# University of Notre Dame Australia

The University of Notre Dame Australia is a public Roman Catholic university with campuses in Perth, Sydney and Broome. It was established in 1989 by the Archdiocese of Perth with early support from its founding partner and namesake the University of Notre Dame (NDUS) in the United States. It was originally proposed as a means to train teachers and nurses for the Catholic Church's extensive school and hospital network, but has since expanded into other fields.
Its largest campus in Perth is in the port city of Fremantle where it expanded into colonial-era maritime buildings in the West End heritage area, later becoming ubiquitous with the precinct as a university town. Although controversial for its use of heritage property, its restoration work and the influx of students has formed a symbiotic relationship with the local economy, culture and tourism industry. Its campus in Sydney is divided between St Benedict's Church on Broadway and the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Darlinghurst. It also has a regional campus in Broome and eight clinical schools across New South Wales and Victoria.
Notre Dame's academic activities are organised into three faculties, which are subdivided into constituent schools, centres and research divisions. In 2023, it had a total revenue of A$231.23 million and a total expenditure of A$230.07 million. It also enrolled 11,579 students mostly divided between Perth and Sydney. Its interstate presence allows students to transfer between the two cities and Broome throughout their studies. It also has a reciprocal agreement with the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, allowing approved students to study abroad at the other while retaining grades and without additional tuition. This includes NDUS' Global Gateways, which has campuses in Europe, Asia and Latin America.
The university crest displays open Bible at its core with the opening verse from the Gospel of John inscribed in Latin. The verse was chosen as the university motto to symbolise everything that exists beginning as an idea. The waves below the open Bible and the Commonwealth Star represent the port city of Fremantle, where the university was founded, and Australia as a nation surrounded by water. The symbols are affixed to an Oxford Blue badge over a Cambridge Blue Greek cross. The university is affiliated with the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, the International Council of Universities of Saint Thomas Aquinas, the International Federation of Catholic Universities and St John of God Health Care.

## History
### Early discussions

Following the end of World War II in 1945, a Congregation of Holy Cross priest serving as a U.S. Navy chaplain at Naval Base Sydney was travelling between parishes to provide lectures and sermons. Cardinal Norman Gilroy, then the Archbishop of Sydney and a skeptic of secular universities, befriended the Holy Cross chaplain Father Patrick Duffy and they discussed the idea of the University of Notre Dame in the United States (NDUS) and the Congregation of Holy Cross being involved in the establishment of the first Catholic university in Australia. Father Duffy in the same year wrote a letter to the superior general of the Congregation of Holy Cross, Father Albert Cousineau, outlining its feasibility and reasons supporting it.
At the time, a fifth of the Australian population was Catholic and there was an established network of Catholic primary and secondary schools. Cardinal Gilroy believed that there was a strong appetite for a Catholic university and that it would enable the education of an "elite Catholic laity that had been the glory of the church in the United States". Additionally, the archdiocese expressed openness in providing financial support and land for the university should the proposal be successful. In a report, Father Duffy included that almost all of the federal cabinet members were Catholic and noted the influence of Irish Australians in the governing structure of the country, resembling it with the Irish history of NDUS.
Following months of internal discussions, Father Cousineau and the Holy Cross' assistant provincial, Father Chris O'Toole, visited Sydney in 1946 to investigate the viability of the institution in a precursory report, outlining its opportunities and possible setbacks. While the report highlighted Australia's existing Catholic school system and potential to increase opportunities for the Catholic faith and its members, the report had also found possible obstacles. These included the lack of universal support or enthusiasm between interstate bishops, distance between major cities, perceived competition from existing institutions and the substantial government lobbying required for support or funding. There was also the limitations of technology and issue of distance between the American institutions and Sydney, a future cause for stagnation of progress in the university's establishment.
They concluded that while the potential for an Australian institution undertaken by the congregation existed, they should start smaller from a single faculty and the cardinal would need to lobby other bishops to raise enough funds. Additionally, existing commitments in the development of educational institutions elsewhere by the Holy Cross and NDUS limited the personnel and funding available to support the project. The Holy Cross order also sent additional personnel in the following years to evaluate the future university's plans. This included the proposed name University of St. Mary, faculties, locations and fundraising options.
The project was pursued for a few more years and 81 hectares (200 acres) was purchased in 1948 on behalf of the Holy Cross for a future campus. Ultimately, political opposition from the press and the further stretching of Holy Cross resources due to the Korean War led to the required charter to establish the university not being acquired at the time. Despite positive reception from Pope Pius XXI and the then dominance of Catholics in the governing Labor Party's hierarchy, non-Catholics were more sceptical of the plans. This included concerns from other religious denominations over the level of academic freedom at a denominational institution and its potential to segregate Australian society. The endeavour was abandoned some time in 1953 and the land was later leased to Warrane College.

### Re-emergence and establishment

In the mid-1980s, concerns were raised by the Catholic Education Commission of Western Australia and the Archdiocese of Perth that present state universities may not be able to sufficiently train school teachers and nurses to work in the state's Catholic education and healthcare network. This was partly due to the lack of public Catholic teaching colleges in the state found in the rest of the mainland, and their concern that the schools may eventually lose their Catholic identity. The idea of a private Catholic university again surfaced this time on the opposite side of the Australian continent.
Peter Tannock, who headed the Catholic Education Office of Western Australia, discussed these concerns with William Foley, the then Archbishop of Perth. They enlisted the help of Catholic businessperson Denis Horgan, also a childhood friend to Peter and founder of the Leeuwin Estate, who they hoped would provide financial assistance in establishing the university. Horgan, who had also previously envisioned a private university in the state, was supportive of the idea so long as the institution would provide more than just teacher education.
A planning committee with Tannock, Horgan, Foley and Michael Quinlan, a Catholic physician, was created and developed a plan for a private Catholic university with multiple sites in the state that could extend to other fields including nursing and medicine. Additionally, a feasibility study was conducted by Geoffrey Kiel, a professor from the University of Queensland, and discussions with various Catholic institutions in North America and Europe.
Father Ted Hesburgh and Father Ned Joyce, who had recently completed extensive tenures as the president and vice president of the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, visited Fremantle and met with the planning committee in February 1988. They discussed the potential for involvement by the American university in the establishment of the planned institution. In the following months, members of the planning committee met with the newly appointed president, Edward Malloy, and other NDUS leaders in both Perth and Indiana. An agreement was reached for NDUS to commit in becoming involved in the development and governing body of the university, provide on-going guidance and staff and student exchanges.
Increasing the confidence of the state government of Western Australia in the feasibility of the institution, the proposal received support from both the WA Labor premier Peter Dowding and Liberal opposition leader Barry MacKinnon paving the way for obtaining a charter for establishment. Prior to state legislation, the decision to name the planned university "The University of Notre Dame Australia" was made, after its founding partner the University of Notre Dame in the United States. It would occupy heritage buildings in Fremantle in need of restoration, which were cheaper following the 1987 America's Cup as the colonial-era buildings didn't have many alternative use cases.
The university was established through the passage of the University of Notre Dame Australia Act 1989 in the Parliament of Western Australia, where it received support from both sides. The Archdiocese of Perth, Catholic Education Commission and the Sisters of St John of God provided initial loans and donations for property, mainly old unutilised buildings in Fremantle in need of repair. The act was given royal assent on 9 January 1990 and the university was inaugurated at St Patrick's Basilica on 2 July 1991 where it was issued a canonical statute. The basilica now serves as one of three Graduation Mass venues, with the homonymous St Mary's Cathedral, Perth and St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney later also used.
Prior to the decision to select Fremantle as the sole campus, the state government had offered the university a 150-hectare (370-acre) land grant in the Alkimos region north in Greater Perth. Under the plan, its main campus would have been built on publicly owned land and would have been treated in effect as any other university in the state. The state government believed that the campus could potentially increase the land value and population of the then sparse region, creating potential income and increasing investment from the private sector.
The planning committee saw the main Alkimos campus as vital to the expansion of the university, with the existing development in Fremantle being perceived as limiting to student population growth and subsequent funding. Although the proposal was discussed extensively between the university and both sides of the state parliament, it led to a collapse of the Labor majority when the disillusioned Frank Donovan left the party. Support for the deal was later rescinded by the Liberal-National coalition and a parliamentary investigation was launched against the Lawrence government. Following a motion of no confidence and the subsequent election of Richard Court as Premier of Western Australia in 1993, the proposal was formally withdrawn. As a result, Notre Dame remains the only university established in Western Australia to not receive a land grant by the state.

### Growth and development

Notre Dame had 50 postgraduate students in its first year, including teachers from the state's Catholic school system, and the NDUS also sent 25 study abroad students to spend a semester at the campus. The latter program was repeated each semester and the students were accompanied by a staff member. Classes commenced in February 1992 and the first graduations were held at Fremantle Town Hall later that year. Undergraduate programs began in 1994, when the university first enrolled school leavers, with approximately 570 students during the first year. It also opened a regional campus in Broome that same year located in the northern Kimberley region. Additional schools were founded soon after opening in other fields of study. A target was set by the university to reach 2000 students by 2000 in Fremantle.
The university was also itself responsible for securing funding to restore and convert purchased buildings, its growth and restoration work contributing to it becoming ubiquitous with the West End heritage area of Fremantle as a university town. The influx of staff and students formed a symbiotic relationship with the city's culture and economy, and the restoration of neglected heritage buildings improved its status as a tourism precinct. In 2012, a Memorandum of Understanding "town and gown concordat" was signed between the university and the City of Fremantle to promote closer ties between them. The relationship has not been free of controversy.
In 2004, Notre Dame became the second Western Australian university to receive accreditation from the Australian Medical Council. This was achieved with following a partnership with the University of Queensland Medical School that included the purchase of its curriculum. It also received support from Curtin University to develop its biomedical science courses. Its first medical school, which drew initial controversy for its private and religious affiliations, was formally opened by then Minister for Education Tony Abbott with an initial 80 postgraduate students. In 2007, it entered a joint partnership with the University of Western Australia to establish and collaborate on the Rural Clinical School of Western Australia. The university also established its "objects" that codify its Catholic identity around this time.

### Expansion to New South Wales

Following an invitation by the Archdiocese of Sydney, a third campus was opened in 2006 by then Prime Minister John Howard on the site of the St Benedict's Church on Broadway in Sydney. This was followed by another Sydney site in 2008 on the sites of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Sacred Heart Hospice in Darlinghurst. Notre Dame was chosen partly for its prior experience in restoring deteriorating historical landmarks and high-density campus planning.
The Darlinghurst site included its second medical school, which made it the only university in Australia to have more than one medical school. The medical school, which now has clinical and training sites across multiple states, had an initial enrolment of 100 students from New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria. Pope Benedict XVI also visited the newly opened medical school that same year at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and adjoining Benedict XVI Medical Library, which is named after him. The buildings together with the Sacred Heart Health Service and adjacent St Vincent's Hospital forms key components of the St Vincent's Integrated Healthcare Campus.
The establishment of the Sydney campus was funded primarily by the Archdiocese of Sydney and the Sydney Catholic Education Office, with additional funding from the federal government. Existing property surrounding the sites such as Pioneer House on Broadway were also restored and new buildings were built to accommodate the future growth of student population. The Sydney Catholic Education Office also donated property including the now-called Canavan Hall building, which houses the St Benedict's Library among other facilities. Constituent schools were founded and developed separately in Sydney and included a share-use agreement with University of Technology Sydney for facilities and curriculum for biomedical sciences. In 2024, it acquired UTS' neighbouring Blackfriars campus.

## Campuses and buildings

Notre Dame has three campuses. Its largest campus is located in Fremantle, the port city for the Greater Perth region meanwhile its Sydney campus is split across two sites in the Inner West of the city. It also has a regional campus in Broome, far north in Western Australia in the Kimberley region. It is the only university in Australia to have major campuses on both the east and west coasts and students can apply to switch between campuses during their studies. Additionally, the School of Medicine in Sydney also has eight clinical schools located across New South Wales and Victoria. Notre Dame also offers a range of online courses and programs available through Open Universities Australia.

### Fremantle

The Fremantle campus is the founding campus of Notre Dame and comprises some of Perth's oldest buildings. The campus is omnipresent of the Fremantle West End heritage area and includes colonial-era maritime buildings that were restored and converted for university use. The wider precinct is surrounded in clockwise by several harbours, Bathers Beach facing the Indian Ocean and the Fremantle Ports along the inlet of the Swan River.
The campus director Terry Craig, architect Marcus Collins, interior designer Angela Chaney and builder Bill Fairweather were largely responsible for renovating much of the early campus. Subsequent purchases of surrounding buildings over the following decades expanded the campus to later becoming ubiquitous with the precinct as a university town. It is served by three libraries including St Teresa's Library, the Galvin Medical Library and the Craven Law Library.

#### Notable buildings

Some notable buildings on campus include:
* Customs House was constructed as a warehouse in 1888 and extended twice in 1896 and 1903. It was used as a warehouse for P. Falk and Company and later the United States Navy during World War II. Today, only its ornate façades remain with the interior of the building re-built in 1985. Notre Dame purchased the site in 2017.
* Frank Cadd Building is a rendered stone structure constructed in 1890 with an arched entrance, windows and a bracketed parapet with low pier balustrading. Its namesake is former Mayor of Fremantle Frank Cadd.
* The Kreglinger Buildings include the former Westpac Building built in 1892 and the semi-detached Commercial Building. They were designed by architect Talbot Hobbs in the Federation Academic Classical style and now used for health courses.
* Dalgety Building is a stone and brick structure constructed in 1899 for the Bank of New South Wales. It is built in the Federation Free Classical architecture style.
* Howard Smith Building is a brick and stone structure constructed in 1900 for Howard Smith Limited, then a shipping company. It has a parapet with two decorative pediments. It used by the School of Nursing and Midwifery.
* P&O Building was constructed in 1903 as a brick and stone structure in the Federation Free Classical style with an imposing façade and arches around a central pediment. It was built for the Australian Union Steamship Navigation Company, which was taken over by its current namesake P&O soon after in 1913. It is now occupied by the School of Nursing and Midwifery but was previously shared with Maersk and the Danish Consul.

### Sydney

The Sydney campus is spread across two sites in the city's Inner West. This includes its main site on Broadway and the Darlinghurst site which specialises in healthcare. It is also expected to open a third site in Liverpool.

#### Broadway

The larger site on Broadway, where the Sydney campus provides most of its programs, is located on and around St Benedict's Church. It was opened in 2006 following an invitation by the Archdiocese of Sydney to establish campuses on church sites in need or restoration. Notre Dame's prior experience in restoring deteriorating historical landmarks and high-density campus planning played a role in its selection over the Australian Catholic University.
Existing property surrounding the sites such as Pioneer House were also restored and new buildings were built to accommodate the future growth of student population. The Sydney Catholic Education Office also donated property including the now-called Canavan Hall building, which houses the St Benedict's Library among other facilities. In 2024, it acquired the neighbouring Blackfriars campus from the University of Technology Sydney.

#### Darlinghurst

The Darlinghurst site was opened in 2008 and is home to the Schools of Medicine and Nursing in Sydney. It is located on the sites of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Sacred Heart Hospice in Darlinghurst. It is adjacent to St Vincent's Hospital and the Sacred Heart Health Service, with which it forms key components of the wider St Vincent's Integrated Healthcare Campus. It is served by the Benedict XVI Medical Library, which is named after Pope Benedict XVI who blessed the site following its opening.

#### Liverpool

Notre Dame and the Liverpool City Council reached an agreement in late 2024 for the university to expand its footprint to the Liverpool CBD. It is expected to be its third Sydney site and the first to be located in its western suburbs.

#### Clinical schools

Whilst not formal campuses, the School of Medicine in Sydney operates eight clinical schools across New South Wales and Victoria. In New South Wales, clinical schools in Greater Sydney are located in Darlinghurst, Auburn and Hawkesbury and regional sites are located in Lithgow and Riverina.
In Victoria, clinical schools are located in Melbourne and Ballarat.

### Broome

The Broome campus is the only campus of Notre Dame to be located outside of a state capital. It was opened in 1994 in the Kimberley region north in Western Australia. It received funding from and was established by the Sisters of St John of God on the former site of a Catholic boarding school. The buildings are located near the epicentre of the town and was restored and renovated for use. The 4-hectare (10-acre) campus has its own library, some limited student accommodation and grew to offer vocational and baccalaureate courses in nursing, teaching and commerce.

### Affiliated institutions

Notre Dame also offers studies at affiliated institutions outside of its three campuses. In spite of their co-ordinated academic programs and courses, they are still separate institutions that are operated independently.

#### Catholic Institute of Sydney

The Catholic Institute of Sydney (CIS) is the sole ecclesiastical faculty of the Catholic Church in Australia. It is located in Strathfield in Sydney's Inner West and offers baccalaureate, postgraduate and doctoral studies in ministry and theology. Its courses are provided in co-ordination with Notre Dame, which is its accrediting and awarding body for civil awards recognised in Australia. Although erected under canon law, Notre Dame itself isn't a pontifical university and CIS confers its own ecclesiastical degrees. The dual-award structure allows studies to be recognised in both Australia and by the Holy See.
Students at CIS have access to all of the amenities at Notre Dame and its academic programs are also provided at Notre Dame's campuses. Students at both institutions are able to switch between campuses throughout their enrolment. CIS also offers courses at Vianney College in Wagga Wagga, a regional city in New South Wales.

#### Te Kupenga – Catholic Theological College

Located in Auckland, the Catholic Theological College (Te Kupenga) is the sole Roman Catholic theological college in New Zealand. Its courses are also provided in co-ordination with Notre Dame and qualifications issued are recognised under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Agreement. It offers religious education programs including ministry and theology.

#### Campion College

Campion College is a Roman Catholic liberal arts college. It is located in Toongabbie, in the western suburbs of Sydney, and named in honour of Saint Edmund Campion. It provides studies in the liberal arts and religious education, including some pathways into Notre Dame with advanced standing.

## Organisation and administration
### Governance and structure

The university is bound by its governing legislation the University of Notre Dame Australia Act 1989, the University Statutes and the Canonical Statutes. The two main bodies in Notre Dame's governance structure are the Board of Trustees and the Board of Directors, both of which were established by the Act and with powers defined by the statutes. The Act provide that the Board of Trustees: "are the custodians of the University and are responsible for ensuring that there is compliance with [the Catholic objects of the university]".

#### Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor

The chancellor of the university is Christopher Ellison, who was appointed in August 2017 in succession to Peter Prendiville and took office in January 2018. The chancellor is appointed by the Trustees for "a period, which must not exceed 8 years, that is determined by the Trustees, or until he or she resigns from that office or ceases to be a Trustee". The role of the chancellor is mainly ceremonial; The vice chancellor is the principal academic and administrative officer and is appointed by the Board of Directors on the nomination of the Trustees. Since February 2020 this has been Francis Campbell succeeding Celia Hammond who retired to run for parliament. The boards also appoint the deputy and pro vice chancellors to assist and advise the vice chancellor as required. The executive management include four deputy vice chancellors, five pro vice chancellors, the university secretary, several chiefs and deputies and the executive deans of the three faculties which are appointed directly by the vice chancellor.

#### Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees is the supreme administrative body of the university. In addition to 12 representatives from the university it includes two members appointed by the Roman Catholic Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Perth; two members appointed by Roman Catholic Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Sydney and the vice chancellor ex officio. Its powers include electing a chancellor, who presides the three boards, nominating a vice chancellor and appointing members of the Board of Directors and the Board of Governors. The Trustees report to the Bishops of Perth, Broome and Sydney which are visitors to the university.

#### Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is the executive body of the university. The governing legislation grants it the authority "to exercise all the powers of the University and is to have the entire control and management of the affairs and concerns of the University". This includes the power to appoint the vice chancellor nominated by the Trustees, to manage faculties and the University Statutes and is the senate that confers awards. It is responsible for the general administration of the university and is advised by several standing committees and the Board of Governors consisting of the Trustees and 18 other members appointed by them.

#### Academic Council

Academic affairs is overseen by the Academic Council. It is a standing committee of the Board of Directors and consists of the vice chancellor, the deputy vice chancellors, two pro vice chancellors, the executive deans of the three faculties, the directors of the research institutes, the academic registrar, the university librarian, two elected academic staff members, two elected professional staff members, one appointed undergraduate student, one appointed postgraduate student, the directors of four support divisions and other senior executives.

### Faculties and departments

The teaching departments at Notre Dame comprises three national faculties that comprise constituent schools, centres and research divisions. The faculties, each led by an executive dean and their Faculty Board, were created in 2024 to consolidate the 16 academic schools. The establishment of faculties and academic schools is formally the responsibility of Board of Directors, with advice from the Board of Governors and the Academic Council. The seven constituent schools each have a Board of Examiners consisting of its National Head of School, its teaching staff and program coordinators and the executive dean of their respective faculty.

#### Faculty of Arts, Sciences, Law and Business

* School of Law and Business
* School of Arts and Sciences

#### Faculty of Medicine, Nursing, Midwifery and Health Sciences

* School of Medicine
* School of Nursing and Midwifery
* School of Health Sciences

#### Faculty of Education and Philosophy & Theology

* School of Education
* School of Philosophy and Theology

### Finances

The net assets owned by the university at the end of 2023 stood at A$211.2 million. The university completed 2023 with revenues of A$231.23 million and expenses of A$230.07 million, for an excess in revenue of A$1.2 million. In 2023, the largest source of revenue came from annual grants provided by the federal, state and local governments followed by student fees. Notre Dame is registered as an educational charitable organisation in Australia, with most of its revenue dedicated to the management and maintenance of the university.
During its early years, Notre Dame relied on private tuition and fundraising for scholarships. Starting in 1998, the federal government gradually began subsidising tuition and providing low-interest loans for students at the university, eventually leading to it being granted Table A status in 2021. The change in designation under the Higher Education Support Act 2003 reclassified Notre Dame from a private university to a public university, allowing it to access additional funding.

### Insignia

Notre Dame's crest is based on design notes taken by Father John Neill, a Trustee of the university from 1990 to 2009. The crest displays an open Bible at its core with the opening verse from the Gospel of John inscribed in Latin that reads in principio erat verbum translated "In the beginning was the Word". The verse was chosen as the motto to symbolise everything that exists beginning as an idea.
The waves below the open Bible and the Commonwealth Star represent the port city of Fremantle, where the university was founded, and Australia as a nation surrounded by water. The symbols are affixed to an Oxford Blue badge over a Cambridge Blue Greek cross surrounded by a gold band that reads the university name. The shades are not exact and are also used in branding as "Navy Blue" and "Sky Blue" respectively, which together with Gold forms its brand colours.
The badge is also used separately for sports but the full crest is used in official documents, including degree parchments. Additionally, the Broome campus also has its own crest which uses different colours and integrates Aboriginal art.

## Academic profile

Notre Dame is a publicly funded university and a member of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, International Council of Universities of Saint Thomas Aquinas and the International Federation of Catholic Universities. It functions on a semester system, operating year-round on academic semesters, summer and winter schools. It is also affiliated with several Catholic organisations in Australia including St John of God Health Care and the National Catholic Education Commission.
In the 2023 academic year, it employed 790 full-time equivalent staff, 370 of which were academic staff and the remaining 417 non-academic staff. The recognised trade union at Notre Dame is the National Tertiary Education Union which has a branch at its Fremantle campus and a branch committee in Sydney. It is responsible for negotiating the Enterprise Agreement with the university. The university also has international staff exchange agreements with universities outside Australia, including NDUS and its Global Gateways.

### Study programs

Notre Dame offers study programs in the fields of commerce, healthcare, education, information technology, psychology, law, medicine, sports science and several fields in the arts and sciences. Some programs can be combined into "double degrees" or include additional majors.
The university also offers a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) among other research programs.

### Research institutes

Notre Dame operates three disciplinary-specific research institutes in partnership with other research institutions and private enterprises. These include:

#### Institute for Ethics and Society

The Institute for Ethics and Society is a research institute in ethics, philosophy and social sciences based at the Sydney campus on Broadway. Its key research themes are: Moral Philosophy and Ethics Education; Bioethics and Healthcare Ethics; and Religion, Culture and Society. It also run lecture series and events including the Scholarship at the Cathedral lectures at St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney and hosts visiting scholars from overseas universities. As of 2025, its director was philosophy professor Renee Kohler-Ryan.
In 2024, Notre Dame launched the Centre for the History of Philosophy in partnership with NDUS' History of Philosophy Forum. Its research areas broadly involve the history of philosophy, with a stated aim of "exploring the deepest and oldest questions". The inaugural lecture was given by NDUS associate professor Therese Scarpelli Cory.

#### Institute for Health Research

The Institute for Health Research is Notre Dame's research institute in health and biomedical science. Its stated aim is to "[improve] the health and quality of life of vulnerable persons". Its research themes include areas of bone health, cancer research, cardiology, chronic conditions, developmental disorders, disability, homelessness, motor disorders, musculoskeletal injuries, psychiatry, ageing and palliative care among others. The university is also one of the partners of the Raine Study, one of the largest cohorts in the world examining pregnancy, childhood, adolescence and early adulthood. It also runs the National Echo Database Australia, the largest database of echocardiograms to date.
As of 2025, its director was psychiatrist and epidemiologist Osvaldo P. Almeida.

#### Nulungu Research Institute

The Nulungu Research Institute is a research institute with the stated aim to conduct "research which is transformative, decolonising and of value to Aboriginal people" that "provides an Indigenous research and academic focus for the entire University". Its key research areas are Aboriginal Wellbeing; Culture Country and Language; Transformational Education; Policy, Practice and Evaluation; and Sustainable Lifeways and Social Justice. Nulungu, which translates to "meeting place", is named after a waterhole that served as a pre-colonial meeting place for Aboriginal groups in the nearby Roebuck Plains. Indigenous Australian culture, history, knowledge, perspectives and practices are central to the institute and its research. It runs on an open access basis and follows The Nulungu Way, a set of principles based on community, transparency and respect which acts as its framework.
As of 2025, its director was historian and archaeologist Melissa Marshall.

### Library system

Notre Dame has six libraries that are spread across its three campuses. In addition to its own collections, staff and students at the university have online access to journals and other electronic resources. It also has reciprocal borrowing arrangements with other university libraries in Australia and New Zealand and participates in the AARNet Eduroam Wi-Fi roaming service.
In Fremantle, libraries include the main St Teresa's Library, the Galvin Medical Library and the Craven Law Library. Libraries on the Sydney campus include St Benedict's Library on the Broadway site and the Benedict XVI Medical Library on the Darlinghurst site. The Broome Campus Library is the sole library on the Broome campus.

#### St Teresa's Library

St Teresa's Library in Fremantle was converted from a heritage-listed 1,200 m$^2$ (13,000 sq ft) warehouse constructed in 1900 on land owned by John Bateman for Bateman Hardware. It is named after the former St Teresa's College in Minnesota (United States) from where 170,000 printed works were purchased for the library. The NDUS Librarian had informed UNDA of the closure in 1989 and US$1 million was raised to acquire its collection. The building was first adapted to become a university library in 1994 when only limited, low cost adaptive re-use works could be afforded, and was renovated in 2011 when a second floor was fitted into the site. As of 2024, it is closed for further renovations and is expected to re-open in time for the 2025 academic year. It will form part of a re-developed student hub situated in the Bateman Courtyard, in between Henry and Mouat Street.

#### Craven Law Library

The Craven Law Library is the law library on the Fremantle campus. It is co-located with St Teresa's Library in one of several Bateman Buildings forming part of the Bateman Courtyard. Established in 1997, the library holds a print collection of legal works from Australian and overseas sources. In 2003, it was renamed to the Craven Law Library after Greg Craven, the founding dean of Notre Dame's law school. The library underwent renovations in 2024 to include a new moot court and three tutorial rooms to form part of the wider Craven Law Centre. During restoration works in 2023, the original hand-painted signage reading J & W Bateman Ltd. was revealed preserved under several layers of removed paint. The shipping company, which was dominant in the early colony, had previously used the buildings as a storage site since the 1890s.

#### Galvin Medical Library

The Galvin Medical Library in Fremantle is contained within the School of Medicine, a heritage listed building designed by architect Frederick Burwell. It is home to the books and other resources in the fields of medicine, nursing and allied health. Constructed from 1900 onward, the building was known as Fowler's Warehouse and served as the principal premises in Western Australia for D. & J. Fowler Ltd., the wholesale grocery company. The library was opened in 2005 after Notre Dame took over its lease from the City of Fremantle. It is named after the Galvin family, an early donor to the School of Medicine's establishment, and extends from 38 to 40 Henry Street to the adjacent Pakenham Street. Its has a wide entrance which at 5.5 metres (18 feet) was originally designed to accommodate two loaded horse-drawn wagons.

#### St Benedict's Library

St Benedict's Library, on the Broadway site, is one of two libraries on the Sydney campus. It is home to the books and other resources in the fields of commerce, education, law, philosophy, theology, the arts and sciences. It was initially located in the main academic building but moved to the Canavan Hall, situated on Grafton Street, in late 2011. The new library was converted from an old 1,235-metre (4,052 ft) warehouse which was donated by the Sydney Catholic Education Office. The library underwent substantial renovations in 2020.

#### Benedict XVI Medical Library

The Benedict XVI Medical Library, on the Darlinghurst site, is one of two libraries on the Sydney campus. It is housed in the Darlinghurst Hall of the former Sacred Heart School, which was constructed in 1880 and was used by the school until it ceased operations in 1986. The school, and the adjacent St Vincent's Hospital, were both originally operated by the Sisters of Charity of Australia. Notre Dame assumed control of the site some time between 2004 and 2005, though the Darlinghurst site didn't open until 2008. It houses books and other resources in the fields of medicine, nursing, pre-clinical sciences, ethics, philosophy and theology. It is situated on 160 Oxford Street, next to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, and named after Pope Benedict XVI who blessed the site following its opening.

#### Broome Campus Library

The Broome Campus Library is Notre Dame's sole library at the Broome campus. The original library was opened in 1994 at the former student residences of Nulungu Catholic College. The secondary boarding school merged with other entities and renamed to St Mary's College the following year, opening a new residential facility in 2008. Due to space limitations, the library moved into a new purpose-built building in 2005. It also hosts a collection of Aboriginal artwork, sculptures and other artefacts, some of which are on display.

### Accreditation

Notre Dame possesses self-accrediting authority from the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency and also has numerous additional specialised accreditations for its programs. Its teacher education programs are accredited by the NSW Education Standards Authority and the Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia. Its law programs are accredited by the relevant lawyer registration boards in New South Wales and Western Australia. Its two medical schools are accredited individually by the Australian Medical Council, and other healthcare programs with the relevant National Board of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency or their affiliated agencies. In mid-2024, Notre Dame launched its first computer science program which is in the process of being accredited by the Australian Computer Society. Most programs are also recognised in other states, territories and New Zealand through reciprocal arrangements.

### Academic calendar

The academic year at Notre Dame is divided into two semesters, with summer and winter terms in-between. The first semester runs from February to May and the second semester from July to October, each followed by two study weeks and two examination weeks. All terms start on a Monday excluding national or state-specific public holidays. The weeks of term are called "Teaching Weeks", numbered from 1 to 13, although this excludes study and examination weeks. Additionally, there is an "Orientation Week", informally known as "O-Week", for first year students prior to the start of each semester.
Certain courses in healthcare and education adopt different academic calendars. Students in these courses also have mandatory attendance requirements, including placements and clinical practicums, required to meet their academic requirements at the university. As such deans must be satisfied that each student has attended all necessary tutorials, workshops and practical work throughout the semester and non-standard study periods.

### Tuition, loans and financial aid

For international students starting in 2025, tuition fees range from A$21,050 to A$81,000 per academic year depending on the field of study. Domestic students may be offered a federally-subsidised Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) which substantially decreases the student contribution amount billed to the student. The maximum student contribution amount limits that can be applied to CSP students are dependent on the field of study.
Since 2021, Commonwealth Supported Places have also been limited to 7 years of equivalent full-time study load (EFTSL), calculated in the form of Student Learning Entitlement (SLE). Students may accrue additional SLE under some circumstances (e.g. starting a separate one-year honours program) or every 10 years. Domestic students are also able to access the HECS-HELP student loans scheme offered by the federal government. These are indexed to the Consumer or Wage Price Index, whichever is lower, and repayments are voluntary until the recipient passes an income threshold.
Notre Dame also offers several scholarships, which come in the form of bursaries or tuition fee remission.

### Admissions

Notre Dame offers two routes for students to apply: a direct application and an application submitted through a shared admissions portal. Applicants who want an earlier, binding decision can apply via the Young Achievers Early Offer Program; others apply through regular decision. The Tertiary Institutions Service Centre (TISC) is the administrative body processing applications for prospective students in Western Australia and the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) manages applications in New South Wales. Additionally, students applying for postgraduate medicine can apply via the Graduate Entry Medical School Admissions System (GEMSAS) or the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC).
Notre Dame considers various factors in its admissions process including a competitive Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) or equivalent, a Grade Point Average (GPA) from prior higher education, vocational qualifications, competitive scores from a Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) and prior work experience. Additionally, the Tertiary Pathway Program is a bridging program that provide direct entry into most courses, including a nursing stream. The program, which is free for domestic students, is available during ordinary semesters or over an intensive summer school prior to the start of the formal academic year. It is also open for concurrent studies to high school students during Year 12 as part of the UniPath program.

#### Widening access

Direct applications don't have a fee and can include a portfolio used to determine individual qualities about the applicant. Areas assessed include personal qualities, contribution to community and life experiences. These factors can affect the applicant's selection rank by means of additional points granted to their selection rank. Some adjustment factors include participation in extracurricular activities, the creative arts, volunteer work, sports, elite athlete status, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status, work experience, military service in the Australian Defence Force and socio-economic disadvantage. Overall, a total of up to 10 adjustment factor points may be granted.
The median ATAR for undergraduates admitted into Notre Dame programs in the first semester of 2024 was 82.5 (84.85 with adjustment factors), with a low of 59.25 (65.15 with adjustment factors) and high of 99.65 (99.95 with adjustment factors).

### Academic reputation

Notre Dame is placed lower than almost all Australian universities on ranking publications, attributable to its low research output.

#### National publications

In the Australian Financial Review Best Universities Ranking 2024, Notre Dame was ranked 36th amongst Australian universities.

#### Global publications

In the 2025 Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings (published 2024), Notre Dame was ranked #1400+ in the world.
In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025 (published 2024), Notre Dame was ranked #1201–1500 in the world.
In the 2024–2025 U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities, Notre Dame was ranked 1674th in the world.

### Student outcomes

The Australian Government's QILT conducts national surveys documenting the student life cycle from enrolment through to employment. These surveys place more emphasis on criteria such as student experience, graduate outcomes and employer satisfaction than perceived reputation, research output and citation counts.
In the 2023 Employer Satisfaction Survey, Notre Dame graduates had an overall employer satisfaction rate of 84.9%.
In the 2023 Graduate Outcomes Survey, Notre Dame had a full-time employment rate of 86.5% for undergraduates and 94.1% for postgraduates. The initial full-time salary was A$70,000 for undergraduates and A$90,000 for postgraduates.
In the 2023 Student Experience Survey, Notre Dame undergraduates rated the quality of their entire educational experience at 78% meanwhile postgraduates rated their overall education experience at 78.3%.

### Graduation

Although the practice of graduating in cathedrals is common in some countries, Notre Dame splits the tradition into two events. Students receive a jarrah cross during graduation Mass and their testamurs at a second graduation ceremony.
In Perth, graduation events are held at St Mary's Cathedral, Perth, for the graduation Mass and the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre for the graduation ceremony. The Mass is also occasionally held at St Patrick's Basilica, Fremantle which is closer to the campus.
In Sydney, graduation events are held at St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney, for graduation Mass and the International Convention Centre Sydney for the graduation ceremony.
In Broome, graduation events are held on the same day at Nulungu Chapel for graduation Mass and another area on campus for the graduation ceremony.
Graduates wear a gown, over a semi-formal dress code, during graduation Mass and the full academic regalia during the following graduation ceremony.

#### Honours, distinction and medals

High-performing students at Notre Dame can have their scholastic distinctions be recognised at graduation on their testamurs and official transcripts. Graduates must achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25/4 to graduate with Distinction or a cumulative GPA of 3.5/4 or higher to graduate with High Distinction.
Students who achieve a 70% or higher weighed average mark (WAM) may be invited to complete an honours supervised research program. These are graded in classes (e.g. First Class Honours) and qualify students to enrol in research degrees such as Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programs. Students receive an additional 1 SLE for appended honours.
Graduates who achieve the highest WAM in each state also receive the University Medal. There are also additional medals for students of each teaching school at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

## Student life
### Religious atmosphere

While having a religious affiliation is not a criterion for admission, Notre Dame identifies as a Roman Catholic university with a Catholic core curriculum and extracurricular activities outside of academic studies. The university also follows the Ex corde Ecclesiae, an apostolic constitution for Catholic universities.

#### Chaplaincy

Notre Dame has a church or chapel across its four main sites, each with a designated chaplain. These include the Holy Spirit Chapel in Fremantle, St Benedict's Catholic Church on Broadway, the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Darlinghurst and the Nulungu Chapel in Broome. The sites in Fremantle and Sydney are also open to the public as places of worship and run regular Mass services throughout the week.
The stated purpose of the Chaplaincy is to "[provide] opportunities for all Notre Dame students to explore and develop a life of faith". It offers programming for Catholic liturgical services and traditions including Mass, sacraments, communal prayer, worship, group bible study, choir, music and social ministry. Its traditions include a Month of Remembrance, to commemorate those who has passed away, and the annual Blessing of the Fleet in Fremantle.

#### Core curriculum

All students at Notre Dame are required to complete the Catholic-inspired core curriculum, which aim to develop graduate attributes within a liberal arts context. For undergraduates pursuing bachelor's degrees, this includes two courses in philosophy and theology. During the first year, it includes Foundations of Wisdom which aims to "explore the ideas, beliefs and means of thinking in the Catholic Liberal intellectual and spiritual tradition". In the subsequent years, students have the option to enrol in a cognate elective, pilgrimage, charity, community service or an "international experience". The latter includes travel to either Broome or an overseas location and can be undertaken within an intensive four-week period. Postgraduate students are only required to complete one core curriculum elective from the same options.

#### Study retreats

The chaplaincy also runs study retreats each semester outside of its campuses. These usually last four days during the pre-examination study week and allow students to prepare or work on assignments outside of the city centres. The retreats also include scenic walks, social activities and time for prayer, sacraments and spiritual reflection.
For students in Perth, study retreats are held at the New Norcia Benedictine Community in New Norcia located approximately 132 kilometres (82 miles) north of the city. Founded in 1847 by Spanish Benedictine monks, it is the only monastic town in Australia and is home to several heritage and religious sites.
For students in Sydney, venues alternate between Mount Carmel Retreat Centre during the first semester and the Hartzer Park Conference and Retreat Centre during the second. The Mount Carmel Retreat Centre was founded in 1965 by Carmelitre Friars and is located in Varroville on the outer fringes of Western Sydney. The Hartzer Park Conference and Retreat Centre is a 6.5-hectare (16-acre) site in Bowral, a town in the Southern Highlands of regional New South Wales. It is named after Marie Louise Hartzer, the first superior general of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, who have owned the site since 1947.

#### Personal development

The Notre Dame Volunteer Network in Fremantle oversees volunteer projects in Perth and the surrounding area. It connects staff and student volunteers to non-profit organisations in need of support. Similar opportunities are also available to students in Sydney through partner organisations. There is also a student mentorship program.
Students can also participate in the In Altum personal and career development program offered by the Chaplaincy. It incorporates volunteering and leadership skills with the stated aim to help students "develop spiritually, to identify their own passions and gifts, and to serve the Church in a meaningful way". The program involves contributing with Chaplaincy activities or a project of choice, attending formation sessions and group meetings, receiving mentorship from the Chaplaincy, taking part in a Chaplaincy Spiritual Retreat and committing to a personal prayer. Personal projects can include liturgical activities, music ministry, organising events, leading small groups, community outreach, running movie and game nights or creating arts, crafts or other media. The program lasts for one semester and runs outside of formal academic programs.
In Altum, from the Latin duc in altum, translates to "into the deep" or "into higher things" from Luke 5:4. It is a quote attributed to Jesus which is similar to the "give a man a fish" proverb but within a religious context.

### Student demographics

In the 2023 academic year, Notre Dame had an enrolment of 11,579 students divided between its three campuses including 4,367 commencing students. The equivalent full-time study load (EFTSL) was 6,486 for undergraduate students and 1,884 for postgraduate students. The student population is largely made up of domestic students, with a total of 411 EFTSL international students. These statistics don't take into account external students enrolled via Open Universities Australia. The university has been allocated an international student cap of 700 enrolments for 2025, the second-highest increase relative to 2023 figures.

### Student association

The Student Association of the University of Notre Dame Australia has two branches, each representing students in Perth or Sydney. They operate both as the representative voice for students and as a provider of a wide range of services. They are democratically controlled through General Meetings and elections, and are run by elected student officers. The associations also support a range of services, including numerous clubs and societies, events, sports and advice services.
The Sydney branch of the Student Association of the University of Notre Dame Australia (SAUNDA) represents students at the Sydney sites meanwhile the Perth branch in Fremantle is abbreviated as the Notre Dame Student Association (NDSA). Both associations have separate student-run clubs and societies, and are governed independently.
From 2025, both branches will be funded through the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) similarly to other public universities in Australia. The fee is expected to increase the their resources and will be allocated though a staff and student committee. For domestic students, it will be deferable through a SA-HELP student loan and international students will be able to apply for the Student Hardship Fund or other support services.

#### Clubs and societies

As of 2025, there are 22 clubs and societies affiliated with the student association at the Sydney branch and 17 at the Perth branch. Students can also organise new clubs and societies by registering them with the association, which is responsible for funding and monitoring their activities. This approval process does not authorise them to act on behalf of the university or student association, nor does approval indicate their agreement with their purpose. Additionally, the student association is responsible to ensure their compliance with the university objects and other policies.

### Sport and athletics

Notre Dame competes in inter-university fixtures in the UniSport Nationals competition in a range of sports, including beach volleyball, futsal, golf, hockey, netball, rowing, squash, ten-pin bowling, touch football and volleyball among other events. It also competes in the state-level NSW Intervarsity in New South Wales and the Western Series in Western Australia.
The university is also a member of the Elite Athlete University Network and provides additional adjustment factors, early entry and greater flexibility during studies to registered elite athletes and coaches.

### Student accommodation

The university has limited on-campus housing capacity and relies on external student accommodation providers.

#### Western Australia

The Port Lodge student housing facility is located at 28 Marine Terrace in Fremantle and comprises 25 beds in single and shared rooms. It was originally established as Sailors' Rest in 1892 for seafarers travelling to the port city. It began construction in 1899 when then state premier John Forrest laid the foundation stone. It was the precursor to the Flying Angel Club on Queen Victoria Street and was run by Rosa Henriques Smith, a social worker who was active at the ports.
There are also other private student accommodation providers situated closer to the Perth CBD and most residential colleges at the University of Western Australia also accept applicants from other universities.
The Broome campus occupies the site of a former boarding school. It includes a Village, comprising nine houses with five bedrooms each, and a Hostel with single and shared rooms.

#### New South Wales

The Sydney sites are located closer to the CBD where there are more private student accommodation providers located within proximity. The Sancta Sophia College at the University of Sydney also accepts applicants from Notre Dame and St Paul's College accepts applications from medical students at the university.

### Exchange programs

Notre Dame offers students the opportunity to study abroad at partner institutions with which it maintains international exchange agreements. The exchanges are open to students who have completed at least one semester at the university and whose degree permits studies abroad with a suitable course combination that can be credited towards their program. Applicants are usually required to have achieved a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.5/4 or higher and must study full-time when abroad. Additionally, students enrolled in some healthcare courses have restrictions in place. Students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) can also apply for OS-HELP student loans to cover travel, accommodation and study-related costs. There is a lifetime limit of two OS-HELP loans, with higher caps for students opting to study in Asia. OS-HELP loans are indexed similarly to HECS-HELP student loans with compulsory repayments over an income threshold.

#### Notre Dame USA

The university had maintained student exchange arrangements with the University of Notre Dame in Indiana since its inception. The arrangements were expanded in 2022 to allow students from both institutions to study abroad at the other while retaining grades and without additional tuition. This included NDUS' Global Gateways in Europe, Asia and Latin America.

#### Partner institutions

In the Asia–Pacific, partner institutions include the Catholic University of Korea, Fu Jen Catholic University, Lasalle College of the Arts (University of the Arts Singapore), Parahyangan Catholic University, Sogang University and Sophia University.
In Europe, partner institutions include the Catholic University of Lyon, HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, Leeds Trinity University, Mary Immaculate College (University of Limerick), Maynooth University (National University of Ireland), Paderborn University, Pázmány Péter Catholic University, St Mary's University (Twickenham), the Catholic University of the West, the University of Navarra and the University of Lucerne.
In Latin America, partner institutions include the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.
In Northern America, partner institutions include Boston College, the Catholic University of America, the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University, DaSales University, King's University College (University of Western Ontario), Purdue University, St. Edward's University, St. Mary's University (Calgary) the University of Notre Dame (Indiana), the University of Portland and the University of San Francisco.
In addition to overseas exchange partners, students can also apply to transfer between campuses.

### Transportation

In Perth, the Fremantle campus is served by the adjacent Fremantle railway station which is the terminus for the Fremantle line. The railway station, which also has bus services, connects the university to the rest of the Transperth network.
The Sydney sites are served by buses connecting to nearby railway stations and other parts of the city. The Broadway campus is closest to the Central and Redfern railway stations meanwhile the Darlinghurst campus is near Kings Cross railway station.
The regional Broome campus has limited public transport infrastructure.

## Notable people
### Notable alumni

As of 2025, Notre Dame has over 37,000 alumni. Politicians who have held office at a state or federal level include Caitin Collins, Emily Hamilton, James Griffin and Matt Keogh. Sportspeople who have played or managed professional sports include Giancarlo Italiano, Marty Roebuck, Ricky Grace, Scott Whiting, Sean Terry and Nathan Williamson. Athletes who have competed in the Olympic and Paralympic games include Aiden Roach, Alessandra Ho, Brianna Throssell, Emily Rogers, Jackson Hamilton, Lucy Chaffer, Nina Kennedy and Toby Kane. Other notable alumni include singer-songwriter Fantine, actress Gracie Gilbert, social activist June Oscar, theologian Graham Hill, educator Kylie Sturgess and physician-inventor Kirby White.
* Notable alumni of the university include:
* Nina Kennedy Australia's first Olympic gold medalist in women's pole vault
* Toby Kane Paralympic skier and reconstructive surgeon
* Caitlin Collins 100th woman elected to the WA state parliament
* James Griffin Former NSW state Minister for Environment and Heritage
* Brianna Throssell Olympic gold medalist swimmer
* Matt Keogh Current Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans' Affairs
* Fantine Singer and songwriter
* Ricky Grace Former basketball player for the Perth Wildcats

### Academics and staff

Notable academics and staff at Notre Dame have included Andrew McGowan (Anglican priest and scholar), Andy Lamey (philosopher and journalist), Anthony Fisher (Catholic Archbishop of Sydney), Anna Poelina (Aboriginal Australian community leader, advocate and filmmaker), Asha Bowen (infectious diseases clinician and scientist), Bernadette Tobin (ethicist and philosopher), Celia Hammond (lawyer and politician), Cheryl Kickett-Tucker (sociology researcher and author), David Kissane (psychiatrist and palliative medicine researcher), David Malcolm (Chief Justice of Western Australia), Elizabeth Boase (biblical scholar), Fleur McIntyre (sports scientist and former basketball player), Gordian Fulde (emergency medicine specialist), Greg Craven (law scholar), Iain Benson (legal philosopher), Janette Gray (Sister of Mercy and theologian), Joe McGirr (physician and politician), John Bloomfield (sports scientist and author), Lyn Henderson-Yates (social scientist), Margaret Somerville (philosopher and bioethicist), Munjed Al Muderis (orthopedic surgeon and author), Nadia Badawi (physician and medical researcher), Nikki Bart (physician and mountaineer), Pat Dodson (indigenous rights activist and politician), Peter Kennedy (journalist), Richard Parkinson (neurosurgeon), Robert McGuckin (Catholic bishop), Richard Umbers (Catholic bishop), Timothy Costelloe (Catholic Archbishop of Perth), Tracey Rowland (Catholic theologian) and Vivienne Garrett (actress).

### Honorary awards

The Board of Trustees has the ability to confer honorary degrees to "recognise distinguished achievements and contributions" in line with the university objects. Although it grants the recipient the titles "Honorary Doctor" and "Hon Dr", it is an award not formally recognised within the Australian Qualifications Framework. There are also variants that can be awarded for "notable eminence" in particular fields and for "significant and sustained contributions to society and humanitarian service".
Notable recipients have included human rights advocates, religious figures, academics, writers, healthcare workers, retired politicians and diplomats, those associated with Notre Dame's founding or advancement and several members of the NDUS.
Additionally, certain emeritus titles can also be awarded to staff for their service to the university.