NEWSLETTER: Issue 7, November 2015

One is always grateful when experiencing a deep sense of joy in life. Such joy is one of the gifts that Clemente Australia students, graduates and friends share. We all appreciate the love and care we experience in Clemente. As Pope Francis reminds us “Life grows by being given away, and it weakens in isolation and comfort” (Evangelii Gaudium #10). This is the “joy of the Gospel” which Pope Francis continues to open to us through his reflective and challenging candour as he embraces people who are experiencing marginalisation, rejection or isolation. As ACU celebrates this 25 years of its history we are grateful to Clemente Australia people, who for 13 of these 25 years, have opened new horizons for us sharing their joy and life and expressing something of the richness of what Pope Francis calls the “joy of the Gospel”. Professor Jude Butcher cfc AM Director | Institute for Advancing Community Engagement

A STUDENT’S STORY

GRADUATIONS

I come from a migrant family and the first priority was to put a roof over our heads and food on the table. I didn’t think I would ever have the opportunity to get a university degree. When my own family got older I realized that I didn’t have the qualifications to get many of the jobs that interested me. I didn’t try to get a higher education because I thought I would have to do the equivalent of Year 12. That was just too hard and I was afraid of making a fool of myself. Last year I picked up a Clemente pamphlet from the local library. Discovering that there is an education program created to give a second

Congratulations to the Clemente students who celebrated the successful completion of the Certificate of Liberal Studies at Graduation Ceremonies in 2015. Ballarat: Melanie Risk Brisbane: Louis Leigh-Lucas, Kenneth Penne, Christine Stickler, Patrick Winter, Kenneth Pene Canberra: Andrew Diprose, Jacqueline O’Connor, Michael Philp Surry Hills: Linda Kent, David McGettigan, Michael Wilson (Posthumously Awarded),

Macarthur: Gyula Paskulak

Melbourne: Daryl Blackmore, Bruce Fitzgerald, Violet McKinnon, Julian Ogle, Freya Champion

chance to people who are disadvantaged when they were younger opened up a whole new world to me. Now I am in my fourth semester. I have gained a lot of confidence. The class is small and friendly and although we have different backgrounds and ages the fact that we are on the same journey means that we don’t have to feel self-conscious. With only one more semester before graduation, I am starting to look to the future. At last when filling on forms I will be able to put something in that question on ‘further qualifications’. Leaving it blank always hurt. Many have asked why I bother about those qualifications. I never had the chance to test myself. Whether I pass or fail, Clemente has given me that opportunity. I will know! Janet Hall (Clemente Macarthur)

Heather Bowman (pictured with the Vice Chancellor) a graduate of Clemente Macarthur was awarded a Bachelor of Arts Degree at the Sydney Autumn Graduation Ceremony. She is currently enrolled in an Honours Program at Charles Sturt University. Daniel Smith (above), a graduate of the Catalyst Clemente program at Mission Australia, Surry Hills was awarded a Bachelor of Arts Degree at the Sydney Spring Graduation Ceremony.

How has Clemente impacted you as a person and an academic?

“One of the most striking things about teaching in Clemente is how eager all the continuing students have been to learn. The students are real life-long learners! So, for me as a person, the students have taught me to always keep learning. As an academic, the students have taught me to engage more with real-world experience. This is not meant to sound trite or patronizing, but more that I need to listen more closely to the way non-sociologists narrate sociology.” Dr Ian Flaherty ( Surry Hills, Mt Druitt)

“Clemente has been, and continues to be, a great privilege for me as an academic and as a person. I didn’t come to uni through a traditional path so I can empathise with many of the struggles that Clemente students have during their journey. I was supported by some academics during my journey and this is a way I can give back. Clemente is a great program that inspires both student and academic.” Naomi Wolf (Ballarat, Fitzroy)

“Always humbled at the collective wisdom of the Clemente students. A wisdom that comes from the lived experiences of multiple disadvantage.” Ken Nobin (Mt Druitt)

I have been teaching literature in the Clemente program for around 10 years at many locations: Matthew Talbot, Wooloomooloo, Mission Australia, Surry Hills, The Nagle Centre, Campbelltown, and soon Mount Druitt. I have also mentored a number of graduating Clemente students as they pass from their Certificate in Liberal Arts through to their Arts Degree at Australian Catholic University.

My core field is Australian and English literature across all periods. My post-graduate work was in Australian poetry. I completed my PhD on the Australian poet Francis Webb. This was published as a book in 1991 by Harper Collins (and has now been republished and updated as an ebook); the title is God’s Fool: The Life and Poetry of Francis Webb. I received a Human Rights Award for this book because it made a strong case for how those who are outcast in our community (Francis Webb was a hospitalised Paranoid Schizophrenic) can make a huge contribution to our culture despite their difficulties.

Clemente has broadened my experience of teaching and has given me a real sense of serving the community. I have found that students who enroll in Clemente literature, through their strong need to make sense of their lives, bring a depth of insight and understanding to their engagement with texts and ideas. This creates a powerful learning situation which draws a great deal from the teacher as well as the student.

When a graduated Clemente student appears in my University (ACU) literature class –as many do- a huge expansion of insight takes place for all. Other students respond with awe and amazement at what those with disadvantage have to offer. It is not only experience, but dedication, wisdom and a real passion for learning that they bring. This has a powerful effect on the class a whole.

Clemente has taught me to reach for levels of understanding that reach out more widely to people’s feelings, emotions and sensitivities; it has taught me to ensure that what I have to say is understood and felt; it has taught me to be to be much more open to the voices, the contributions, of those on the margins.

One Australian author who has helped very much in this process is David Malouf who in much of his work, particularly, Remembering Babylon vividly describes the creative impact of an outsider on the community at large. This is a book that my Clemente students have regularly studied, and it gives a profound acknowledgement of the creative importance of their place in Australian society as a whole.

Professor Michael Griffith (Surry Hills, Macarthur)

“It was the most rewarding aspect of the year for me. The students were curious, engaged and brought a wealth of life experience to discussions. It reminded me that literature can help develop a self-reflective disposition where one’s own personal story can be considered anew through reading about the experiences of others. The resilience of the students in the face of difficulties communicated itself to me and I felt fortified and encouraged by the end of the semester. The experience also reminded me of my relative privilege and that my academic achievements are built on opportunity as well as hard work.” Dr Simon Ryan (Brisbane)

“Clemente has been an extraordinary inspiration to me. I have treasured those occasions when I have taught in the program and I am immensely proud of what we've achieved. It is a delight also to see graduates progress in their university studies from the Certificate to Bachelor programs at ACU and Federation University Australia. Clemente has helped me to love teaching all over again.” Dr Jeremy Smith, Federation University (Ballarat)

What impact has your involvement in the program had on mainstream students?

“It reminds me that each student is on a journey-both seen and unseen-and we need to be mindful of this as we teach. We also need to start seeing small things as achievement markers so that we can engage students to do well in their lives. I am humbled by the students’ trust and their engagement in class encourages me to help mainstream students connect with the units I teach more strongly.” Naomi Wolfe (Ballarat, Fitzroy)

“I think I am more careful now to explain myself and the work as clearly as possible. I try to engage more with the students and to listen carefully to their points of view.” Dr Simon Coghlan, (Fitzroy)

What has Clemente taught you about your own teaching?

“One of the best days when teaching a Clemente course is usually the first. Bright eyes, smiles, hands raised, people almost jumping out of their seats. These students want to learn. They have ideas. They have rich life experiences. True, there are interruptions. Yes, attendance and attention can sometimes be patchy and unfortunately poor health, undeveloped academic experience and skill, the responsibilities of daily life or just lack of personal confidence can make it impossible for students to complete a course. But the great thing for the teacher and the students as a whole is the sense of excitement, joy in learning and willingness to embrace the opportunities offered by this course.” Dr Charlotte Clutterbuck (Canberra) “Clemente has taught me the art of listening. Furthermore it has reminded me of the responsibility we bear as teaching academics to remember what impact we can have on people” Dr Jeremy Smith (Ballarat) “Clemente has taught me resoundingly ‘horses for courses’. Pedagogical method needs to be suited to the audience and more than ever one needs to think on one’s feet. I have received more than my fair share of curly questions from Clemente students! That has been great - it has taught me to think quickly and decisively on my feet.” Dr Ian Flaherty (Surry Hills and Mt Druitt) “I am a fellow student on this journey. I might know more academic content but certainly not more about life. It pays to listen quietly to the experiences of students and the silences embedded.” Ken Nobin (Mt Druitt) “It has taught me what a privilege it is to teach! That is because the dedication of the students in Clemente is so inspiring.” Dr Simon Coghlan (Fitzroy) Newsletter contact: catherine.metcalfe@acu.edu.au