Unity College

Unity College is a co-educational Christian school of the Lutheran Church of Australia located in the heart of the Murraylands in the rural city of Murray Bridge, South Australia. Proudly offering a distinctive educational program, Unity College boasts modern facilities, innovative approaches to learning and is committed to putting students first and providing them with many opportunities to ensure they achieve success in whatever career they choose and to enable them to be successful contributors in the community.

The main entry points for enrolment at Unity College are Reception, Year 7 and Year 8 however enrolment can be offered at any year level depending on availability. At Unity College Murraylands, we focus on ‘students first’ and we are deliberate about this in all aspects of college life. It is our intention to ensure that students are placed at the core of our teaching and learning programs, pastoral care and extra-curricular opportunities offered, and are flexible to their changing needs, circumstances and future goals. We encourage our students to use their God-given gifts and talents to serve one another as equal partners in the college community.

‘Students first’ encourages students to be actively involved in the learning process and to partner with staff and wider community in their learning journey. We inspire students to become leaders in our school and in doing so, actively mentor, support and encourage one another. Unity College Murraylands has three sub-schools over two, closely situated campuses. These sub-schools enable students to be taught and nurtured in the way that best suits their level of development and caters for their individual needs.

Pastoral care at Unity College aims to build and develop positive relationships with one another as well as support their social, emotional and physical wellbeing. Unity College staff are skilled educators who utilise best practice teaching methodologies to best serve the students in their care. They provide strong academic support to be the very best they can be, through the broad range of subject offerings that includes a variety of academic and Vocational subjects.

Mission Statement is Unity College: In the heart of the Murraylands striving for excellence in education and spiritual growth in a safe, caring, forgiving Christian environment. Students come first in an exceptionally caring Christian environment where opportunities and diversity result in inspired learning and development.

• We Learn: Unity helps each student reach their full potential and encourages them to be the best they can be.
• We Care: Unity cares for students and provides a safe and nurturing environment because 'happy children learn best'.
• We Engage: Unity provides modern, spacious and functional facilities that engage students who enjoy and have a desire to learn.
• We Involve: Unity involves parents and the wider community in student learning because 'it takes a village to raise a child'.
• We Inspire: Unity inspires students through innovative educators who encourage individuality and diversity because each students learns in a different way.

Built on the long standing reputation of the Murray Bridge Lutheran School (now the site of the current Junior School), Unity College became the first R-12 Lutheran School to be established in South Australia in 2001. The Murray Bridge Lutheran School opened in 1978 with 135 students and 5 staff. With steady growth, the community saw a need for a Lutheran Secondary College to be established in Murray Bridge and in 1995 an application to extend to Year 10 was approved.

The purpose of Lutheran schools is to make Jesus Christ known to the students and families. Yet the schools are also educational institutions, which must do the educational task well. Schools will do this when they pursue what is educationally best for each student, within a Christian context and from a Christian point of view. Lutheran schools can never sacrifice their spiritual centeredness for the sake of education or they would no longer be schools of the church. Nor can Lutheran schools forsake their educational purposes in the interests of spirituality, or they would forfeit the right to be schools. It is indeed a tension that needs to be held in balance.