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An Anthology of Essays
Behind every Catholic school are human stories – stories of faith, change, challenge and hope. In the decades following the Second Vatican Council, those stories unfolded against a backdrop of profound transformation in Catholic education.
Catholic education is now woven into the fabric of Australian society, yet its continued vitality should never be taken for granted. Transitions and Transformation brings together 12 essays exploring the remarkable changes that shaped Catholic education across the six decades following the Second Vatican Council.
Drawing on historical research and lived experience, distinguished educators and scholars examine the people, ideas and events that transformed Catholic education in Australia. The book traces the growth of Catholic school systems and universities, changing approaches to leadership and governance, developments in pastoral care, and the evolving nature of teaching and learning.
Emerging from Australian Catholic University’s Biographical Dictionary of Australian Catholic Educators project, this volume continues the work begun in Not Forgotten (2020), honouring the women and men whose faith, vision, creativity and professional commitment have shaped Catholic education in Australia for more than two centuries.
Written by educators who have themselves helped lead this story, Transitions and Transformation offers historical insight, critical reflection and hope for the future. It is an important resource for those leading Catholic education today, those who will lead it tomorrow, and all who seek to understand the contribution of Catholic education to modern Australian society.
“This collection of essays serves as a valuable account of how Australian Catholic education passed from religious to lay teachers over sixty years. It gives today’s educators and clergy a clear sense of the story they have inherited and the work they are called to continue: to witness, through education, to the presence of Christ. In telling the story of our past, this volume contributes to the building of a stronger future for Catholic education.”
– Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP
Archbishop of Sydney
Chair, Bishops Commission for Education
