University of Notre Dame Australia

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 sceptic 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. 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". The archdiocese also expressed openness in providing financial support and land 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. Father Cousineau and the Holy Cross' assistant provincial, Father Chris O'Toole, visited Sydney in 1946 to investigate the viability of the institution, including its opportunities and possible setbacks. While their 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, the 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 the issue of distance between the American institutions and Sydney, a future cause for stagnation of progress in the university's establishment. The Holy Cross order sent additional personnel in the following years to evaluate its plans. This included the name University of St. Mary, faculties, locations and fundraising options. Ultimately, 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. Existing commitments in the development of educational institutions elsewhere by the Holy Cross and NDUS also limited the personnel and funding available to support the project. Despite positive reception from Pope Pius XII 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 the endeavour was later abandoned. 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. , now a university town, is the port city for the Greater Perth region Peter Tannock, who headed the Catholic Education Office of Western Australia, discussed these concerns with William Foley, the then Archbishop of Perth. also a childhood friend to Peter and founder of the Leeuwin Estate, who they hoped could provide financial assistance. However, he became insolvent that same year and the buildings were later purchased through loans and donations by the Archdiocese of Perth, Catholic Education Commission and the Sisters of St John of God. (taken between 1976–1982) visited Fremantle in 1988 Father Theodore 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 as part of a retirement cruise 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. An agreement was reached for NDUS to commit in becoming involved in the development and governing body of the university, provide ongoing 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. The university was established on 29 December 1989 following the passage of the University of Notre Dame Australia Act 1989 in the Parliament of Western Australia, 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. , where the university was inaugurated|alt=This is a photograph of St Patrick's Basilica in Fremantle, where the university was inaugurated. Prior to the decision to select Fremantle as the sole campus, the state government had offered the university a land grant Under the plan, its main campus would have been built on publicly owned land and 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 planned land grant accounted for approximately 17% of the region (excluding the coast) and Notre Dame estimated the value of the land to be up to 7 million in 1990. 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, Support for the deal was later rescinded by the Liberal-National coalition and a parliamentary investigation was launched against the Lawrence government during the WA Inc political scandals. Following a motion of no confidence and the subsequent election of Richard Court as Premier of Western Australia in 1993, Growth and development |alt=This is a photograph of the Fremantle Town Hall, where the first graduation ceremonies were held. 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. It also opened a regional campus in Broome that same year located in the northern Kimberley region. 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. The university also established its "objects" that codify its Catholic identity around this time. Town and gown relations Notre Dame's relationship with Fremantle had not always been free of tension. During its establishment, there was doubt as to whether a university town retrofitted into the city was feasible. It had also encountered opposition since its inception with distrust arising from local conservation groups and residents in local media towards Catholic institutions in the increasingly liberal-minded city. The secretive nature of the planning committee and its limited outreach also didn't help build relations with the community or address its concerns on conservation and urban vitality. , built in 1899, was used as a hospital during World War II|alt=This is a photograph of the former Hotel Fremantle, built in 1899, which was used as a hospital during World War II.|left However, the university was not universally opposed. Feelings of nostalgia towards the declining male-dominated, exclusionary pub culture had also been one of the most significant drivers towards conservation movements despite its limited impact on Fremantle's history and culture. The relationship between the university and the wider community has broadly improved in recent years, with the economic benefits of the students it brings from other parts of Perth being a significant driver. to improve cooperation in the areas of heritage conservation, commercial and economic development. and Victoria Street 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 Catholic 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. Pope Benedict XVI visited the latter church that same year and adjoining Benedict XVI Medical Library, which is named after him. Notre Dame was chosen partly for its prior experience in restoring deteriorating historical landmarks and high-density campus planning. ' Blackfriars campus in 2024|right 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 properties surrounding the sites such as Pioneer House on Broadway were also restored and new buildings were built to accommodate the future growth of the student population. 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 a neighbouring campus from UTS. == Campuses and buildings ==

Notre Dame has three campuses. meanwhile its Sydney campus is split across two sites in the Inner West of the city. and students can apply to switch between campuses during their studies. The School of Medicine in Sydney also has seven clinical schools located across New South Wales and Victoria. Since its inception, the university has had handmade jarrah crosses hung in every room across its campuses and clinical schools. The crosses, which are also handed to students during graduation Mass, were intended to serve as a reminder of Notre Dame's Catholic identity and are based on a cross at its Holy Spirit Chapel in Fremantle. The campus is omnipresent in the Fremantle West End heritage area The wider precinct is surrounded in clockwise by several harbours, Bathers Beach facing the Indian Ocean and the Fremantle Ports along the mouth of the Swan River. The campus architect Marcus Collins, campus director Terry Craig, interior designer Angela Chaney and builder Bill Fairweather were largely responsible for renovating much of the early campus. His early work may have been influenced by the 1987 Black Tuesday global stock market crash and the subsequent insolvency of Denis Horgan, who had purchased property for the university to use. , built in 1888 Collins took a frugal and minimalist approach in his building conversions with a unified interior design inspired by the Western Australian environment. A 2022 independent report commissioned by the university valued its annual economic impact at 252 million. The campus is served by the Michael JM Wright Library. , built in 1903, now occupied by the School of Nursing and Midwifery Notable buildings Notre Dame's buildings at the Fremantle campus include a portfolio of colonial-era, late Victorian and Edwardian architecture. 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 its interior re-built in 1985. Notre Dame purchased the site in 2017. The 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. built in 1892|alt=This is a photograph of the Kreglinger Buildings which include the former Westpac Bank Building built in 1892. 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 used for health courses. The 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. It has a parapet with two decorative pediments. It used by the School of Nursing and Midwifery. 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. and the Darlinghurst site which specialises in medicine. It is also expected to open a third site in Liverpool. The Darlinghurst site is listed as the Sacred Heart Church group. Blackfriars (Broadway) , built in 1852, in the forefront The Sydney campus provides most of its programs at the Blackfriars site on Broadway. It was opened in 2006 following an invitation by the Archdiocese of Sydney It was the parish church of Norman Gilroy, the first Australian-born cardinal and an early advocate of the university. Existing properties surrounding the sites such as Pioneer House were also restored within a university precinct known as the Tech Central. It is also part of the Camperdown-Ultimo Collaboration Area, a health and education precinct. In 2024, it acquired a neighbouring campus from UTS. It is located on the sites of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Sacred Heart Hospice in Darlinghurst. The heritage-listed Sacred Heart Catholic Church was built in 1852 It was constructed at the Vatican's Studio of the Mosaic by Enrico Gaudenzi, an Italian mosaic craftsperson. In New South Wales, clinical schools in Greater Sydney are located in Darlinghurst, Auburn and Hawkesbury and Ballarat. 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. Sister Sonia Wagner, a nun who served as the deputy vice chancellor of the campus, described its architecture as "traditional Broome" in reference to use of corrugated iron, timber walls and latticed verandahs in the regional landscape. 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 coordinated academic programs and courses, they are still separate institutions that are operated independently. is the sole ecclesiastical faculty in Australia 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 coordination with Notre Dame, which is its accrediting and awarding body for civil awards recognised in Australia. Although erected under canon law, Students at both institutions are able to switch between campuses throughout their enrolment. () in New Zealand Te Kupenga – Catholic Theological College Located in Auckland, the Catholic Theological College () 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 provides studies in the liberal arts and religious education, including some pathways into Notre Dame with advanced standing. == Organisation and administration ==

, a former British ambassador to the Holy See, is the vice-chancellor Governance and structure The university is bound by its governing legislation consisting of 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. and the founding chancellor was former footballer, coach and legal professional Terry O'Connor. The vice-chancellor is the principal academic and administrative officer and is appointed by the Board of Directors on the nomination of the Trustees. The vice-chancellor is required to identify as a Catholic. who was appointed in succession to Christopher Ellison and took office in January 2026. The chancellery is located in Foley Hall, designated ND1 as Notre Dame's first building, There is also a vice chancellery in Sydney close to the Blackfriars site on City Road. 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 university completed 2024 with revenues of and expenses of , for an excess in revenue of . with most of its revenue dedicated to the management and maintenance of the university. It was eventually granted Table A status in 2021 under the Higher Education Support Act 2003, effectively treating it as a public university and 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 badge is occasionally used separately but the full crest is used in official documents, including testamurs. The Broome campus also has its own branding which uses "Pindan Orange", navy blue and integrates Aboriginal art. == Academic profile ==

on the Blackfriars site|alt=This is a photograph of the spire of St Benedict's Catholic Church on the Blackfriars site. Notre Dame is a publicly funded university 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. In the 2024 academic year, it employed 1,028 staff, 559 of whom were academic staff and the remaining 469 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. Some programs can be combined into "double degrees" or include additional majors. 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. including the Scholarship at the Cathedral lectures at St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney and hosts visiting scholars from overseas universities. 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". , built in 1890, attached to a School of Health Sciences building 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". 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. 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. Indigenous Australian culture, history, knowledge, perspectives and practices are central to the institute and its research. Library system Notre Dame has five libraries that are spread across four cities. 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 Western Australia, libraries include the Michael JM Wright Library in Fremantle and the Broome Campus Library in Broome. Michael JM Wright Library in Minnesota, the former namesake of the library The Michael JM Wright Library in Fremantle was converted from a heritage-listed warehouse constructed in 1900 on land owned by John Bateman for Bateman Hardware. Prior to 2025, it was known as St Teresa's Library after the former St Teresa's College in Minnesota (United States) from where over 170,000 printed works were purchased for the library. in between Henry and Mouat Street. It was initially located in the main academic building but moved to the Canavan Hall, Benedict XVI Medical Library The Benedict XVI Medical Library, on the Darlinghurst site, is one of two libraries on the Sydney campus. Notre Dame assumed control of the site sometime between 2004 and 2005, The secondary boarding school merged with other entities and renamed to St Mary's College the following year, 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. Former libraries In addition to the Peter Prendiville Study Centre on the Fremantle campus, Notre Dame has two other study centres which were formerly libraries. Craven Law Library The Craven Law Library was the law library on the Fremantle campus. Established in 1997, the library held a print collection of legal works from Australian and overseas sources. The shipping company, which was dominant in the early colony, had previously used the building as a storage site since the 1890s. The building underwent renovations in 2024 to include a new moot court, tutorial rooms and study spaces. It was subsequently renamed to the Craven Law Centre a converted heritage listed building designed by architect Frederick Burwell. It housed books and other resources in the fields of medicine, nursing and allied health. Constructed in 1899, the building originally served as the principal premises in Western Australia for D. & J. Fowler Ltd., a wholesale grocery company. The School of Medicine building was opened in 2005 after Notre Dame took over its lease from the City of Fremantle. Its internal library was named after the Galvin family, an early donor to the school's establishment, but was later also renamed to the Galvin Study Centre. It has a wide entrance which at was originally designed to accommodate two loaded horse-drawn wagons. 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. 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. Certain courses in healthcare and education adopt different academic calendars. 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. 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). These are indexed to the Consumer or Wage Price Index, whichever is lower, and repayments are voluntary until the recipient passes an income threshold. Domestic students studying full-time may also receive social security payments for the duration of their studies and there is a Relocation Scholarship for students moving to or from a regional areas in Australia. 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, the Tertiary Pathway Program is a bridging program that provides 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. Widening access Direct applications don't have a fee and can include a portfolio, which replaced personal interviews, Areas assessed include personal qualities, contribution to community and life experiences. Academic reputation Notre Dame is placed lower than almost all Australian universities on national and international ranking publications. ; National publications In the Australian Financial Review Best Universities Ranking 2025, Notre Dame was ranked 39th amongst Australian universities. ; Global publications In the 2026 Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings (published 2025), Notre Dame was ranked #1201–1400 in the world. In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026 (published 2025), Notre Dame was ranked #801–1000 in the world. In the 2025–2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities, Notre Dame was ranked 1592nd in the world. Student outcomes The Australian Government's QILT conducts national surveys documenting the student life cycle from enrolment through to employment. 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 for undergraduates and for postgraduates. Graduation Notre Dame divides its graduation into two events. Students receive a handmade jarrah cross during a graduation Mass and their testamurs at a second ceremony. The tradition was started in 1998 following a visit to a NDUS Alliance for Catholic Education graduation ceremony by then vice-chancellor Peter Tannock, where students received an icon of Christ. 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. 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. These are graded in classes (e.g. First Class Honours) 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, and religious extracurricular activities outside of academic studies. Chaplaincy Notre Dame has a church or chapel across its four main sites, each with a designated chaplain. St Benedict's Catholic Church on Broadway, the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Darlinghurst The sites in Fremantle and Sydney are also open to the public as places of worship and run regular Mass services throughout the week. which aims to develop graduate attributes within a liberal arts context. For undergraduates pursuing bachelor's degrees, this includes two courses in philosophy and theology. In the subsequent years, students have the option to enrol in a cognate elective, pilgrimage, charity, community service or an "international experience". 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. 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, 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 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 campus is adjacent to Bathers Beach 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. 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. Student demographics In the 2024 academic year, Notre Dame had an enrolment of 11,990 students divided between its three campuses. This included 8,525 undergraduate students, 3,119 postgraduate students and 346 students studying programs at other levels. Students identifying as Catholic have historically accounted for a majority of the student population, making up approximately 60% of those enrolled during the mid-2000s. They operate both as the representative voice for students and as a provider of a wide range of services. and are governed independently. For domestic students, it is deferable through a federal SA-HELP student loan and international students are able to apply for the Student Hardship Fund or other support services. code during a program run by Freopedia in 2013 Clubs and societies Students can also organise new clubs and societies by registering them with the association, which is responsible for funding and monitoring their activities. The ban was lifted in 2019 and the Stripes LGBTQ+ student club was founded that same year. Student media Quasimodo, preceded by ''The Ru'bric'' from 1996 to 1997, was a student-run magazine at Notre Dame. The magazine took its name from Quasimodo, Victor Hugo's fictional bell-ringer and protagonist of The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. and a small number of open access journals with varying levels of activity. Sport and athletics The Notre Dame Knights compete 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 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 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. The university previously had an alcohol ban in place which was relaxed in 2019 to prevent students from "drinking on the street". There are also other private student accommodation providers situated closer to the Perth CBD The Broome campus occupies the site of a former boarding school. New South Wales The Sydney sites are located closer to the CBD where there are more private student accommodation providers located within proximity. and St Paul's College accepts applications from medical students at the university. 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. There is a lifetime limit of two OS-HELP loans, with higher caps for students opting to study in Asia. This included NDUS' Global Gateways in Europe, Asia and Latin America. 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 Blackfriars site is closest to the Central and Redfern railway stations meanwhile the Darlinghurst site is near Kings Cross railway station. == Notable people ==

Notable alumni Notre Dame has over 37,000 alumni. In politics and public service, alumni include Caitin Collins, Emily Hamilton, James Griffin, Matt Keogh and Stephen Pratt. Sportspeople who have played or managed professional sports include Fiona Boyce, 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, Lauren Mitchell, Lucy Chaffer, Nina Kennedy and Toby Kane. Other notable alumni include singer-songwriter Fantine, actress Gracie Gilbert, author James Foley, social activist June Oscar, theologian Graham Hill, educator Kylie Sturgess and physician-inventor Kirby White. Academics and staff A number of notable academics and staff have worked at Notre Dame across various cognate fields. Notable faculty in health and medicine have included Asha Bowen, David Kissane, Gordian Fulde, Joe McGirr, Munjed Al Muderis, Nadia Badawi, Nikki Bart and Richard Parkinson. Lawyers, judges and politicians have included Celia Hammond, David Malcolm, Greg Craven and Pat Dodson. Philosophers and ethicists who have taught at the university include Andy Lamey, Bernadette Tobin, Iain Benson, Peter Harrison and Margaret Somerville. Religious scholars have included Andrew McGowan, Anthony Fisher, Elizabeth Boase, Janette Gray, Robert McGuckin, Richard Umbers, Timothy Costelloe and Tracey Rowland. In exercise and sports science, academics have included Fleur McIntyre and John Bloomfield. In sociology, academics have included Anna Poelina, Cheryl Kickett-Tucker and Lyn Henderson-Yates. Academics in communications and media have included Peter Kennedy and Vivienne Garrett. 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. Additionally, certain emeritus titles can also be awarded to staff for their service to the university. == See also ==