although it was not until 1981 that the biblical scholar Francis Andersen was
appointed as the first Chair. The Board of Divinity was dismantled in 1975,
and the divinity students were phased out over the next nine years. The
University of Sydney established a Department of Studies in Religion in 1977,
with Eric Sharpe (1933–2000) as the first chair.
In Victoria at La Trobe University, Religious Studies was offered from the
early 1970s with subjects offered by lecturers of different disciplines, with Paul
Rule as an appointment in History and at the same time Chairman of Religious
Studies. The year 1975 saw the first appointment of a senior lecturer in
phenomenology of religion and the development of religious studies as a major
subject for undergraduates. In the Australian Capital Territory, a Chair in
Religious Studies was advertised at the Australian National University in the
early 1970s but not filled.
Colleges of advanced education, an alternative to universities in offering
tertiary awards especially in professional areas like teaching, also introduced
specific programs for studies in religion. These colleges were later absorbed
into the university system, where the programs continued. The trend was
particularly strong in South Australia, usually with one lecturer appointed to
develop and administer the program: in 1974, at the Adelaide College of
Advanced Education (later University of Adelaide); in 1975, at Murray Park
College of Advanced Education and Salisbury College of Advanced Education
(both later University of South Australia); and at Sturt College of Advanced
Education (later Flinders University).
In Western Australia, Claremont Teachers College introduced a Graduate
Diploma in Religious Studies in 1977–1978 (later Edith Cowan University).
In Tasmania at the same time, the Tasmanian College of Advanced Education
(later University of Tasmania), offered a major program with some comparative
religion, although with a heavy emphasis on Christianity. In New South Wales,
Riverina College of Advanced Education (later Charles Sturt University) offered
Religion Studies from 1974. Within the Religious Education and Theology
courses, Catholic College of Education in Sydney (later Australian Catholic
University) offered a unit in World Religions from 1976.
Within the larger area of the Pacific Islands, two Australian lecturers in
religious studies (the subject to be included under the discipline of history), Garry
Trompf and Carl Loeliger, were appointed at the University of Papua New
Guinea from 1972. Trompf moved to the University of Sydney in 1978, but
went back to the University of Papua New Guinea as Professor of History from
1983 to 1985. In the intervening years he continued his support of indigenous
PNG students and scholars. His edited volume (Trompf 1987) from a 1981
Brisbane conference, The Gospel is not Western, comprises a compilation of
many contributions from indigenous communities, including from graduates of
the University of Papua New Guinea.222
MAJELLA FRANZMANN