- ACU is launching new stipend scholarships to fund research for ACU's Plunkett Centre for Ethics
- The scholarships will support new research into human flourishing and bioethics
- The Plunkett Centre opened in 1992, and aims to advance the ethics related to human health and wellbeing through research and teaching.
Australian Catholic University (ACU) will launch a new PhD scholarship program to support the next generation of pioneering researchers in human flourishing and bioethics.
Funded by ACU's Graduate Research School, the prestigious stipend scholarships will support two new PhD candidates in 2027.
Open to both domestic and international applicants, the new scholarships will fund research within ACU's Plunkett Centre for Ethics in Sydney.
The Plunkett Centre for Ethics was founded in 1992 and is named after the first Catholic Solicitor General and Attorney General of New South Wales, John Hubert Plunkett.
Working in partnership with six Catholic healthcare providers, the Centre aims to advance the ethics related to human health and wellbeing through research and teaching.
Home to some of Australia's leading bioethicists and philosophers, the Centre has published research into the ethics of end-of-life care, human flourishing, clinical practice, conscientious objection, reproductive technologies, and more recently, tackling issues related to ethical use of artificial intelligence.
ACU Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Zlatko Skrbis said the new scholarship program would open more doors for the Plunkett Centre's significant work in advancing ethical standards in healthcare from a Catholic perspective.
"For more than three decades, the Plunkett Centre for Ethics has been leading the conversation around the ethical provision of healthcare in Australia, underpinned by the Catholic intellectual tradition," Professor Skrbis said.
"I am delighted to support the Centre by offering two new scholarships for PhD candidates and widen the impact of our Plunkett scholars both nationally and internationally."
In welcoming the new scholarship program, Dr Symons said the Plunkett Centre was grateful to receive ongoing support of its research commitments.
"Research is core to the work of the Plunkett Centre, whether it be artificial intelligence to end of life care ethics, and we want to work with the best junior scholars in the field. These scholarships will attract top young talent," Dr Symons said.
"At ACU, we are committed to promoting bioethics, particularly Catholic bioethics scholarship, and educating the next generation of bioethicists for Australia.
"There has never been a more important moment for humanity to reflect on the ethics of medicine and technology and how it is transforming our world".
Since commencing in 2024, ACU's Graduate Research School has seen a significant increase in the number of PhD applications, up 85 per cent in the past 12 months alone.
Applications to undertake a PhD with the Plunkett Centre for Ethics close 1 October 2026.
