Adventist Education
Foundations
About Adventist Schools
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. As of 2026 we have 10,364 schools, colleges and universities in over 100 countries, employing over 120,000 teachers, and educating more than 2.3 million students each year.
In 1892 the very first Adventist school in Australia opened in St Kilda, Melbourne. Today around Australia, our 48 schools and 38 early learning services are respected in their communities for providing authentic Christian education to nearly 18,000 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.
About Adventists
Seventh-day Adventists are a Christian denomination with a desire to know God better and experience him more in their lives each day. Central to the daily practices of Seventh-day Adventists is the Bible, which we believe is God’s message to mankind. Through it, people can learn all they need to know about God and salvation, about the basic principles for human relationships and practical godliness.
In addition to strong Christian beliefs and principles, Seventh-day Adventists believe in the health of spirit and of body. We promote a healthier lifestyle, free from alcohol, nicotine, and illicit drugs. This approach to health is promoted strongly within the Adventist school system and is one of the most valued aspects of our approach to teaching. You can feel safe in the knowledge that your children are learning in an environment where a healthy approach to life is the norm.
An extension of the Seventh-day Adventist healthy lifestyle is the vegetarian canteen that operates daily in our school, providing your child with a healthy alternative for lunch.
God’s presence in our schools
Adventist schools welcome students from all faiths and cultural backgrounds. We encourage church attendance and offer Bible studies for families, but church attendanceis not a requirement to attend Henderson College.
Our teaching and faith values the family, as well as strong Christian beliefs and a respect for others and ourselves. Whether your child is a Seventh-day Adventist or follows another faith, we expect these values and principles to be upheld within our schools and request a high standard of conduct both within and outside the school.
As a Christian organisation, we devote time to worship and learning about God and the Bible. Your child will be involved in Bible classes, regularly hear stories from the Bible, and will be involved in a weekly chapel service. All students are encouraged to have a relationship with Jesus, and worship is at the heart of our school communities.
Through our devotion, we aim to help the families at our schools raise responsible, mature and well-rounded children with balance to their lives.
