Nunawading Christian College

Nunawading Christian College is an independent Seventh-day Adventist co-educational early learning, primary and secondary day school, located in the Melbourne suburb of Nunawading, Victoria, Australia.

The College is part of the Seventh-day Adventist Church's worldwide educational system.

Overview Established in 1962 as a primary school, Nunawading Christian College (NCC) consists of an early learning centre, primary school and secondary school. The College was established by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. All Seventh-day Adventist Schools in the State of Victoria form a single system with each school tied constitutionally to Seventh-day Adventist Schools (Victoria) Inc. This central organisation controls the employment of teaching staff and, through a committee, determines the distribution of financial resources between schools.

Early learning centre The college's Early learning centre opened in 2015, expanding its educational provision to younger children. The centre was expanded in 2018 as part of the college's ongoing development.

Facilities The college campus includes a full-sized sports oval, a sports and performance centre, a science and library building and dedicated art facilities.

Academic recognition In 2026, Nunawading Christian College Secondary was ranked 5th in Victoria and 8th nationally in a Sunday Herald Sun analysis of Australia's Top 100 Affordable, High-Achieving Private Schools, based on official My School data covering NAPLAN results, attendance, student–teacher ratios and socio-educational context.

History Nunawading Christian College began as a primary school in 1962, following the closure of the Seventh-day Adventist school in nearby Ringwood. By the start of the 1963 school year the primary school had grown to approximately 90 students, taught in three newly completed classrooms.

Between 1964 and 1974 the school was led successively by principals Arthur Pascoe, Geoffrey Jones and Travis Garley.

The secondary school opened in 1974, initially with 23 Year 7 students. Between 1977 and 1983, additional buildings were constructed to accommodate an influx of students following the closure of Hawthorn Central School. In 1989, students from the Hawthorn campus relocated to Nunawading, and Nunawading Adventist College began operating as a Prep to Year 12 school.

In 1986, the college launched its Images yearbook/magazine. The college joined the Eastern Independent Schools of Melbourne sporting association in 2004, the same year it secured additional campground land for the development of a sporting oval.

In 2005, the primary and secondary schools were amalgamated under the name Nunawading Christian College, and a new college logo was introduced. Following the 2005 renaming, secondary-level principals included Lyndon Chapman, Adrian Stiles and Hanna Stekla; the primary and secondary divisions were at times led by a single principal, and this unified structure became permanent in 2020 with the appointment of Meggan James.

A new art room was completed in 2006, followed by a sports and performance centre in 2009 and the completion of the college oval in 2011. A new science and library building was completed in 2018, the same year the Early Learning Centre was expanded.

The college celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2023.

Spiritual aspects All students take religion classes each year that they are enrolled. These classes cover topics in biblical history and Christian and denominational doctrines. Instructors in other disciplines also begin each class period with prayer or a short devotional thought, many which encourage student input. Weekly, the entire student body gathers together for an hour-long chapel service. Outside the classrooms there is year-round spiritually oriented programming that relies on student involvement.

For 21 years the college hosted an annual Christmas re-enactment event known as Road to Bethlehem, before the program was relocated to Edinburgh College in Lilydale.

Extracurricular activities

Sport The school is member of the Eastern Independent Schools of Melbourne (EISM). NCC students participate in a variety of team and individual sports against students from other EISM member schools.

Nunawading Christian College fields its sports teams under the unified name of the Nunawading Sentinels, competing in both basketball and volleyball across state and regional associations. As a recognised CLB Australia Club, the Sentinels basketball program participates in FIBA 3x3 events and Basketball Victoria's 3X3 Cup Secondary Schools Championship.

Under the same banner, the Sentinels volleyball program competes in Volleyball Victoria tournaments. Key achievements for the volleyball program include second-place finishes for both the Year 8 boys' and girls' teams in Division 2 at the 2025 Volleyball Victoria Schools Cup, as well as a bronze medal for the Year 10 team in the Volleyball Victoria Junior Open Division 1 competition.

EISM premierships NCC has won the following EISM senior premierships.

Boys:

Touch rugby (4) – 2013, 2016, 2017, 2025 Volleyball (2) – 2002, 2020 Indoor cricket (1) - 2026

Girls:

Basketball (1) – 2018 Soccer (3) – 2001, 2002, 2025 Volleyball (7) – 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2019, 2020 Indoor cricket (1) - 2026

Cambodia service trip Nunawading Christian College has operated a Year 10 service trip to Cambodia since 2015. The trip ran annually until 2019 and resumed in 2025 following a break due to Covid-19 restrictions. Students visit Light of Hope Children's Village, where they involve themselves in community activities and additionaly teach English. The college also raises funds to support Light of Hope, including improvements to school facilities (bathrooms, classrooms, educational resources) and living conditions for children.

Curriculum Years 7 to 10 follow a base program of English, mathematics, science, history, physical education and Encounter (the college's Christian studies subject), complemented by rotating electives such as art, drama, food technology, digital media, psychology, business management and mechatronics.

At VCE level, the college offers English, Mathematics (Foundation Mathematics, General/Further Mathematics and Mathematical Methods), biology, chemistry, physics, psychology, Systems engineering, history, art, accounting, business management, physical education, food studies and legal studies, with French, global politics and an animal studies vet subject available through external providers. All VCE students at the college also complete Texts and Traditions, a VCAA-accredited religious studies subject built around an in-depth study of the Gospel of Luke, which is compulsory for NCC students in addition to the normal VCE English requirement.

As of the most recent published data, the college's VCE cohort comprised 71 students undertaking 23 Unit 3/4 studies, alongside 12 students in VET programs; 9% of study scores were 40 or above, with a median VCE study score of 30, and satisfactory completion rates of 100% for both VCE and VET.

The college does not offer VCE Vocational Major.

Nunawading Christian College

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