Our History

Rosemary Goldie was commissioned to bring the IMCS to Australia in 1938 by General Secretary Rudi Salat. This lead to the affiliation of the Sydney University Newman Society in 1938 at the 18th Congress of Pax Romana. From this 1940 was set as the time for the first National conference. However, due to the out-break of WWII, this was not able to take place. Little then happened until 1942 when the first conference took place from January the 24th and 25th in Sydney. Those whoattended decided to start the University Catholic Federation of Australia, which was the first title under which the movement was known.

The founding members of the movement were Mr T Burke (Sectary), Rosemary Goldie (Assistant Sectary), Dr John Eccles, and Mr TA Herbert. At this conference the first constitution was developed. From this point began the National Movement of Catholic Students in Australia.

Between 1942 and 1950 the organisation, then known as University Catholic Federation Australia (UCFA), was run by university graduates who volunteered for positions of secretariat over the years. This was usually in the state in which the conference was being held that year. In 1950 it was decided to employ a part-time worker for the movement, although there was recognition of the need for a full time worker and greater monetary support. Nothing was done about this until 1976 when the movement received its first grant from the Australian Episcopal Conference (AEC). This funding body later became the Australian Catholic Bishops Committee for the Laity (ABCL).

In 1968 the movement was restructured and its focus moved from social activities to community building and social justice issues. In 1974 it was decided to re-structure the movement to make it more relevant to university students at the time. It was re-named the Tertiary Catholic Federation Australia (TCFA).

The Movement then went through another restructuring period in 1990 when it was re-named the International Movement of Catholic Students Australia (IMCSA).

In 2001, after several years of having been reduced in terms of funding and activities, ACSA began a new revival and its annual conferences have grown each year since. In 2007, over 350 delegates attended the Towards2008 Congress in Canberra.

Since then ACSA has held annual conferences, and has worked towards achieving and living out its mission.