51³Ô¹Ï

What you'll investigate

A core challenge facing the Church in the current time is that of how to form ministers and leaders in the Catholic Church (in both initial and ongoing formation pathways) for the kind of synodal leadership and governance being asked of them. This is not only a matter of theological content, but also of its methodology, sourcing, and the processes (dialogical/ symbolic) through which it performs its meaning-making. Creative and collaborative thinking is essential for this kind of work and the research essential to its development.

The successful applicant will have interest in researching one area of theological formation:

• Formation for the Catholic Presbyterate/Ministerial Priesthood;
• Women’s Leadership in Catholic Organisations, AND/OR Theological formation for Women’s Leadership in Secular Organisations;
• Ongoing Formation for Leadership in Catholic Education Sector;
• Ongoing Formation for Leaders in the Catholic Health Sector
• Catholic Spirituality of Leadership in Catholic Organisational Culture;

The successful candidate will:

• work with the Xavier Chair for Theological Formation on initiatives that align with the candidate’s research project.
• collaborate with colleagues from the Xavier Centre for Theological Formation and other partners with whom we co-design formation initiatives.
• be enrolled at 51³Ô¹Ï with two suitably qualified 51³Ô¹Ï supervisors in accordance with 51³Ô¹Ï’s Higher Degree Research Supervision Policy, and where applicable, also include an Associate Supervisor (End-user), and
• either be embedded with a research end-user or undertake a research internship with a research end-user during their PhD program.

One of two types of HDR pathways are possible in this scholarship:

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - a thesis-based research degree which can be a traditional thesis, PhD by publication, or PhD by Creative Project.
• Doctor of Ministry (DMin) - a professional doctorate involving some taught units in areas that are essential to work in ministry and a research thesis, usually shorter than a standard PhD thesis.

Both pathways imply prior work and training in research methods, at masters’ level, or equivalent. 

Scholarship package

The successful applicant will be awarded a scholarship package consisting of:

* International candidates only

Your research community

Principal supervisor

Professor Maeve Louise Heaney VDMF

Professor Heaney is a consecrated member of the Verbum Dei Community and Xavier Chair for Theological Formation at 51³Ô¹Ï. Her research and teaching areas are theological aesthetics, music, spirituality, ministry, and Catholic leadership. She is the current Director of the Xavier Centre for Theological Formation and a formator at Holy Spirit Provincial Seminary.

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Faculty

Faculty of Theology and Philosophy

Research at 51³Ô¹Ï's Faculty of Theology and Philosophy explores fundamental questions of meaning, ethics, and belief through rigorous scholarship and critical inquiry. Rooted in the Catholic intellectual tradition, our researchers engage with contemporary issues in theology, philosophy, and religious studies to foster dialogue, deepen understanding, and contribute to the common good.

Visit the faculty research website

Affiliation

The Xavier Centre for Theological Formation

The Xavier Centre for Theological Formation is an essential part of the the Faculty of Theology and Philosophy, housing programs led by many of FTP’s faculty members.

The Xavier Centre envisions Catholic organisational cultures as deeply life-giving places in Australia, vibrantly engaged with the teaching and healing ministry of Jesus and the Catholic tradition.

Our vision is that of upholding and promoting the dignity of all people in and through the provision of current, cogent and reflexive theological formation for Catholic organisations that foster and support mission-focused communities.

The Centre’s mission is to provide intelligent, creative, and contextualised theological formation for individuals and Catholic organisations in health and aged care, education, social services and church life. To that end, we work collaboratively and in dialogue with Catholic organisations and people to consider how they might articulate, engage with and animate their Catholic mission identity.

Visit the Xavier Centre website

Industry partner

The project is being co-facilitited by the Holy Spirit Seminary and the Province of Queensland.

Holy Spirit Seminary

Holy Spirit Seminary is the Provincial Seminary for Queensland, which also welcomes candidates from other dioceses in Australia. It is committed to solid formation in the areas of human, spiritual, intellectual, pastoral and mission formation. It is served by a community of staff that includes, priests, deacons, religious and lay, who seek to create a community of ongoing learning that also enriches the lives of the Dioceses of Queensland. Its contribution to this HDR project is a sign of its ongoing commitment to fostering healthy, collaborative faith communities for the Church in Australia and beyond.

How to apply

Applications close: Monday 14 September 2026, 11:59 pm AEST

Step 1: Assess your eligibility

Eligibility

Before you apply, confirm you meet the following eligibility criteria:

• This opportunity is open to domestic and international applicants.
• The eligibility criteria for the PhD program at 51³Ô¹Ï can be found in the .
• The eligibility criteria for research scholarships can be found in the .

Requirements

In addition to the eligibility criteria, the successful applicant would benefit from having:

• experience working in some area of Catholic organisational culture;
• experience in project management of ministry or mission projects;
• experience with organising or facilitating formation activities;
• capacity to work with management and governance levels of the dioceses and organisations with which the Xavier Centre works.

Conditions

By applying, you acknowledge and accept the following conditions:

• The scholarship package is subject to satisfactory progress and full-time study mode.
• The scholarship conditions align with the .
• The successful applicant will be required to assign their intellectual property (IP) to 51³Ô¹Ï as a condition of enrolment.

Step 2: Express your interest

Interested candidates are encouraged to contact Professor Maeve Louise Heaney VDMF prior to applying for the PhD program and scholarship, to express their interest and discuss the project in detail.

Email: maeve.heaney@acu.edu.au

Step 3: Submit your application

To be considered for this scholarship, applicants must submit all documentation required for an application to the PhD program at 51³Ô¹Ï, as detailed in the How to Apply instructions, plus:

• A CV outlining relevant academic and practical experience; and
• A cover letter detailing demonstrated interest and/or experience in the program of research described.

When completing the PhD application form, please indicate that you are also applying for a stipend scholarship and include the name of this project "Theological Formation for Ministry in a Synodal Church".