The Australian Catholic Students Association or ACSA is the peak body of Catholic students in Australia. 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.

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. It is officially supported by the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference.

The National President as of July 2026 is Chelsea Hawke. 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.

History Background

In 1921, Catholic student leaders from 23 countries met in Fribourg, Switzerland to create the International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS). 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.

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. The Catholic Students' Society of the University of Sydney, the Newman Society, was affiliated in 1938, and intended to attend the 1939 World Congress. 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.

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). Founding members included E.H. Burke, neuroscientist John Eccles, and Rosemary Goldie.

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).

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).

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.

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.

+List of National Conferences Year Theme State Venue Mannix Addressor 2003 N/A VIC Janet Clarke Hall, Melbourne Mark Coleridge , Auxiliary Archbishop of Melbourne 2004 N/A QLD St Leo's College, Brisbane James V. Schall (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? VIC Newman College, Melbourne Barry Hickey , Archbishop of Perth 2007 The Church and the Next Generation ACT Abbey Function Centre, Canberra Most Rev. Anthony Fisher , Auxiliary Catholic Archbishop of Sydney 2008 No conference held due to World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney. George Cardinal Pell , Archbishop of Sydney 2009 Renewing all things in Christ QLD Duchesne College, Brisbane Geoffrey Jarrett , Bishop of Lismore 2010 Rebuilding the Church and the World NSW Lake Hume Resort, Albury Tracey Rowland , Dean of the John Paul II Pontifical Theological Institute for Marriage and Family Sciences 2011 Authenticity NSW University of Notre Dame, Sydney George Cardinal Pell , 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 , 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 , Professor at University of Notre Dame Australia 2019 Be Not Afraid NSW St Joseph's College, Sydney John A. McCarthy , 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 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 , Professor at University of Notre Dame Australia 2024 Lux Mundi NSW St Joseph's College, Sydney Bishop Columba Macbeth-Green , 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 NSW Australian Catholic University, Sydney Tracey Rowland , Professor at University of Notre Dame Australia

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