Show Me
Anne Benjamin has served Catholic education for over fifty years as classroom teacher, teacher educator, curriculum designer, research and system leader, including as Executive Director of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Paramatta. She has worked with Catholic educators across dioceses in Australia, as well as in Papua New Guinea and Tonga. Anne was co-leader and developer of the Biographical Dictionary of Australian Catholic Educators and, with Seamus O’Grady, edited its first publication, Not Forgotten: Australian Catholic Educators 1820-2020 (Melbourne: Coventry Press, 2020). Other publications include: Leadership in a Synodal Church (with Charles Burford 2021), Saffron and Silk (2016), Gemstones (2016), Catholic Education: Hope in Uncertain Times (edited with Dan Riley 2008). She is an Honorary Professor of Australian Catholic University, an Honorary Fellow of the University of Western Sydney, Fellow of the Australian College of Educators and Fellow of the Australian Council of Educational Leaders.
Seamus has had a lifetime engagement with Australian Catholic schools – as a student, Marist Brother, lay teacher, religious education coordinator, principal, regional consultant and director (religious education and curriculum) at Sydney Catholic Schools. His initial degree was a Bachelor of Science (Hons) from Sydney University majoring in physics. He holds master’s degrees in theology (Catholic Institute of Sydney) and education (Melbourne University). He co-led and developed the Biographical Dictionary of Australian Catholic Educators and, with Anne Benjamin, edited its first publication, Not Forgotten, Australian Catholic Educators 1820-2020 (Melbourne: Coventry Press, 2020). The late Bishop Geoffrey Robinson entrusted Seamus with the editing and publication of his final book of theological and spiritual reflections, Towards the End of My Days (Melbourne: Garratt Publishing, 2022). Seamus is a Fellow of the Australian College of Educators and sits on the Members’ Council for Calvary Ministries (Little Company of Mary).
Dr Jo Laffin is Senior Lecturer in Church History at ACU’s Faculty of Theology and Philosophy. She has written a biography of Matthew Beovich, Archbishop of Adelaide from 1939 to 1971, and is currently researching the impact of the Second Vatican Council on Australian Catholicism. Jo’s forthcoming book will focus on changes which occurred between 1962, when the Vatican Council commenced, and 1986, when Pope John Paul II first visited Australia. This was a significant time of transition in Catholic education as well as for the Catholic community and Australian society.
We're available 9am–5pm AEDT,
Monday to Friday
If you’ve got a question, our AskACU team has you covered. You can search FAQs, text us, email, live chat, call – whatever works for you.