This online professional learning session for educators in subscribing schools will explore how teachers can engage with the principle of human dignity in the RE curriculum, both in the classroom and through real-world experiences. Using examples such as the Josephite 150-day advocacy campaign,  A Home for Every Neighbour, and others, we will consider how service learning can deepen students’ understanding of human dignity in both belief and action.

The session will also draw on Dr Jen Azordegan’s experience in community-engaged learning at Australian Catholic University, where service-learning is embedded in the Core Curriculum, and students regularly participate in community partnerships with real-world impact. Jen will share insights from her research and practice in service-learning and Catholic Social Teaching, helping translate these approaches into practical classroom understanding. Her contribution will focus on how educators can more intentionally connect service-learning with CST principles, drawing on examples from university–community engagement to support student learning.

The session will focus on helping students develop a richer understanding that every person has inherent worth as created in the image of God, and how this shapes their response to social issues. It will support teachers to integrate faith, learning and lived experience so that human dignity is not only taught, but explored and understood as a foundational truth.

Speakers

Emilia Nicholas is the Community Engagement Officer at the Josephite Justice Network. She will speak about their 150-day advocacy campaign: A Home for Every Neighbour – a campaign committed to raising awareness, building collective understanding, and advocating for meaningful systemic change in response to Australia’s growing housing and homelessness crisis. The Josephite Justice Network (JJN) is an organised network of Sisters and lay Josephites across Australia and New Zealand, advocating for justice in our own communities and across our world.

Dr Jen Azordegan leads ACU’s community-engaged learning team and is currently researching service-learning and Catholic Social Teaching, drawing on student testimonials to strengthen practice. She helped ACU achieve the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification and holds a PhD in Education, with experience in higher education and school–community engagement.

Other speakers to be advised.