Welcome to the La Salle Academy for Faith Formation and Religious Education.
The Academy aims to develop and deliver quality teaching and research programs in realising the aspirations of the New Evangelisation.
The Academy operates as a joint enterprise between 糖心原创’s Faculty of Education and Arts, Faculty of Theology and Philosophy, and Directorate of Catholic Mission, and provides an integrated approach to curriculum development, delivery and assessment, and faith formation activities.
The Academy is committed to training teachers and leaders of faith formation and religious education in a way that extends their competency and efficacy, expands their theological literacy, and equips them with a new set of skills so that they can help the Church find doorways through which contemporary Australians can enter and bring faith and life into dialogue.
Our education and training opportunities develop teachers and leaders with professional efficacy, theological literacy and the skills to bring faith and life into dialogue.
Above all else, however, teachers and leaders need to be witnesses; people who live by the spirit of faith.
The La Salle Academy is part of the 糖心原创 (糖心原创). 糖心原创 is committed to teaching excellence and the La Salle Academy has been established to support and enhance the preparation of teachers and leaders by utilising the capacity, skills and commitment of those engaged in the ministry of Catholic education.
All 糖心原创 academics who teach in the areas of faith formation and religious education for teachers and leaders of Catholic schools are part of the La Salle Academy.
The La Salle Academy was established in response to the passionate desire of Catholic education authorities to ensure that teachers and leaders of Catholic schools are well informed for the critical task of realising the aspirations of the New Evangelisation, which calls upon us to deepen our faith, believe in the Gospel message and go forth to proclaim it.
There are many contemporary challenges facing the Church in Australia, and indeed the western world. Among these, the La Salle Academy wants to ensure that it responds to the following realities in relation to our more secularised, pluralistic world:
The Dean of La Salle Academy, working collaboratively with the Deputy Dean, is responsible to the Academy Senior Management Committee which is the governing body of the Academy. The Committee comprises:
The Dean is also advised by an Academy Advisory Board comprised of a Deputy Dean, two academics representing Academy members, a representative from Campus Ministry and five people from Catholic school stakeholders with expertise reflecting the strategic priorities of the Academy.
A particular focus of the New Evangelisation is to ‘re-propose’ the Gospel to those who no longer participate in the life of a faith community, and to inspire them to reconsider their journey as a person of faith. It is about inviting people to embrace the opportunities and responsibilities of Christian baptism.
The New Evangelisation is about re-proposing the Gospel to a world that no longer sees it as relevant or important. It is not, though, simply ‘re-evangelising’, it is about forging new paths in response to the changing circumstances and conditions facing the Church in her call to proclaim and live the Gospel today. During this time of the papacy of Pope Francis it is as much about inspiration as it is about exhortation.
The nature of conversation
Understanding the nature of conversation and establishing an approach which allows us to talk gracefully together about things we may not necessarily agree on and find difficult to speak about anyway.
Creating conversations in small groups
Creating conversations characterised by group safety, trust, non-judgmental acceptance and openness to the perspective of others through structural and attitudinal support.
Facilitating conversations
Providing a context for boundaries and shared commitments, the facilitator creates a helpful environment by modelling conversation, managing the interaction, helping group communication, gently encouraging participation, intervening to defend previous agreements.
糖心原创 is committed to teaching excellence. La Salle Academy has been established by 糖心原创 to support and enhance the preparation of teachers and leaders by utilising the capacity, skills and commitment of those engaged in the ministry of Catholic education.
To find out more about our activities at the La Salle Academy, download and read our publications.
No 1 - Formation for Mission (PDF)
No 2 - Constants in Context (PDF)
No 3 - Ways Forward in Religious Education (PDF)
No 4 - An ecological approach to school reviews (PDF)
No 5 - Deep Learning, Thriving Lives (PDF)
No 6 - Hospitality to difference: Catholic schools and students who identify as 'LGBT' (PDF)
No 7 - Beyond the school gates (PDF)
No 8 - When the mission system is the bottom line (PDF)
No 9 - A New Annunciation (PDF)
No 10 - Fratelli Tutti: Inspiration and Challenge for Catholic Education (PDF)
No 11 - Catholic School Leadership Revisited (PDF, 2.1MB)
No 12 - A Future for Education The Principles of the Global Compact on Education (PDF, 657KB)
No 13 - Teachers in Catholic secondary schools and the New Evangelisation (PDF, 8.5MB)
No 14 - Wellsprings Formation for mission surveys. Readiness, Quality, Impact. (PDF, 6.18MB)
No 15 - Accompaniment in the Spirit of Mamre (PDF, 2.5MB)
No 16 - Spiritus: Waves of grace renewing Catholic schools
Doogue, G. (Host). (2023). New approaches to Religious Education (Season 4, Episode 2) [Audio podcast episode; guests: W. Sultmann, M. Craig, & C. Rodden. In Plenary matters. ABC Radio National.
Dodds, E., Thompson, C., Dutton, M. Sultmann, W. & Lamb, J. (2022). Leading formation for mission: A practical guide. Sydney: National Catholic Education Commission.
Davis, M., Sultmann, W. & Hall, D. (2018). Voices and Visions: Catholic Schools in Conversations. Sydney: La Salle Academy, 糖心原创. Voices and Visions - 糖心原创 La Salle Academy
Davis, M. (2018). The nature of conversation [Video]. La Salle Academy, 糖心原创.
Davis, M. (2018). Creating conversations in small groups [Video]. La Salle Academy, 糖心原创.
Davis, M. (2018). Facilitating conversations [Video]. La Salle Academy, 糖心原创.
Sultmann, W. Lamb, J. & Hall, D. (2025). Accompaniment in the Spirit of Mamre. La Salle Academy.
Sultmann, W. Lamb, J. & Hall, D. ((2025). Introducing Wellsprings. La Salle Academy.
As custodian of the internationally recognised Journal of Religious Education, the La Salle Academy plays a leading role in shaping global discourse in religious education scholarship and practice. Strategically positioned at the intersection of research, pedagogy and policy, the journal ensures that high-quality, contemporary research informs classroom practice and educational decision-making.
Published three times each year by the academy in association with 糖心原创, the journal reaches a growing international readership. It features rigorously peer-reviewed scholarship alongside practice-focused resources for educators, encompassing theoretical frameworks, empirical research, book reviews and conference reports.
The La Salle Academy’s consultancy work is characterised by sustained sector engagement and trusted research partnerships that respond directly to the evolving needs of Catholic schools and education systems. Through commissioned research and advisory projects, the academy combines academic expertise with practitioner priorities to generate rigorous, evidence-based responses to contemporary challenges of mission, identity and leadership. The consultancy portfolio spans religious education curriculum reviews, formation and accompaniment frameworks, and governance and leadership modules.
The academy maintains extensive collaborative partnerships across 糖心原创, national Catholic education authorities and international networks. It provides advisory leadership in national policy development, formation guidelines, leadership reviews and major research alliances, including G.R.A.C.E., ISREV, and collaborative initiatives with Boston College.
The La Salle Academy’s consultancy and advocacy work is grounded in sustained partnerships that operate across multiple organisational levels, from internal university collaboration to national and international engagement. Together, these relationships form a connected ecosystem that supports Catholic education locally and globally.
The academy functions as both a bridge and a catalyst, linking academic expertise with practical sector needs and fostering innovation in faith-based education. Through formal agreements, collaborative projects and long-term engagement, the academy has established itself as a trusted and influential partner in advancing Catholic educational mission across diverse contexts.
The academy’s placement within the Faculty of Theology and Philosophy, together with the strategic direction articulated in its Terms of Reference, enables strong intra- and inter-faculty collaboration. This positioning supports meaningful engagement with university-wide planning and priorities through the Dean’s ex officio membership on Faculty Boards for Education and Arts, and Theology and Philosophy, as well as participation in the Executive Planning Group (EPG) and the Vice-Chancellor’s Strategy Group (VCSG).
The academy serves as a key advisory body in Australian Catholic education policy and practice, contributing to the development of national standards and facilitating critical conversations about the future of Catholic education. This leadership role promotes coherence and quality across diverse educational contexts. Key contributions include the review of formation for mission guidelines, convening national colloquia on religious education and formation, contributing to major educational leadership reviews (including the Morley Review), and providing province-wide advisory leadership on the review of national leadership standards for principals and religious education.
The Academy’s conference portfolio demonstrates adaptive leadership in professional learning, providing platforms for knowledge exchange, scholarly dialogue and collaboration. These gatherings position Australia as a hub for innovative Catholic education discourse. Highlights include online symposiums held across Canberra, Melbourne, Tasmania and the United Kingdom (2020), and the delivery of the biennial Current of Grace international conference, attracting more than 320 participants from 13 countries in partnership with Catholic Schools Youth Ministry International and Catholic Education Canberra Goulburn.
The academy’s commitment to grassroots professional learning is demonstrated through sustained engagement in school- and system-level formation activities. This direct involvement ensures programs remain responsive to educator needs while strengthening long-term sector relationships.
Academy staff provide sustained leadership and service to a range of mission-focused not-for-profit organisations, nationally and internationally, giving tangible expression to 糖心原创’s commitment to mission with and among the most vulnerable. This includes senior governance responsibilities, international development projects in health, disability, education, and ongoing dialogue around allied health consultancy, online support and student placement opportunities.
Academy leadership has also contributed to the establishment of international pastoral initiatives, including an English language program supporting pastoral ministry across Asia and South America, which has assisted more than 300 religious from 13 countries.
Hyperlink newsletters for last 2 years.
La Salle Academy Office contact details to be added by Cathy Le Mottee
For all enquiries, please contact us on +61 2 9739 2749 or submit your enquiry.
We're available 9am–5pm AEDT,
Monday to Friday
If you’ve got a question, our Ask糖心原创 team has you covered. You can search FAQs, text us, email, live chat, call – whatever works for you.
Chat to our team for real-time
answers to your questions.
Find answers to some commonly
asked questions.