Australian Christian College, Marsden Park distance education program

A fast-growing Christian college in western Sydney has embraced distance education with some families declaring they would never return to regular schooling. Find out why the remote learning model is so popular.

A fast-growing Christian college in western Sydney has embraced distance education, with more than 400 students enrolled in remote learning.

The Australian Christian College in Marsden Park is now the largest non-government supplier of distance education in the country, with 426 students enrolled in its distance education program.

Australian Christian College Marsden Park distance education student Natalia Steinberg, 15, working from her home set up.

Mum Gretel Steinberg, who has her two children, Nicholas, 14, and Natalia, 15, enrolled in the distance education program, said it was the best choice she had ever made for her children.

“We started distance education when my kids started high school,” she said.

“We are in Berowra Heights so it would be a long drive or bus trip to most high schools. We Googled high schools and found this program and I am so glad we did because the kids are absolutely thriving.”

Australian Christian College Marsden Park distance education student Nicholas Steinberg, 14.

Ms Steinberg said distance education worked well for her daughter Natalia as she was easily distracted in school but now was working in a way she felt was most productive.

“My daughter just sits on the computer and the university style lectures are perfect for her,” she said.

“Both my children watch the videos and do the work assigned at their own pace and if they need any help can call on multiple teachers with any questions they may have.

“They can work when it suits them and when they feel most productive and that flexibility has really done wonders for them.”

Ms Steinberg said other advantages was the ability to monitor her children’s progress and classwork, the flexibility, and the capacity to adapt for different learning styles.

“We love it and the kids wouldn’t go back to regular schooling again,” she said.

Australian Christian College Marsden Park student chatting with principal Brendan Corr. Picture: Supplied

Australian Christian College Marsden Park principal Brendan Corr said the school continued to recruit new teachers to handle the appetite for distance education.

“There are now nearly 600 students in the distance education program and we will be recruiting new teachers to engage with extra classes, recruiting subject experts to prepare and present quality curriculum content, upgrading technology – software and hardware – to improve access and reliability, and forming strategic alliances with venue partners to support the expansion of the face-to-face component of the distance education program,” he said.