Testimonials

For us as parents coming from South Africa to a foreign country, finding a school for our children was one of the key areas in which we have put our faith out. We trusted God for a school where our children, (apart from receiving high quality education) will be discipled in becoming followers of Jesus and where we as a family, could find community. We are so thankful to God today and praise Him for his providence in guiding our footsteps towards Emmaus Christian College, which we have found to be in accordance with our hearts' desires.

The school focuses on a child’s holistic development and teachers are actively involved to impart on a spiritual, emotional and academic level to every child, individually. Children are recognised to be uniquely gifted and are celebrated in exercising their gifts and talents. They see the potential of each student and they will go the extra mile for that individual student to ensure they reach her/his full potential.

The staff have accommodated our children who were brought up in a foreign language and put in an extra effort to support them academically and emotionally, guaranteeing a seamless transition.

My children feel special because Emmaus has a culture of affirmation and celebration. They are celebrated by their peers and their teachers. I cherish those moments when we get to school in the morning and my children are greeted with friendly faces and hugs💜

I chose to send my child to Emmaus Christian College at Brooklyn Park because the Christian culture of the school is authentic. As I reflect on the last year, and how my child/ren have grown, I am thankful for the caring, supportive staff and nurturing parent community.

They nurture the faith and character of each child. My children enjoy coming to school because they feel safe, secure, loved and encouraged. What a beautiful community where like-minded families feel connected, supported and blessed.

(Megan provided her testimony in 2020. She has a child in Foundation at Brooklyn Park Campus)

We feel so blessed to be part of the Emmaus Community. Our children feel safe, loved and able to be their authentic self. The positive environment encourages learning and exploration of who they are as teens and individuals as well where they will fit in our world today using their god given gifts and individual talents. A very humble school. Having been at an elite school prior to moving to Emmaus we understand just how special Emmaus is and the wonderful work its staff and leadership do not just for our children's education but for who they are and who they will be in our challenging world.

Much respect from parents of a dyslexic child now shining their light so bright with all the support and encouragement they need whilst enjoying some fun with their kindred spirits and another talented one being extended and enriched whilst enjoying their youth with a very special fun group of friends. Happy days for us as parents when most are finding teens and school life difficult we feel we are in a real partnership in the best interest of our children and it shows in their smiles every single day. Blessings all round.

Being house captain at Emmaus means a tonne to me. I hope to help focus students vision towards God. By being a strong, Christian role model and expressing my faith through what I do, I hope to inspire others to do the same. Putting Jesus in the centre of everything I do will ensure intentions and motives are in the right place. I also hope to make Emmaus a safe environment in which students feel like they can freely express themselves and be their own individual. Support and encouragement is something one can always grow in and I hope to inspire and help students to do so.

Emmaus has supported me in my faith journey in numerous ways. Being surrounded by Christian teachers who love, care and support me in everything I do has only bought me closer to God. Their insight and advice only strengthens my relationship with God, and their wisdom helps me to gain a deeper understanding. Worship and assembly allows me to connect and talk to God, along with home group lessons and praying together. The love shown throughout Emmaus is a daily reminder of God’s love towards me, as the best way to spread God’s love is through loving others.

The opportunities we have at Emmaus is my favourite thing about being a student here. From sporting events, to being able to worship in Rundle Mall, going to Canberra for leadership, organising formal, Cambodia and Vietnam, leading the younger years in camps, math and science tutoring, connecting with girls in a fortnightly girl’s connections group, going to conferences with other schools and so much more. It makes me feel so blessed to be able to attend a school that provides and gives so much to me, that it makes me strive to give back.

Being a House Captain, while being a great responsibility, is a huge privilege for me. I have been given many opportunities and experiences where I have been able to lead and get involved with other students at the school, such as Sport Carnivals and the National Compass Leaders Conference in Canberra. These experiences have grown my faith deeply and have shown me how to lead like Jesus would. Through all my classes and school events I have met many new, great people that I've been so blessed to be going through school with. I love the bubbly and encouraging atmosphere of the community at Emmaus Christian College, the caring teaching from every staff. In my last year at school I hope and pray that I will be able to continue to make Emmaus an environment where students can be themselves and inspire others.

This is a massive privilege to be chosen as one of the College Captains, which I believe recognises the leadership I have shown during the years of my schooling at Emmaus. In my leadership role I am able to influence and encourage younger students in the College to be more Christ-like and develop their own leadership skills.

Throughout my time here at Emmaus, my faith has grown and deepened particularly through Christian Studies and assemblies. The teachers at Emmaus provoke discussion, which has allowed me to ask myself questions about my faith and developing it through this. I have also been a part of the Worship bands and playing worship music every week at assembly has helped me in my faith journey.

I have been at Emmaus since Year 8, and there have been many things I like about it. I have especially enjoyed the music program. There are many opportunities to take music to the next level, including the Band Program, Generations in Jazz, the school bands, and the many music nights throughout the year.

Hello, my name is Hanna and this year I started Year 8 in Mrs Rance’s class. One of the things I've enjoyed so far this year is having lots of new people in my class and having new teachers, like Mrs Rance, Mrs Keen, Mr King and Mr Brenkley. Another thing I've enjoyed was having more responsibility for classes and electives. This year I chose to do French and half a year of music. There are also many things I am looking forward to this year, like camp at El Shaddai campsite, debating and dancing in the musical, which this year is the movie High School Musical. Overall I am really excited for the rest of this year and the things I will experience.

Alison Davies, 2020 Graduate, was involved in our VET Program during her final two years at school. She completed a Cert II in Hairdressing during Year 11 and continued her VET studies in Year 12 with a Cert III Journey to Hair and Makeup. She received wonderful reviews from her work placement providers and this week we celebrate with her as she started the first year of her Apprenticeship with Verve Hair.

We asked Alison how her VET experience was at Emmaus: "I enjoyed making relationships with the other classmates but most of all. learning how to colour hair and create something that will put a happy face on each of my models. Doing both hair and makeup gave me the opportunity to be creative and see what I enjoyed the most. VET helped me find what I was passionate about and I am so excited for what's ahead as I learn and grow in my abilities as a Hairdresser."

Maddison Guy completed a Cert III in Early Childhood Education and Care while completing Year 12 and gaining her SACE in 2020. At the end of her school year, she Maddie gained a position as Assistant Educator at a Childcare Centre, after successfully navigating the interview process. Maddie was hoping her qualification would enable her to move into work after completing school as she wasn't intending on taking a University pathway, and this is exactly what VET enabled her to achieve.

Maddie said, "My experience with VET was very successful as I have been employed as an Assistant Educator at a childcare through the completion of my Certificate III VET course. The course itself required a lot of hard work and commitment, especially with COVID restrictions in place throughout the year."

My name is Cindy and I’m currently studying Optometry at Flinders University. I didn’t come from a Christian background. It wasn’t until I went to a Emmaus that I became a Christian. I guess what impacted me most was the CCAPPs lessons that we had, the daily devotions we did and the Assembly messages we were given. I guess they all just encouraged me to dive deeper into wondering more about God and to know what Christianity was about. Something that Emmaus has that most other schools don’t, is that warm and uplifting Christian community. I was just really lucky to be blessed with people and friends around me that were able to encourage me to bring me closer to God which I’m really thankful for.

Fast forward to now, I’m attending Coromandel Uniting where I’m involved in a young adults group which is really good. I’m thankful to have gone to Emmaus to be surrounded by those people that I’m still connected to today who have helped me develop a deeper relationship with God and stay on the right path.

(Written September 2021)

My six-year journey at Emmaus was a genuinely life-changing experience. I had the opportunity to be involved with extracurricular activities such as House Leadership, Worship Band, Vocal Ensemble, Social Justice, Girls Connections and Maths Tutoring. These experiences increased my awareness of the needs of others whilst building confidence in my God-given abilities. Extracurricular involvement also taught me that Christ-like leadership truly is about having a servant heart; placing others' needs before your own.

The caring community of Christian teachers and staff is what makes Emmaus such a great place to be. My teachers always encouraged me to strive for my God-given potential and I sincerely thank them for that. Another great take-away from my journey at Emmaus was Bible and CCAPP lessons. I learnt the importance of living out Christian values, as well as sharing my personal beliefs with tact and respect.

My Christian walk flourished during my time at Emmaus. Towards the end of my high school journey, I felt more confident in reaching out to others, providing a listening ear and praying over people. I could see how God was working in my life as I had previously felt uncomfortable expressing my faith in this manner. God also used my teachers and peers to point me towards Him by encouraging me to read His Word and trust in His plans for my life.

I feel immensely blessed and privileged to have been a part of the Christ-centred community of Emmaus Christian College. My prayer is that Emmaus will continue to inspire the hearts and minds of its students for the Glory of God! Just watch this space and see - God has more wonderful things in store for Emmaus Christian College!

I'm extremely proud [to let you know] that I have recently graduated and have received a Bachelor of Nursing from the University of Adelaide, and my Registration license has come in from the Australian Health Practitioner Registration Agency (AHPRA), officially making me a Registered Nurse.

My reason for my email, is that I want to encourage you all in everything you do at Emmaus Christian College for the Glory of God.

This is what students from your school become. Not to place myself on a pedestal, because I have achieved all I have thanks to God's provision. But it all started before I embarked into University, in my journey with you.

Because you take every student and invest into them academically, personally and spiritually, you help us discover who God is, which leads to our discovery of ourselves, who we are and, in my case, what God was calling me into career-wise. We are taught to find paths for ourselves that will set us up for success, and in my case also, a desire to bring Glory to God in everything I do because of everything He's done for me.

What I have accomplished is not necessarily what defines success because everyone has a different walk they will take and not all of them will result in tertiary degrees, but other successes. And my biggest success in my heart is adoption into God's kingdom, which is something I can't boast about in myself because I was only accepted because of Jesus Christ. But Emmaus's vision, "Inspiring hearts, Inspiring minds", mission and values have come alive in me, all thanks to God's work, through you.

I'm yet to embark on many upcoming adventures that are on the horizon for me this year as I look to start my career, and get married to my best friend who also happens to love God.

So, THANK YOU Emmaus, for building much of the foundation of my education with me, helping me grow personally, spiritually and encouraging me to dig deep into what I could be capable of when I apply myself and rely on God to provide for me.

Praise God for all He's done in me, and everything He's continuing to do through You.

Many blessings

Hayley Matthews RN

Emmaus is a college that strives to provide Christ-centred education, in a schooling system where faith is often trampled upon. Far from the norm, Emmaus helped me grow as a Christian and mature into an adult throughout my time there. The fantastic staff provided a well-rounded education and genuinely cared about their students.

When I arrived on Orientation day, what really struck me was how friendly everyone was. I felt the bond of a real community, where Christ was truly present. I will always look back on my time at Emmaus fondly – on the friends and memories I have made there.

As a young adult, I feel that Emmaus has prepared me for the transition into the real world after graduation. The college equipped me with the discipline to succeed academically and gain entry into University. But more than that, Emmaus has helped foster the maturity for me to make the right life decisions in all areas, grounded in Biblical truth.

From the age of 12 I knew I wanted to be a lawyer. During an excursion to the Courts (with Mr Tillot) in Year 9, I announced to my class that one day I was going to be a lawyer.

Through the Emmaus subject 'Christianity, Careers and Personal Planning' I was able to further investigate and learn about the practicalities of having a professional career in law through a Christian perspective. The opportunity to have frank and open discussions with teachers about my abilities, grades and tertiary study options was invaluable. I am so grateful to the teachers who shaped this incredibly malleable time of my life and for believing in me.

In September 2019, I graduated with a double degree of Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice and a Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology).

In October 2019, I was admitted to practise law in the State of South Australia.

I am so excited to finally be able to say 'I'm a lawyer'. How faithful is God - even to our wildest dreams!

I graduated from Emmaus back in 2011 and ever since then I wish I could go back. Whenever I think of Emmaus I think of home...kind, warm and loving. Being a student who struggled with anxiety and also being dyslexic, I got more than enough support and encouragement from the teachers because they truly cared and wanted me to succeed. There is not enough words to describe how grateful I am for my experience at Emmaus and I can't thank the teachers enough for their help in shaping me into the woman I am today.

Emmaus Christian College holds a very special place in my heart. It is not only the place where I taught my first ever lesson as a 20 year old student teacher from Tabor Adelaide, but it is also the place that has shaped me and guided me through every stage of my life thereafter. I have had the privilege and honour of being mentored by the amazing staff for over 16 years, and these teachers continue to inspire me everyday to be all that God has created me to be. And I couldn’t wish for anything more for my own children and that is why we have chosen to send them to Emmaus Christian College as well.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

I started here on a 3 week contract, that turned into 7 weeks, that has turned into 7 years. I love working here. It’s genuinely enjoyable. There is strong and visionary leadership. Supportive staff, and I have really good friendships. Emmaus also empowers us as teachers to follow our strengths and vocation, and then supports us with resources to make it happen. An example of this is that I have the privilege of helping lead The Rite Journey program in Year 9. This is a boys and girls Rites of Passage initiative. The program has a profound impact on our Year 9’s and is quickly becoming an essential formation time in the life of our students high school experience.

I have had the privilege and honour of being mentored by the amazing staff for over 16 years, and these teachers continue to inspire me everyday to be all that God has created me to be.