Good lives

Research that helps people lead flourishing and integrated human lives.

Rich understanding of human flourishing
At Notre Dame we think about human wellbeing and flourishing in a richer sense than other academic institutions. We see a good life as encompassing physical, mental and social wellbeing, creative endeavours and the pursuit of excellence. It also includes the development of moral character and virtue and addressing the deeper spiritual and religious dimension of human life – questions of truth, beauty, goodness; of purpose and meaning; of faith and reason.

Philosophical and theological foundations
The question of what constitutes the ‘the good life’ and human flourishing has been central in the history of philosophy and the Catholic Intellectual Tradition. As a Catholic university, we have a foundational commitment to investing in world-leading research in philosophy, theology and ethics, as part of the broader liberal arts tradition. We forge cross-disciplinary connections to advance research that helps people live good human lives.

Education that forms the whole person
Our education research – from early childhood through to university – is shaped by our commitment to integral human development for all learners. From our internationally recognised research in inclusive education through to our focus on teacher education and professional learning, we are supporting the formation of the next generation of educational leaders.

Good lives research projects

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The past today
Our research explores how ancient and medieval thinkers can help us solve problems we face today. Australian Research Council funded projects at Notre Dame include a Discovery Early Career Researcher Award investigating the relevance of medieval theories of nature for current environmental debates, and a Future Fellowship that reconsiders Aristotle’s ethical theory in light of contemporary ethical challenges.

Spiritual wellbeing
Partnering with St Vincent’s Health Australia, we are pioneering an evidence-based spiritual care training program for healthcare professionals across Australia. Our research supports integrated patient wellbeing across the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual domains.

Science & religion
Cutting-edge research at the intersections of philosophy, theology, religious studies, and the natural sciences. We host international projects funded by the John Templeton Foundation, which examine the philosophical-theological implications of 21st century evolutionary biology, the psychology of religious belief and spiritual desire, and the religious dimensions of self-enhancement and “biohacking”.

Catholic education
We are growing an international research network fostering excellence in Catholic education. GRACE (Global Researchers Advancing Catholic Education) is a collaboration between The University of Notre Dame Australia, Edith Cowan University WA, Boston College US, Mary Immaculate College Limerick (Ireland), St Mary’s University Twickenham (UK), University of Glasgow and the International Office of Catholic Education in Rome.

Through the establishment of a Global Community of Practice (CoP), GRACE’s holistic approach seeks to foster a familial humanism among participants, emerging scholars and established academics. Such relationships help participants notice and respond to the presence of grace, fostering both personal and professional transformation. Participants bring their scholarship, practice and faith to bear on select themes and topics through round-table and virtual conversations, informal discourse, reflective discussions and research collaborations.

Inclusive education and assistive technology
Translating leading research on accessible assistive technology to support learners with diverse needs, our research is informing professional development for universities in Malaysia on accessible OER and assistive technology, supported by UNESCO Paris.

Discover our themes

Explore the rest of our themes which shape the way we do research

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