2013 AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY ANNUAL REPORT Australian Catholic University (ACU) was established Letter of transmittal in November 1990 through incorporation as a public 26 March 2014 company limited by guarantee, registered in the state of Victoria. It was subsequently recognised as Hon. Nick Wakeling a university under the Australian Catholic University Minister for Higher Education and Skills (Victoria) Act 1991 and provides this report to the 2 Treasury Place Victorian Minister for Higher Education and Skills. EAST MELBOURNE VIC 3002 The University was formed through the amalgamation of the Catholic College of Education (NSW), the Institute of Catholic Education (Vic), Dear Minister McAuley College (Qld) and Signadou College of In accordance with the requirements of regulations Education (ACT). Today, ACU has six campuses under the Financial Management Act 1994, I am nationally: Brisbane (McAuley at Banyo), pleased to submit for your information and North Sydney (MacKillop), Stratheld (Mount Saint presentation to Parliament the Australian Catholic Mary), Canberra (Signadou), Ballarat (Aquinas) and University Annual Report for the year ending Melbourne (St Patrick’s). 31 December 2013. A public university, recognised and funded by The Annual Report was approved by the Australian the Commonwealth Government, ACU is open Catholic University Senate on 26 March 2014. to students and sta of all beliefs. Yours sincerely To view this report online, visit www.acu.edu.au/annualreports For more copies of this report or for enquiries, please contact [email protected] +61 (02) 9739 2540 Edward Exell AM Pro-Chancellor CONTENTS REPORT OF OPERATIONS six three STUDENTS AUDIT ED FINANCIAL one Student statistics 41 STATEMENTS INTRODUCTION Student achievements 42 Income statement 80 Chancellor’s foreword 3 Student experience 43 Statement of comprehensive income 81 Vice-Chancellor’s report 4 Students in the community 43 Balance sheet 82 The University 5 Student success 44 Statement of changes in equity 83 Faculties and areas of study 6 Other student services 44 Statement of cash ows 84 Growth 7 Enhancing learning and teaching 44 Highlights of 2013 7 Equity and diversity 45 Strategic Plan 2012-2014 8 Education for Aboriginal and four Planning with government 9 Torres Strait Islander students 45 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL Vice-Chancellor’s priority projects 10 International programs 47 STATEMENTS ACUcom 50 Statement of signicant two accounting policies 85 GOVERNANCE seven Revenue 91 Company structure 13 GRADUATES Expenses 93 Senate members 13 Graduate statistics 53 Finance expenses 95 Directors’ membership of Honorary doctorates 55 Auditors’ remuneration 95 external boards 13 Graduates beyond campus 55 Cash and cash equivalents 96 Committees 13 Alumni relations 55 Trade and other receivables 96 Management structure 13 Other investments 96 Principal ocers of the Other assets 96 University in 2013 14 eight Property, plant and equipment 97 Management structure under STAFF Intangible assets 99 the Vice-Chancellor in 2013 18 Sta statistics 57 Trade and other payables 99 Sta policies 58 Employee benets 100 Signicant appointments in 2013 59 Borrowings 101 three Honours to sta in 2013 60 MISSION AND IDENTITY Other liabilities 102 Reserves 103 Mission Statement 21 Retained earnings 104 Directorate and institutes nine Commitments 104 to enact the Mission 21 RESEARCH Directors’ and key management Community engagement 21 Areas of research 65 personnel disclosures 105 Major public forums 22 Research strategy 65 Related parties 106 Recognition 23 Research statistics 65 Research events 65 Financial instruments disclosure 106 Higher degree graduate research 66 Interest rate and liquidity risk 107 four Graduate research 66 Equity 109 RESOURCES Research grants and funding 66 Notes to the statement of cash ows 109 General income and expenditure 27 Public Policy Institute 69 Acquittal of Commonwealth ACU Foundation 27 Government nancial assistance 111 Scholarships and bursaries 29 Awards and prizes 29 ten EXTERNAL RELATIONS ve Infrastructure 30 CERTIFIC ATION OF Libraries 30 Relations with government 71 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 116 IT Infrastructure 32 Relations with stakeholders 71 Environmental sustainability 32 Public relations 72 six INDEPENDENT ve AUDITORS’ REPORT 117 ACADEMIC REVIEW FINANCIAL REPORTS The Academic Board 35 seven TEQSA update 35 one DIRECTORS’ REPORT 75 Additional information 118 Organisational unit reviews 35 The Good Universities Guide 2014 35 Disclosure index 121 Alternative entry programs 35 two State indexes 124 New memoranda of understanding L EAD AUDITOR’S INDEPENDENCE Contacts 128 and partnerships 36 DECLARATION 79 New courses 37 Course reviews 38 Executive education 38 one INTRODUCTION 2 Australian Catholic University Annual Report 2013 Report of operations CHANCELLOR’S FOREWORD questions on human experience and In our Early Achievers’ Program, we meaning. The Core units emphasise take into account how a student has It is my great pleasure to introduce critical judgment, clear expression, contributed to their community, as well the Annual Report for 2013. Australian ethical decision-making and concern for as their mark. The landmark Clemente Catholic University (ACU) has a proud others, as individuals and as a community. program continues to provide university history which continues to inspire We have had excellent feedback from our courses for Australians experiencing its every action today. As a national rst cohort of students, and I have been multiple disadvantage and social university with six campuses, ACU impressed at the insight they have gained isolation. Student fees are covered exercises nation-wide leadership in into complex ideas and contemporary by ACU, and those who successfully the Catholic intellectual tradition, social issues. complete four units are awarded grounded in a century and a half of a Certicate in Liberal Studies. The achievement through its founding And it’s not just in these Core subjects achievement of studying at a university institutions. Teaching and researching that ACU students learn about giving level for someone who has been living on in diverse locations across Australia, and concern for others. Our law students the edge of society is truly transformative. it is the denitive representative within do 80 hours of pro bono work each year The ways in which sta and students of Australia of the thousand-year tradition – something we consider to be a unique the University make a positive dierence of Catholic universities. and dening characteristic of the legal are many, and I am condent 2014 will education of our students. Our education From our students, to their families, bring continued success in our unique to the higher education sector, there students teach children English in tradition. is increasingly widespread recognition Vanuatu and Vietnam, our health sciences I extend my thanks and appreciation of our commitment to doing something students support local health centres in to Professor Craven for his inspirational special. We aspire that our students’ Cambodia, and Core Curriculum students leadership, and to the sta and students time here not be simply an acquisition can spend three weeks in Florence, Italy, of ACU for their enthusiasm and of knowledge, but a transformational working with the city’s largest volunteer- dedication. education that challenges them to led welfare agency. become independent and articulate In Timor-Leste, our exercise science thinkers, able to deal with adversity students promote health, wellbeing and make the less fortunate a priority and life skills through football – with in their lives. more than 600 children and young This notion of providing transformational people turning up to play every day. education is what makes a university, On the Thai-Burma border, ACU partners which is also Catholic, so unique, with with universities from the US and Canada a distinctive educational and intellectual to provide tertiary education to the many product. intelligent, young refugees. Graduates Our Core Curriculum, introduced in 2012, of the program who have been resettled is an integral part of this vision. The goal in Australia, Canada or the US have been is not just to pass on knowledge, but also accepted into university degree programs General Peter Cosgrove AC MC CNZM to raise some of the most fundamental on the basis of their ACU qualication. Chancellor Photography:(Opposite) Tristan Velasco. (Top) Matthew Duchesne (Milk (Top) and Honey Photography) Velasco. Tristan Photography:(Opposite) Australian Catholic University Annual Report 2013 Report of operations 3 VICECHANCELLOR’S New buildings and impressively The Annual Report reveals just a equipped teaching spaces include the snapshot of what has been achieved in REPORT environmentally sustainable Daniel this year, successes which have taken Looking back over the past year I can tell Mannix building in Melbourne, and place amid rapid changes in the higher you that Australian Catholic University the recently refurbished St Mary of the education sector. The achievements is a university with remarkable Cross (MacKillop) Chapel – which last of 2013 would of course not have momentum. Momentum in attracting year received a national architecture been possible without the wonderful ever more bright and unique students, award for its interior. In Brisbane, dedication, leadership and talent of ACU in fostering a teaching faculty of the new ACU Health Clinic provides sta. We recognise that this contribution academic