The Australian Catholic Students Association or ACSA is the peak body of Catholic students in Australia.[1] The body was founded in 1942 as the University Catholic Federation Australia (UCFA), and has been renamed several times. In 1974 it became known as the Tertiary Catholic Federation Australia (TCFA) and in 1990 it was renamed the International Movement of Catholic Students Australia (IMCSA). The body has been known as the Australian Catholic Students Association since 2001.[1]
ACSA is made up of Catholic tertiary students, predominantly from the eastern states of Australia. ACSA affiliated societies have a presence in many universities, including Macquarie University, the University of Sydney, the University of New South Wales, the University of Melbourne, Monash University, and the Australian National University.[2] It is officially supported by the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference.[1]
The National President as of July 2026 is Chelsea Hawke.[3] The national patrons of ACSA are Tracey Rowland, head of the Australian John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family, and Anthony Fisher, Catholic Archbishop of Sydney.[4]
History
Background
In 1921, Catholic student leaders from 23 countries met in Fribourg, Switzerland to create the International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS).[5] Compelled to form an international union for peace after the events of World War I, national representatives were selected from Europe, the United States, Argentina, and Indonesia.[5]
While studying at the University of Paris in 1938, Australian theologian Rosemary Goldie was commissioned to bring the IMCS to Australia by the General Secretary Rudi Salat.[1] The Catholic Students' Society of the University of Sydney, the Newman Society, was affiliated in 1938, and intended to attend the 1939 World Congress.[1] However, the outbreak of World War II limited both the actions of the IMCS and the ability of Australian Catholic students to interact with their international counterparts.[1]
University Catholic Federation of Australia: 1942–1973
The loose connection to the IMCS inspired Australian Catholic university students to organise more formally. Plans for a 1940 national conference of all Catholic students were delayed due to World War II. The inaugural national conference was held in 1942 under the name of the University Catholic Federation of Australia (UCFA).[1] Founding members included E.H. Burke, neuroscientist John Eccles, and Rosemary Goldie.[6]
Tertiary Catholic Federation Australia: 1974–1989
In 1968, the movement was restructured and its focus moved from social activities to community building and social justice issues. In 1974, it was decided to re-structure the movement to make it more relevant to university students at the time and it was renamed the Tertiary Catholic Federation Australia (TCFA).[7]
International Movement of Catholic Students Australia: 1990–2000
The Movement then went through another restructuring period in 1990 when it was renamed the International Movement of Catholic Students Australia (IMCSA).[1]
Australian Catholic Students Association: 2001–today
Since 2001, the organisation has been called the Australian Catholic Students Association and has been hosting national conferences and various other activities.[1]
Events
National Conference
ACSA hosts an annual national conference. This conference involves a series of theological and philosophical talks, a celebration of the Mass, and the Mannix Ball. The Ball is named after Daniel Mannix, a former Archbishop of Melbourne.[8]
| Year | Theme | State | Venue | Mannix Addressor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | N/A | VIC | Janet Clarke Hall, Melbourne | Mark Coleridge SSD, Auxiliary Archbishop of Melbourne |
| 2004 | N/A | QLD | St Leo's College, Brisbane | James V. Schall SJ (cancelled due to illness) |
| 2005 | Be Not Afraid | NSW | St John's College, Sydney | No Mannix Address delivered |
| 2006 | How Can We Know the Way?[9] | VIC | Newman College, Melbourne | Barry Hickey OAM KC*HS, Archbishop of Perth |
| 2007 | The Church and the Next Generation | ACT | Abbey Function Centre, Canberra | Most Rev. Anthony Fisher OP, Auxiliary Catholic Archbishop of Sydney |
| 2008 | No conference held due to World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney. | George Cardinal Pell AC, Archbishop of Sydney | ||
| 2009 | Renewing all things in Christ | QLD | Duchesne College, Brisbane | Geoffrey Jarrett DD, Bishop of Lismore |
| 2010 | Rebuilding the Church and the World | NSW | Lake Hume Resort, Albury | Tracey Rowland DHS, Dean of the John Paul II Pontifical Theological Institute for Marriage and Family Sciences |
| 2011 | Authenticity[10] | NSW | University of Notre Dame, Sydney | George Cardinal Pell AC, Archbishop of Sydney |
| 2012 | Defending Human Dignity | VIC | Queen's College, Melbourne | Christopher Pearson, journalist and former proprietor of The Adelaide Review. |
| 2013 | Foundations of Faith | VIC | The Women's College, University of Queensland, Brisbane | Mark Coleridge SSD, Archbishop of Brisbane |
| 2014 | Build my Church | NSW | Lake Hume Resort, Albury | Tess Livingstone, journalist with The Australian |
| 2015 | For the Family. For the Faith. | VIC | Ormond College, Melbourne | Angela Shanahan, journalist with The Australian |
| 2016 | Providence in Plain Sight | NSW | Benedict XVI Retreat Centre, Sydney | Hon. Damien Tudehope, member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. |
| 2017 | You Have Made Known to Me the Paths of Life | QLD | St Leo's College, Brisbane | Hon. Matt Canavan, Australian Senator |
| 2018 | I Am With You Always | VIC | Queen's College, Melbourne | Tracey Rowland DHS, Professor at University of Notre Dame Australia |
| 2019 | Be Not Afraid | NSW | St Joseph's College, Sydney | John A. McCarthy KC GCPO KCSG, Australian Ambassador to the Holy See from 2012 to 2016 |
| 2020 | No conference held due to COVID-19 restrictions in Australia. | No Mannix Address delivered | ||
| 2021 | Who Do You Say I Am? | NSW | Held online due to COVID-19 restrictions | George Cardinal Pell AC |
| 2022 | Fight the Good Fight | NSW | University of Notre Dame, Sydney | No Mannix Address delivered |
| 2023 | Be Not Afraid | VIC | Queen's College, Melbourne | Tracey Rowland DHS, Professor at University of Notre Dame Australia |
| 2024 | Lux Mundi | NSW | St Joseph's College, Sydney | Bishop Columba Macbeth-Green OSPPE, Bishop of Wilcannia–Forbes |
| 2025 | Out of the Shadows | NSW | St John Paul II Catholic Student Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney | Danny Meagher, Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney |
| 2026 | Christus Rex[11] | NSW | Australian Catholic University, Sydney | Tracey Rowland DHS, Professor at University of Notre Dame Australia |
References
- 1.[1.2][1.3][1.4][1.5][1.6][1.7][1.8][1.9]"Our Mission & Identity". Archived from the original on 2022-09-04. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
- 2."Affiliated Societies". Archived from the original on 2022-09-04. Retrieved 2022-09-05.
- 3."National Executive". Archived from the original on 2022-09-04. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
- 4."Our Patrons". Archived from the original on 2022-09-04. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
- 5.[5.2]"A Brief History of IMCS-Pax Romana – Pax Romana IMCS AP". Archived from the original on 2025-02-12. Retrieved 2025-02-12.
- 6."University Catholic Societies Hold National Conference". Advocate. Melbourne. 19 February 1942. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
- 7."Newsletter". Retrieved 2025-02-12.
- 8.[8.2]"Annual Conference". Archived from the original on 2022-09-04. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
- 9."Breaking the Ice - The Catholic Leader". Archived from the original on 2025-02-12. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
- 10."Catholic students embrace their faith - The Catholic Leader". Archived from the original on 2025-02-12. Retrieved 2025-02-12.
- 11."Instagram: auscathstudents". Retrieved 2026-07-03.