Christian Schools Australia-member schools provide high-quality education within an authentic Christian learning community.
Christian Schools Australia (CSA) is the largest association of Christian schools in the country and has member schools educating almost 100,000 students and employing more than 15,000 staff at more than 213 locations across Australia. CSA consists of independent Christian schools, both single and multi-campus entities, that are self-governing.
This national association provides support for the delivery of Christ-centred educational excellence within Christian schools. Established in 2002, CSA is committed to advancing the Kingdom of God by advocating, supporting and resourcing Christian schools, and their wider school communities. All that CSA does is shaped by a purposeful commitment to a vision of Christ-centred education that honours God.
In pursuit of excellence in education, the mission of Christian Schools Australia is to assist and support families by equipping students to embrace biblical truth, strive for academic excellence, and model Christ-like leadership to influence their homes, churches and communities for eternity.
Why Christian schooling?
The purpose of Christian schooling is the educational and spiritual development of each child. Spiritual formation is an essential component of a Christian school education. In a Christian school, students are taught that humankind is made in the image of God, and that God wishes for us to be fulfilled in life and work, in relationship with him, with each other and with the world he made for us to enjoy.
Christian schools aim to prepare students to live full, productive and purposeful lives, contributing to the wellbeing of their families, communities and as global citizens.
Overall mission of a Christian school
The mission of a Christian school is the spiritual, educational, emotional, social and physical development of every child. For a Christian school, each student is made in the image of God. Therefore, the unique needs of each child are the primary concern of the school.
The Alice Springs (Mparntwe) Education Declaration emphasises the importance of supporting students’ social, emotional, spiritual and physical development. A Christian school education meets these important objectives.
Christian communities
Christian schools are communities of grace, belief and practice. The Christian life is a life lived in communion with God and others. The development of students in a Christian school takes place in community.
Christian schools are places of belonging, built on shared values and beliefs, and committed to mutual care and respect. They are communities in which Biblical faith, values and beliefs are formative for the school community and integrated into curriculum, practice and culture.
Finding purpose
Students learn to find their purpose in following Jesus and using their gifts to serve others. As a direct response to Jesus’ example of servant leadership, Christian schools have a strong culture of mission and service, both at home and overseas.
Christian schools educate students to be locally and globally active citizens, concerned about the welfare of others and about using their gifts to serve.
In partnership with family and the Church
CSA-member schools are closely aligned with parents and churches in their communities. They are one of the expressions of the body of Christ, serving parents by partnering with them in the education of their children. Many CSA members were commenced by, and remain affiliated with, a local church, and draw their enrolments from church families. Others are associated with, and supported by, members from a number of churches in their local area.
Most CSA schools also attract significant enrolments from families who, while not currently attending a Christian church, nonetheless deliberately choose the school because they desire an education for their children that is based upon Christian beliefs and values.
csa.edu.au