour the campus’s enduring legacy, reflect on its history, and consider the significant role education continues to play in Ballarat today.
Teacher education has a proud and distinguished history in Ballarat, spanning more than a century. From the founding of Aquinas Training College by the Sisters of Mercy in 1909, through the development of Catholic teacher education and the establishment of ACU, generations of educators have studied, taught, and fostered strong communities on this campus. While its heritage is deeply grounded in the formation of teachers, the campus has also played an increasingly important role in preparing professionals across a range of fields, including paramedicine, physiotherapy, and, more recently, occupational therapy, continuing its longstanding contribution to the wellbeing and development of communities throughout the region and beyond.
The afternoon celebrated this, with particular recognition given to the generations of teachers and the partnerships connecting ACU with local schools and communities. Among these is DOBCEL, a longstanding partner and home to many ACU alumni, including many who attended the celebration.
Looking towards the future, ACU also announced its inaugural ACU–DOBCEL PhD cohort, alongside upcoming community seminars and initiatives to inspire the next generation of regional teachers.
Guests enjoyed refreshments, campus tours and the opportunity to reconnect.
