Adventist Education Worldwide
Foundations
An Adventist School in Lilydale
Edinburgh College is part of a world-wide system of Christian Education which has a tradition of excellence for over 140 years. Seventh-day Adventist schools, universities and hospitals are presently found in most countries of the world.
A significant part of education worldwide
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 10364 schools, colleges and universities in over 100 countries, employing over 120000 teachers, 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.
Adventist Education is built on the belief that each student is unique and of immeasurable value. It is Biblically based with an unashamed desire to emulate the life of Jesus Christ.
The mission of Adventist schools Australia
Adventist education is Biblically based with an unashamed desire to emulate the life of Jesus Christ. Thus, the aim of Adventist education in Australia is to create an educational environment that makes it more likely that each student will accept Jesus Christ as Saviour and Friend.
Adventist education is built on the belief that each student is unique and of immeasurable value. It values the importance of systematic development of the whole person. Students are taught to accept the concept of service as a principle of life; to be sensitive to the needs of people; and to become contributing members in their home, church, and society.