The Faculty of Health Sciences at the Australian Catholic University (ACU) prepares highly qualified graduates in the areas of exercise science, midwifery, nursing, paramedicine, physiotherapy, public health, occupational therapy, and speech pathology.
The Faculty of Health Sciences continues to introduce new courses in response to the growing need for a flexible and responsive health workforce across Australia. 2012 saw the introduction of the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy at the Melbourne campus, and this year (2013) sees the expansion of Occupational Therapy to the North Sydney campus as well as the introduction of the Bachelor of Speech Pathology to Melbourne and North Sydney and the Bachelor of Applied Public Health to Brisbane, Melbourne and North Sydney. 2012 also saw the very successful implementation of the Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Paramedicine at the Canberra campus.
The Faculty of Health Sciences has Schools on all six campuses of Australian Catholic University and is one of the largest faculties of Health Sciences in Australia. With the amalgamation in 2011 of the three State-based Schools of Nursing, the Faculty is now structured into four national Schools, one University priority research centre and one Faculty research centre.
The Schools are:
- School of Allied and Public Health
- School of Exercise Science
- School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine
- School of Physiotherapy
The University Priority Research Centre is:
- National Centre for Clinical Outcomes Research (NaCCOR)
The Faculty Research Centre is:
- Centre of Physical Activity Across the Lifespan (CoPAAL)
The Faculty is in a period of dynamic change positioning itself to be a leading teaching and research Faculty; indeed the Faculty’s own Centre for Learning and Teaching was launched in 2012 with the specific aim of enhancing the quality and impact of learning and teaching within the Faculty. The Faculty’s courses are developed within the Catholic intellectual tradition with the goal of preparing graduates in health with an emphasis on social justice and equity, and sustainability. The courses on offer within the Faculty of Health Sciences focus on health outcomes and include undergraduate and postgraduate programs of study, along with research degrees.
As part of the curriculum, Health Science students undertake field and clinical experience that is supervised by experienced practitioners. Catholic hospitals and other public, private and specialty organisations, as well as schools and various health, fitness and sports centres offer this valued and essential experience to our students. The Faculty has fostered partnerships with a number of health-care providers and developed collaborative clinical schools where students learn and undertake practical experience in one location; clinical schools have opened with Calvary Health Care in Canberra, St Vincent’s Hospital in Toowoomba (Qld), and Mercy Health in Werribee (Vic). New clinical schools are planned this year (2013) in St Vincent’s Public Hospital and St Vincent’s Private Hospital in Melbourne, The Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane, and St Vincent’s and Mater Health in Sydney. The University continues to invest in expanding Health Sciences facilities on-campus with the new Health and Wellness centre opening in Melbourne in mid-2012, the first of the ACU clinics completed on the Brisbane campus, and work underway for a clinic at North Sydney and Melbourne.
As a community of scholars, the Faculty seeks to promote the uniqueness, personal integrity and the potential of each of its members. Its goals are closely linked to the mission of the University with key areas of achievement that include learning and teaching, research and community engagement with specific objectives regarding internationalisation, quality and resource management. The Faculty is committed to helping the vulnerable in society including Indigenous, the elderly and disabled people and aims to enhance the dignity of each individual within its Schools.
If you are enrolling in one of our courses for the first time this year, I extend a warm welcome to you. The Faculty of Health Sciences endeavours to promote an approachable, friendly atmosphere in which students can pursue their studies under the direction of qualified and professional staff. I am sure you will find your studies with the Faculty of Health Sciences a rewarding experience.
Professor Michelle Campbell
Executive Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences