Emmaus Christian College Outreach (ECCO)

How ECCO Makes a Difference

Local Partnerships and On-Campus Actions

Food Drives
Through our food collection initiatives, we have been able to assist local charity organisations:

• Puddle Jumpers
  
• Baptist Care
  
• Gwen’s pantry
  

Casual Day Appeals
Funds raised through our casual days have contributed to local organisations such as:

- Motor Neuron Disease
- Puddle Jumpers
- Little Heroes Foundation
- The Australian Red Cross
- Ernabella Community Pool
- Baptist Care

Puddle Jumpers Service Days

Emmaus Christian College Outreach (ECCO) students spend time at Puddle Jumpers' main warehouse, supporting the charity’s work with vulnerable children and families. Students contributed across a wide range of practical tasks: sorting food donations, organising the freezer, cleaning trucks, sorting bread for animal feed, weeding, breaking down cardboard, and helping with toiletry packs.

Refugee Awareness

After a visit from the Salvation Army on refugees, ECCO leaders presented a Secondary School assembly educating students about the challenges refugees face when entering Australia and how we can support them.

Connection with the APY Lands’ Communities

Emmaus Christian College Outreach (ECCO) maintains an ongoing connection with the Ernabella and wider APY communities, offering support through school-based initiatives, including stationery drives and supporting community events.

The Annual Lands Trip

Connecting with Ernabella helps our students understand justice from an Australian Aboriginal perspective.

In 1995, Year 11 students of Bethesda Christian College began their first trip to the APY lands, and it has become an annual trip since then. Meaningful connections have been established by Emmaus Christian College students through those trips.

Recently, in March 2026, our primary students at Brooklyn Park Campus participated in the Move 4 Mission fundraiser, raising funds for the Ernabella Anangu School.

The OT Pitjantjatjara Bible Translation

Emmaus Christian College Outreach (ECCO) continues to support language and cultural work in the Ernabella region. Pitjantjatjara is one of the few original Australian languages still used and spoken daily by several thousand people living in their traditional homelands in the northwest of South Australia, as well as in parts of the Northern Territory.

In April 2025, a group of passionate young volunteers from Emmaus Christian College embarked on a transformative journey to the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands, carrying with them a precious cargo: copies of Godaku Tjukurpa, the newly published Pitjantjatjara Illustrated Children’s Bible.

International Emergency Relief and Ongoing Support

Emmaus Christian College Outreach (ECCO) remains aware of international crises and, when needed and where possible, contributes to emergency relief efforts in line with current needs. We do our best to follow the devastating events that impact so many lives around us, and we respond accordingly.

Raise the Roots Build the Joy Foundation in Uganda

Since July 2024, ECCO has been supporting the Raise the Roots Build the Joy Foundation, based in a small village in Eastern Uganda, which cares for 50 children by providing shelter, food, and education.

In September 2025, ECCO was blessed to support the purchase of 5 acres of land for the orphanage house to meet the growing needs of the children.

Cambodia – Family-Based Foster Care (Children in Families)

For several years, ECCO has supported Children in Families, a Cambodian-led foster and Kinship Care Organisation working to reduce reliance on orphanages. Our Vietnam/Cambodia service trips continue to strengthen this partnership.

Justees: Shirts for Justice

Ethical vocational training and job creation for at-risk Cambodian youth. Emmaus Christian College regularly purchases Justees products for the Australian Business Week ABW, the Cambodia/Vietnam Trips and some of the College events.

Bright Futures Charity BBQ

Students planned and ran a successful BBQ raising funds for Bright Futures’ work in international community development.

How You Can Support Emmaus Christian College Outreach (ECCO)

• Participate in casual days with an extra donation
• Learn more about our partnerships with local and global organisations
• Advocate for justice issues in your classrooms and home groups
• Volunteer or donate to our community drives

Our Current Goals

With the grace of God and the dedication of our students, ECCO aims to:

• Increase hands-on service opportunities with local charities
• Strengthen our partnership with local charities, APY communities and Cambodia and Vietnam groups.
• Morning prayer session to pray for those in need around the world
• Continue supporting international justice initiatives through ethical fundraising