Christian Schools Australia

Mark Spencer, CSA Director of Public Policy, talks with Professor Nicholas Aroney, Professor of Constitutional Law at The University of Queensland and a member of the Expert Panel on Religious Freedom established by the Commonwealth Government in 2017. Existing protections for religious freedom in Australia are discussed, and some myths about claimed protections are busted, no section 116 does not...

This podcast explores how we understand and positively influence school culture. There is often a tension between what a leadership team might suggest is the destination culture of a school and what, in reality, one experiences when you ask everyone else – what we might call the shadow culture or cultures. When we don’t engage sufficiently with those shadow cultures it creates a level of HR risk w...

Our Director of Public Policy, Mark Spencer, talks with Rohan McHugh, Executive Director of Freedom for Faith about religious freedom and the upcoming Religious Freedom Weekend . Mark and Rohan talk about just some of the examples of the violation of religious freedom rights but more can be found here . They also discuss the report from a recent NSW Parliamentary inquiry. The full report is availa...

In this episode of the CSA Horizons Podcast series, Sandra Scott talks with Sam Cheesman, Principal of Tyndale Christian School in Strathalbyn South Australia, and Meredith Lockery, Tyndale’s Executive Director Faith and Learning, about equipping teachers for the intentional incorporation of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cross-Curricula Priority into the school’s curriculum and culture...

In this episode of the CSA Horizons Podcast series, Sandra Scott talks with Catriona Wansbrough, Principal of St Andrews Christian College in Melbourne Victoria, about the intentional positioning of a mission and service culture in her school. Key things shared in the podcast School is about more than great academic results Always focus on the ‘why’: what are our end goals? In a Christian school,...

Listen to this rich discussion on the key purpose of Christian schooling through the lens of curriculum. Cass Pendlebury hosts Peter Kilgour and Bev Christian from Avondale University College as they explore the importance of introducing Jesus to students in Christian schools and how to do that. Is it environment… is it planning… is it both? Peter and Bev also discuss their recently published book...

In 2020 CSA launched the CSA Architecture School Improvement Tool. Discovery Christian College, a small school located on the coast in Central Queensland was the first school to pilot the tool. Join Andrew Taylor from CSA, Josh Counsel, Principal of Discovery Christian College and Blair Harp, Principal of Lighthouse Christian School, as they discuss the implementation of the new CSA Architecture S...

In this episode Darren Iselin talks with Dr Graeme Cross Chief Executive Officer of the Swan Cristian Education Association (SCEA), a network of seven schools located in the Perth metropolitan area. Graeme has extensive senior leadership experience in both schools and universities and has an expert knowledge of education and the Christian schooling sector. Over the past 60 years, the flourishing o...

Director of Public Policy Mark Spencer talks with Rev. Geoff Lin. Geoff is, amongst other roles, the SA/NT Regional Director for the Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students (AFES) and chairs the steering committee for Living Hope SA —a ministry that supports individuals, families and churches in regards to sexuality and LGBT+ issues.* After getting feedback on the impact of Christian schools...

In this interview with the Director of Research and Professional Learning at the Scots College, Sydney, Hugh Chilton unpacks what it means to turn a school outward. Despite deep connections to parent and church communities, schools can often become self-referential in their practice. We can do things because that's the way we've always done them. From international school collaboration to partners...

This podcast explores the maturing of the Christian school movement in Australian over the past 40 years and the new horizons that lay ahead. Dr Pampuch puts a compelling case forward that schools, to retain their Christian distinctive, must be explicit and intentional about the essential elements of Christian schooling. Schools need to adopt a fully-articulated framework and pathway to maturity t...

EPISODE 18 - HORIZON 2020 SERIES |  25 NOVEMBER, 2020 Episode Eighteen: Setting Students Up for Success Join the conversation about "Setting Students Up for Success" with Dave Stevens, CSA Executive Officer WA, and Lisa Cole, Executive Principal, Arethusa College, QLD. Lisa is passionate about teaching and learning and seeing all students succeed. She strives to help every child know who...

EPISODE 19 - HORIZON 2020 SERIES |  1 DECEMBER, 2020 Episode Nineteen: Theology Meets Social Science - Unpacking "Community" Join Professor Brian Harris and Dr Rob Loe as they unpack “community” as an integrating motif in theology and a fundamental lever of flourishing schooling. Why is God at work in the world? What is God wanting to do? Harris takes his cue from the work of Stanley Grenz an...

In our Summer Series, we're sharing some highlights from our 2020 podcasts, including this one on Behaviour Management. This podcast is for every practitioner, and the principals who lead our schools. This week we discuss behaviour management with one on the UK’s leading experts. CSA’s Dave Stevens of WA, interviews Paul Dix the once difficult child, relentless teacher and now award-winning behavi...

This week, in our Summer Series, is a throwback to a conversation in May of 2020 between CEO of Christian Schools Australia, Dr Daniel Pampuch, and Executive Officer for Victoria and Tasmania, Dr Rob Loe, who also has a national portfolio in CSA for Organisational Culture and Community Development. This was recorded while Rob was still in lock-down in the UK, and soon after the first wave of Covid...

This week in our Summer Series, we’re pointing you to an episode from the podcast channel called “Faith in Kids” hosted by Ed Drew, Director of Faith in Kids. This week’s episode is for Parents on the topic of Talking through Unbelief with Teens ; when their independence is expressed, their preferred lifestyle is being explored and their personal values are now being owned. Hopefully this is timel...

This week in our Summer Series, we’re pointing you to an episode from the podcast channel called “The Inquisition” hosted by the witty and very funny, James Cary (known for his clever TV and radio writing for quite a number of British shows, including Think the Unthinkable, Concrete Cow and of course, Miranda ). In this episode, James has a timely chat with “spy-turned-vicar”, Bishop Nick Baines,...

This week in our Summer Series for 2020-2021, is this throwback to a brilliant conversation between Dr Daniel Pampuch, CEO of Christian Schools Australia, and Dr Maria Varlet, Head of Research and Innovation at CREST Education in Melbourne, Victoria. In this episode, Maria and Daniel have helpful and absorbing discussion exploring the maturing of the Christian school movement in Australia over the...

We’re continuing with our Summer Series. A couple of weeks ago, we pointed you to the podcast channel called “Faith in Kids” hosted by Ed Drew. And I mentioned that there is, in fact, a channel for parents and one for kids. Well this week, we’re sharing an episode for the kids. With the start of school looming, this podcast is a helpful one as Ed, Jam and Amy share some encouraging words from Josh...

This week, in our Summer Series, is a throwback to a conversation between Dr Darren Iselin, CSA’s Director for Research and Innovation, and Dr Beth Green, who is currently Provost and Chief Academic Officer of Tyndale University, Fellow of the Royal Society and a Senior Fellow and former Director of Education at Cardus, a faith-based think tank in Canada. In this episode, Darren and Beth have a ro...

In this episode Mark Ryan speaks with Dr Graham Stanton, Lecturer in Practical Theology at Ridley College in Melbourne, and Dean of Ridley’s Centre for Children’s and Youth Ministry. Graham is a leading voice in youth ministry and has recently released a new book: Wide-Awake in God's World - Bible Engagement for Teenage Spiritual Formation in a Culture of Expressive Individualism . This podcast ex...

If you're teaching in a Christian school, this episode is for you. Keen to know how and why writing Christian curriculum requires a different approach? Cass Pendlebury, CSA EO NSW/ACT and National Curriculum, hosts this enlightening discussion with Dr Craig Murison (Christian Heritage College) about the journey of the God’s Big Story (GBS) Project. Craig and Cass discuss the origins of the GBS app...

In this episode Rob Loe talks with Dr Graeme Cross, Chief Executive Officer of the Swan Christian Education Association based in WA. An academic, practitioner and leader, Graeme has researched and published on the social and civic development of students within Christian schools. This podcast explores the findings of his doctoral studies and unpacks his subsequent research alongside Relational Sch...

On this episode of ‘Horizon 2020’ Darren Iselin talks with Dr Deani Van Pelt, who is President of Edvance, a Christian Schools association in Canada and senior fellow at two think tanks, Cardus and the Fraser Institute. Deani has researched, presented, and published frequently on topics including school choice, school funding and school sector enrolments and her work has been regularly featured in...

Dr Lynn Swaner Episode Summary: A New Agenda for Christian Schooling On this episode of ‘Horizon 2020’ Darren Iselin talks with Dr Lynn Swaner. Lynn is the Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at ACSI in the United States, where she leads initiatives and develops strategies to address compelling questions and challenges facing Christian education. Dr. Swaner serves as a Cardus Senior Fellow and i...