معرفی
Pamela Van Oploo is a Lecturer in Philosophy and Religious Education at the School of Philosophy & Theology, University of Notre Dame Australia, Sydney campus. She holds a BSc (Hons) in Science and Mathematics and a PhD in Science and Technology, and is currently completing a second doctorate on the educational philosophy of St Thomas Aquinas.
Her research focuses on the intersection of theology, philosophy, and pedagogy, particularly within the Catholic tradition. Key areas include Thomistic philosophy, philosophy of education, Biblical and Sacramental Theology, Church History, doctrinal development, and innovative methods in religious education (RE). She is deeply engaged in developing pedagogical frameworks that integrate theological depth with practical classroom application.
The recent publications and presentations reflect a strong thematic focus on the role of the Holy Spirit as the Divine Teacher in Aquinas’s thought and its implications for modern religious education. This unifying theme bridges classical theology with contemporary educational practice.
She has contributed to professional development for Sydney Catholic Schools and the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, and serves as a consultant for the SALT teaching approach, helping implement liturgically-based RE curricula in schools and parishes. She also leads in parish liturgical coordination and music ministry.
Selected Publications & Presentations:
- van Oploo, P. (2024). St Thomas Aquinas on the Primacy of the Divine Teacher in the Person of the Holy Spirit — some pedagogical implications. In K. Wagner, P. J. McGregor, & M. I. Naumann (Eds.), Pneumatology at the Beginning of the Third Millennium. Pickwick.
- van Oploo, P. (2022). God THE teacher in the Person of the Holy Spirit, according to the thought of St Thomas Aquinas; some pedagogical considerations. Paper presented at Pneumatology Conference, University of Notre Dame, Sydney.
Community and Professional Engagement:
- Professional development facilitator for Sydney Catholic Schools and the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith
- Consultant, SALT Approach – developing RE programs for schools and parishes based on the liturgical year
- Parish liturgical coordinator and choir mistress
