Our Education System

Welcome to Adventist Education

Since the early 1870s Adventist Education has been an integral part of the ministry of the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Adventist Education is the largest protestant schooling system in the world with 9489 schools, colleges and universities in over 100 countries with 111360 teachers, educating 2,044,709 students each year.

In 1892 the very first Adventist school in Australia opened in St Kilda, Melbourne. Today around Australia, our 48 schools and 13 early learning services are respected in their communities for providing authentic Christian education to nearly 17,000 students and young children from all sectors of the community.

Our schools and early learning services in Australia are non-selective, inclusive schools, open to all who want a Christian community that is caring, safe, values-based, and sets high academic standards.

Our PHILOSOPHY

The Seventh-day Adventist philosophy of education is Christ-centred. We believe that Jesus is the ultimate example of ‘love in action’ and He wants us to do likewise. As such, Adventist Education is a vital ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and is committed to sharing God’s life-transforming love.

We believe that Jesus relates to us on a personal level, presenting His character as the ultimate example. His love and grace is the foundation of our relationship with Him. Therefore, Adventist Education seeks to reveal Jesus and nurture all “… to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8 CSB). We are children of Christ and He says to us all, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” (John 15:4 ESV).

By daily abiding in Jesus, we can find purpose, hope, and joy, even during difficult times.

As such, Adventist Education strives to be transformative. It seeks to impart more than academic knowledge through the balanced development of the whole person: spiritually, mentally, socially, and physically. It seeks to develop a life of faith in God and a respect for the dignity of all people. It seeks to guide students “to be thinkers, and not mere reflectors of other people’s thoughts” (White, E. Education,1903). It promotes loving service rather than selfish ambition; and it embraces all that is true and good.

Our schools and early learning services seek to be thriving, nurturing, learning communities where Jesus is central, and where our students and young children may become all that God intends them to be.

Our PURPOSE: to reveal Jesus.

Adventist Education exists because we believe in the profound love of Jesus and the hope, peace
and joy that comes from knowing Him, and living with Him and for Him. We want to share this good
news in our early learning services and school communities. We are intentional in everything we
do – from our attitudes, words, and actions to reflect Jesus to our students, young children, families,
and wider community.

Our VISION: to be a thriving Christ-centred Learning Community.

Our desire is to build a dynamic, nurturing inclusive community so that each Adventist school
and early learning service will be a lighthouse in their community – shining for Jesus, serving with
care and excellence. Every level of our organisation is committed to working in harmony to build a
vibrant culture of excellence.

Our MISSION: to enable every student to flourish.

Our belief is that students and young children will truly flourish when their spiritual, mental,
physical, and social needs are met. We want to inspire and care holistically for each person –
equipping them with the beliefs, values, and skills to live a life of purpose, hope, joy, and peace as a
global citizen for Christ.

Our VIEW OF STUDENTS

Every student and young child is created in God’s image. Every single one is unique and of immeasurable worth with the right to develop their God-given potential regardless of race, gender, ability, and religion.

This drives us to recognise the diversity and needs of all learners and provide an inclusive, quality education to all. We seek to create effective learning environments that enable students and young children to flourish holistically, committed to their individual differences and needs.

We count it a privilege to nurture, guide, teach, and inspire all those in our care, and to reflect Christ’s love to all.

Our ADVENTIST IDENTITY

Every Adventist school and early learning service is unique by virtue of its location and circumstance, yet all share distinctive qualities. These qualities create an atmosphere and ethos which can be experienced and observed. ‘Adventist Identity’ is used to describe these distinctive qualities.

Our identity is Christ-centred, Bible-based and underpinned by the fundamental beliefs and values of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Every school and early learning service:

  • is a proud ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
  • ensures that Adventist Christian beliefs and ethos are reflected in every aspect of school life and culture
  • provides regular opportunities for students, young children and their families to accept Christ as their personal Saviour
  • recognises they serve a God of excellence, as such, strives to provide the very best environment for all to flourish
  • provides opportunities for its students and young children to develop and embed life-skills and values through service to others

Our CULTURE

The culture of an Adventist school and early learning service is distinct.

As soon as you walk onto any one of our campuses, you will sense a difference.

That difference is most evident in genuine care for not just our students

and young children, but their families as well.

There is something very special about each of our campuses that appeals to

anyone who is looking for a Christian community that is caring, safe,

values-based, and sets high academic standards.

 

Although every campus is unique, our aim is to create an environment that…

• is genuinely Christ-centred
• reflects our Christian ethos in all that it does
• is led by vibrant spiritual leadership
• is committed to the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
• truly cares for its students, young children and the wider community
• is student focused to ensure every child can reach their potential
• is safe and inclusive of all
• builds strong ties with families so that they work in unity to support each child
• has a professional staff, united in best practice
• has clearly communicated policies that are embedded and implemented by all staff
• is constantly reflecting on its practice and looking for ways to improve