About Us

The Australian Catholic Deacons Association (formerly the National Association of deacons (NAD) represents the Catholic deacons of Australia. We have, until May 2025, been a sub-association of the National Council of Priests (NCP).
 

However, Australian Catholic Bishops Conference in May 2025 approved our new statutes, therefore establishing us as a new entity.

We aim to provide a forum for deacons in Australia to gather their views, ideas and experiences.

We can speak on clergy life and ministry matters with the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference (ACBC) through the Bishops' Commission for Church Ministry (Bishops' Commission for Evangelisation, Laity and Ministry).

The Australian Catholic Deacons Association cooperates with key people involved in the formation of deacons in Australia and hosts national gatherings of formators.

We offer exclusive benefits for our members including webinars and a discounted price for our national deacons conferences.

We also have close ties with the International Diaconate Centre.

The Australian Catholic Deacons Executive Committee

The executive committee of the association comprises Deacon Tony Hoban (from the Diocese of Parramatta) as President and representatives elected from the membership in five regional groups of the Ecclesiastical Provinces of Adelaide, Deacon Tim Grauel; Brisbane, Deacon Chad Hargrave; Melbourne (with the addition of the Archdiocese of Hobart), Deacon Michael Hangan; Perth, Deacon Bruce Talbot; and Sydney (with the addition of the Archdiocese of Canberra - Goulburn), Deacon Anthony Gooley.

President - Deacon Tony Hoban (Diocese of Parramatta)

Tony was ordained in December, 2009.
Bishop of Parramatta, Vincent Long, appointed Tony as Pastoral Director of the Parochial District of St Luke’s, Marsden Park, from January 2018, a role he served in for 7 years with great support from his wife, Annette.
Tony moved to this role after a career which spanned many areas, from starting out as a newspaper journalist, to working as Media and Government Relations Manager with NRMA, to senior business management roles in a number of organisations, such as Business Manager for CatholicCare Social Services in the Diocese of Parramatta, Executive Officer for St Vincent de Paul Society, Parramatta, a short time with Catholic Mission and establishing campus ministry services nationally for staff of Australian Catholic University.
Tony has a Bachelor of Theology degree, a Master of Business Administration, a Company Directors’ Diploma and a Graduate Certificate in Pastoral Counselling. 
Tony has been Vicar for Deacons, Director of Formation for the Permanent Diaconate and Chair of the Board of Management (Clergy Remuneration and Retirement Plan) for the Diocese of Parramatta. 
He is also Deputy President of the International Diaconate Centre and Deputy Chair of the Board of Kairos Prison Ministry, Australia.