WHO WE ARE
Avondale University College is a not-for-profit private higher education provider established by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in 1897. Its mission is to foster a Christian learning community dedicated to serving world needs.
Avondale’s undergraduate, postgraduate and vocational courses and programs seek to develop the whole person—mental, physical, social and spiritual. Higher education include undergraduate degrees in humanities and the creative arts, business, education, nursing, science and mathematics, and ministry and theology. Postgraduate masters degrees, by both coursework and research, are available in many of the same areas. Doctoral degrees are available in Education, Arts, Nursing, and Ministry and Theology. Avondale also offers a higher education Diploma of General Studies and vocational awards in outdoor recreation. All courses of study have received national accreditation.
Avondale accepts the challenge of learning and discovery, of striving for excellence, and of fostering creativity that blends individuality, wisdom and healthy self-evaluation. It values spirituality and believes nothing is of greater significance than each person’s relationship to God as Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Avondale also values the sustainability of the earth and its peoples and encourages members of its learning community to realise their full potential and to live full and joyful lives. Avondale’s motto, “For a Greater Vision of World Needs,” leads to a more informed understanding of humanitarian needs and responses and to a greater commitment to fulfilling those needs.
Avondale is an entity of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific and welcomes a growing number of students of other faith traditions.
Avondale has two campuses, both in New South Wales. The Lake Macquarie campus is in a rural setting in the town of Cooranbong. The Sydney campus, home to the School of Nursing and Health, is in the North Shore suburb of Wahroonga, adjacent to the Sydney Adventist Hospital, the largest single campus private hospital in the state.
OUR HISTORY
Avondale University College traces its beginnings to 1892 when its predecessor institution was established in Melbourne, Victoria, to educate young people for employment in the developing work of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. In 1897 the College was relocated to its present site in Cooranbong, New South Wales. It initially offered courses in teaching, business, and biblical and mission studies.
Avondale has been preparing students for degrees since the 1950s, initially through external programs (BSc, University of London) and affiliation agreements (BA, Pacific Union College, California; MA, Andrews University, Michigan), and subsequently with Australian accreditation.
From 1974 on, Avondale has offered an expanding range of its own degrees with NSW government accreditation. A range of masters degrees has been added since the early 1990s. Doctoral studies have been offered since 2006.
The past decade has seen significant development in staff qualifications and research output. Four research centres and an academic press have been established. There has been increasing interaction, including collaborative research with Australian universities, industry, and the professions. Scholarly activity has been facilitated by policies providing generously for staff research and professional development.
ACCREDITATION
Avondale University College is registered with the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) as a higher education provider. Avondale is authorised to self-accredit its courses (Avondale University College Limited | Tertiary Education Quality Standards Agency)
All courses are offered within the terms of the Australian Qualifications Framework.
Avondale is also listed on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) (Provider Code 02731D) which allows it to enrol international students who have been granted student visas to study in Australia.
Professional courses in business, education and nursing are recognised by their respective professional registration organisations.
As a Registered Training Organisation Avondale is also listed on the training.gov.au National Register (code 91191).
Avondale is also accredited as a Seventh-day Adventist institution of higher education by the Adventist Accrediting Association.