Our national faculties and schools

Welcome to the Faculty of Arts, Sciences, Law and Business. Our Faculty comprises two vibrant schools: the School of Arts & Sciences and the School of Law & Business. We are also home to the Nulungu Research Institute, a unique multi-disciplinary centre located in the Kimberley region. Our national Faculty is based on three distinct campuses in Fremantle, Sydney and Broome.

The work of our Faculty is underpinned by the Catholic intellectual tradition which ensures our programs are designed to educate you for life as well as for your profession. Our Catholic identity supports a unique liberal education that values the development of critical thinking, debate of ideas, creativity and the search for truth in all areas of knowledge. Our number one position in Australia for student experience proves our students value the rich experiences, knowledge and skills developed through our programs.

Our undergraduate programs allow you to combine the development of professional qualifications with studies that enrich you personally. Similarly, our postgraduate programs provide opportunities to develop depth in your discipline area, support a career change, or gain a professional qualification. Our programs are flexible and include a many opportunities for work integrated learning so you develop connections to industry as you study. Our areas of study include arts, architecture, archaeology, environmental management, literature, film and screen studies, journalism, behavioural sciences, counselling, law, commerce, human resources, communications and media, public relations and marketing, just to name a few.

Our Nulungu Research Institute encourages the pursuit of excellence in research through valuing community-based Indigenous knowledge. Nulungu’s core research themes are Culture Country Language, Education and Learning, Aboriginal Wellbeing and Health, and Cultural Security and Social Justice. Nulungu’s work is characterised by collaborative engagement across communities, government and industry, as well as across discipline and professional fields.

We look forward to engaging with you in teaching and or research as we strive to make a positive and rich contribution to our global society.

Professor Martin Drum
Executive Dean -  Faculty of Arts, Sciences, Law and Business

Dr Robyn Creagh - Associate Dean Research (WA)
Associate Professor Dane King - Associate Dean Learning & Teaching (NSW)
Michelle Cosgrave - Faculty Manager (NSW)
Dylan Griffiths -  Curriculum Manager (WA)
Anastasia French - Executive Officer (WA)
Ms Palak Pandya - Senior Administration Officer (NSW)

Excellence in the health professions and in evidence-based health care is fundamental to the health and well-being, hopes and prosperity of all Australians. Never has health been more important to our global community than now, as we face unprecedented challenges in access, quality and sustainability in the context of a global pandemic. Further, the health sector is continually evolving to accommodate emerging trends such as the use of technology and ageing populations. Health is currently the largest employer in Australia, with many occupations expected to experience double-digit growth in employment to 2024.

This exciting new Faculty provides an extraordinary platform for teaching, research, scholarship and advocacy in health in Australia and internationally. The Faculty combines the strengths of excellent undergraduate and postgraduate programs in health sciences, nursing and midwifery, and physiotherapy, with our highly regarded postgraduate programs in medicine, across three states, in metropolitan, rural and remote Australia. Each of our programs incorporates significant work-integrated learning, ensuring students gain the practical experience and clinical skills they need to enter the workforce with confidence.

The three National Schools in the Faculty (School of Medicine, School of Nursing & Midwifery and School of Health Sciences) share a common approach to excellence, with a deep respect for the dignity of human life and a focus on compassionate and ethical practice across the health professions. An emphasis on applied learning and teaching in the clinical environment, in combination with a focus on personal and professional development of our graduates as future clinicians, teachers, coaches and scientists, are hallmarks of the Notre Dame health programs.

Studies in bioethics, exceptional pastoral care for students, a focus on social justice and commitment to community through volunteering and service learning are distinguishing features of Notre Dame’s health portfolio. Opportunities for rural and remote healthcare experience, commitment to developing environmentally sustainable health care and building cultural safety for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples also reflect our emphasis on access and equity in health. A trans-disciplinary approach to research and academic development highlights the value of a team of professionals in delivering quality in healthcare and advancing new horizons.

Rounding out our comprehensive offerings in health education, the Faculty works closely with the healthcare sector and other industry partners with an active and vibrant program of world class research that aims to improve current knowledge and patient treatment and management. Cornerstone to the Faculty’s research agenda is its Institute for Health Research, which has an enviable reputation for its biostatistical capacity, academic success and in the training of new and emerging health researchers.

As the inaugural Executive Dean of the Faculty, I am excited and privileged to be leading this vital area of academic endeavour at Notre Dame.

Professor Rathan Subramaniam
Executive Dean -  Faculty of Medicine, Nursing, Midwifery and Health Sciences

Professor Gerard Hoyne - Associate Dean Research (WA)
Dr Ainslie Robinson - Associate Dean Learning & Teaching (WA)

On behalf of the staff and students of the Faculty of Education and Philosophy & Theology, welcome to our learning community. Our faculty comprises a team of dedicated staff who are committed to the Objects of the university, namely to provide you with a high-quality university education within the context of Catholic faith and values; and to provide an excellent standard of teaching, scholarship and research, training for the professions, and pastoral care for you, our students.

The School of Education has built a strong reputation for graduating students who are well-prepared to take on the vitally important role of educating our children and young people. We have done this by offering a relevant program aligned with curriculum demands and the needs of our stakeholders in various education sectors. We are committed to developing specialised courses and establishing partnerships with different systems to provide rural placements in the final year of university. For teachers seeking to deepen their knowledge in learning, teaching, and leadership, we offer postgraduate courses, specialist programs, and ongoing professional learning opportunities.

Collaboration is a core value across our faculty, allowing us to nationalise our academic programs and provide access to courses from across the country. Our focus is on utilising current and relevant research-based evidence to inform our teaching practices and enhance the academic experience.

The School of Philosophy & Theology is highly regarded for its curriculum, which nurtures critical thinking skills and encourages students to think broadly, constructively, and creatively. We have world-renowned researchers on the faculty, and we bring the fruits of our scholarship to the public conversation.

At the Institute for Ethics and Society, we engage in research to explore the relationship between cultivating virtues and human flourishing within the context of the Catholic intellectual tradition. With our key research areas of Moral Philosophy and Ethics Education, Bioethics, and Religion and Global Ethics, we address significant issues involving religion, ethics, and society.

We invite you to explore the vast opportunities for study and research within our faculty as you pursue your passions and vocation. Our staff are eager to discuss your future learning goals and provide guidance throughout your academic journey.

We look forward to welcoming you to our community of scholars and learners at Notre Dame's Faculty of Education and Philosophy & Theology.

Professor David de Carvalho
Executive Dean - Faculty of Education and Philosophy & Theology

Professor David de Carvalho - Executive Dean (NSW)
Professor Renee Kohler-Ryan - Deputy Executive Dean (NSW)
A/Prof Christine Robinson - Associate Dean Research (WA)
Dr Lawrence Pang - Associate Dean Learning & Teaching (WA)
Ms Natalie Sim - Faculty Manager (WA)
Ms Sheona Kaschula - Curriculum Manager (WA)
Ms Virginia Wynne-Markham - Executive Officer