In 2012, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference established the Australian Catholic Council for Lay Pastoral Ministry to foster collaboration amongst dioceses and to facilitate a national approach to aspects of pastoral ministry.
The Australian Catholic Council for Lay Pastoral Ministry advises the Bishops Commission for Evangelisation, Laity and Ministry in the promotion of the life and mission of the Catholic Church in Australia in the areas of:
- Support of lay pastoral ministers in their service to the Church
- Assistance of lay pastoral ministers with accreditation and employment relations:
- The promotion of the role and value of lay pastoral ministers.
The Australian Catholic Council for Lay Pastoral Ministry conducted a qualitative survey among Catholic dioceses in Australia to obtain a general understanding of the national landscape of lay pastoral ministry. This was followed by a more in-depth study, involving case studies from diverse pastoral settings across Australia by the Christian Research Association in 2015.