About Us
Australian Tao Academy
Preserving, interpreting, and correctly transmitting authentic traditional wisdom — building a rigorous academic and practical foundation for the next generation of scholars and practitioners in Australia and the global community.
Why We Exist
In an era of growing commercialisation and misrepresentation of Eastern philosophy, ATA is dedicated to preserving, interpreting, and correctly transmitting authentic traditional wisdom. We transform profound classical philosophy into life science and decision-making frameworks accessible to the modern world, correcting secular distortions with academic rigour.
Where We Are Headed
To become the pre-eminent centre for traditional Eastern education and cultural heritage in the Southern Hemisphere. We are committed to establishing a Permanent Dedicated Campus in Australia — a place where classical Chinese civilisation and contemporary Australian multicultural life converge in mutual respect, rigorous inquiry, and compassionate service.
The Journey: Founded on True Aspiration
The Australian Tao Academy (ATA) was co-founded in Sydney in 2025 by a group of practitioners, scholars, and community members united by a common concern: authentic traditional cultural teachings were being obscured by commercialisation, cultural dilution, and mysticism.
ATA's foundations are deeply rooted in Chinese traditional philosophy and classical literature. We are committed to transmitting verifiable classical wisdom — approaching it with academic rigour and integrated practice — and genuinely opening the door of Eastern life sciences to the modern world.
The Academy's origins are inseparable from the more than a decade of seeking and scholarly exploration undertaken by its founder, Dean Liu Shanxi. From 2008 — studying internal martial arts and the I Ching — to 2014, when he met his teacher and began systematic study of traditional philosophy, he was continuously searching for how to transform ancient wisdom into inner peace for modern people.
During the global upheaval of 2020, the founding team provided free guidance and support to a large number of international students and new migrants who had fallen into extreme anxiety. This experience made us profoundly aware of the deep inner equilibrium crisis and psychological disorder facing modern people. Today, ATA not only provides systematic study programs, but continues to run free community programs, public charitable activities, and academic research in philosophy and cultural studies — transforming traditional wisdom into real social impact.
Organisational Structure & Core Team
Custodian of traditional philosophy and life sciences. Dedicated to rebuilding the educational framework of Eastern life sciences within a Western context.
President of the Australian I Ching Application Association. Translates profound hexagram wisdom into modern decision-making, with community service at its core.
Licensed TCM practitioner and acupuncturist in Sydney (AHPRA Registered). Contributes to the Academy's cultural education programs in an educational, not clinical, capacity — sharing the philosophical frameworks of classical life science tradition.
Inheritor of the classical Yi Jin Jing tradition. Integrates ancient kinetic wisdom into modern mind-body wellness practice.
Oversees the Academy's overall vision, ensuring academic integrity and the delivery of the charitable mission.
Applies systems thinking to modern business practice, converting organisational excellence into public service capacity.
Seasoned marketing professional dedicated to amplifying the Academy's voice of peace within the community and advancing cross-cultural exchange.
Justice of the Peace and Certified Practising Accountant. Long-term advocate for new migrant integration, providing the Academy's strongest professional guarantee in regulatory compliance, financial transparency, and community welfare.
Senior classical Taoist scholar and cultural heritage specialist. Provides independent academic and cultural advisory services to the Academy, ensuring the scholarly authenticity and philosophical integrity of its classical Chinese educational content.
Specialist in Buddhist philosophy and practice. Provides independent advisory support on inter-traditional dialogue, enriching the Academy's cross-tradition scholarship.
Our Social Contract
Transcending the boundaries of race and belief, nurturing multicultural harmony across the Australian community.
Delivering free public lectures and reading circles to provide cultural resources and systemic thinking tools for navigating the challenges of modern life.
Providing high-quality education to help modern people rediscover inner peace and life wisdom.
Preserving, integrating, and transmitting the most authentic Eastern cultural heritage in the Southern Hemisphere.
Fostering dialogue between Eastern and Western philosophy, deepening cultural identity and community cohesion.