At Hillcrest Christian College’s Virtual Learning Community (VLC), we’ve reimagined what Distance Education can be, offering a dynamic, interactive, and highly supportive learning experience that fits your family’s lifestyle while promoting academic excellence.
VLC blends structure with flexibility, live lessons with personalised learning, and academic excellence with whole-child wellbeing.
Underpinned by our Christian worldview and values, we focus on educating the whole child, with a strong emphasis on nurturing students spiritual and emotional wellbeing. We believe young people thrive when they are engaged, supported and encouraged, not left to navigate learning alone.
With live teacher-led lessons, innovative digital learning experiences, and personalised pathways, every student receives structure where it’s needed, and flexibility where it matters most.
Life is ever-changing, and so are the needs of your child. Families choose Distance Education for a variety of reasons:
More flexibility – Whether your family operates a business, travels frequently, or follows a unique lifestyle, VLC provides a structured yet adaptable education that fits into your routine.
Individualised pathways – Every child learns differently. VLC offers tailored learning plans that ensure extension opportunities for high achievers, additional support where needed, and a balance between structured and independent learning.
A faith-based education – Many families seek a values-driven school where identity, faith, and character are nurtured alongside academics. VLC provides a Christian learning environment that reinforces moral and spiritual development.
Support for elite athletes, artists, and performers – VLC allows students to pursue their passions in sports, performing arts, and other co-curricular activities, while maintaining a strong academic foundation.
Guided learning for younger students – Families looking for an alternative to homeschooling benefit from VLC’s live teacher-led sessions, structured literacy and numeracy programs, and the I Love Reading initiative, which provides a strong foundation in early literacy. This approach allows for family involvement, while ensuring students receive expert guidance.
An emotional reset for students – Sometimes, a traditional school environment isn’t the best fit for a child. Families seeking a fresh start, whether for wellbeing, emotional health, or a supportive learning structure, find VLC to be a nurturing, community-focused alternative.
At Hillcrest VLC, we’ve reimagined learning to give students the best of both worlds, structured guidance where it’s needed and personalised flexibility where it matters most, with:
Education should be more than just lessons—it should be a journey of discovery, confidence, and personal growth.
At Hillcrest's Virtual Learning Community, we provide a high-quality, values-based distance education that supports every aspect of a student’s development:
With a focus on personalised support, interactive learning, and whole-child development, VLC ensures students don't just complete school - they thrive in every aspect of life.
Hear from our Head of Virtual Learning, Danni Foster-Brown, as she describes the intentional differences to traditional Distance Education, and what the VLC offers families.
Our Differences
- Posma Family
For our youngest learners, VLC provides a structured and engaging approach that fosters early academic success.
Middle school students experience significant physical, emotional, social, and spiritual growth. VLC supports this transition with Design-Centred Learning (DCL) projects, which allow students to explore real-world issues, innovate, and develop problem-solving skills.
Senior VLC is designed to help students explore their strengths, refine their personal goals, and prepare for post-school pathways.
"...The amount of support we have received from the VLC immediately upon starting mid-term 2, and that is ongoing, is such that we have never seen in any other school attended by our children, or heard about from any other parents...It has been making a huge positive difference not just to our son's education and life generally, but our entire family's life as we feel enormous relief from the fact that we see him not just happy and engaged, but achieving his potential..."
"My children have both thrived within Hillcrest's VLC. The genuine care the staff hold for the children and their wellbeing has positively impacted our entire family. Hillcrest's model of teaching and the level of support available have allowed our children to learn in a way that benefits them far more than on-campus education has."
"The VLC staff and program has exceeded all my expectations by providing a personalised approach to student learning and developing a truly nurturing environment for students and families to flourish."
Please find additional information and frequently asked questions.
Yes, Hillcrest Christian College is an evolution of more traditional Distance education.
Distance education programs have traditionally catered to students with limited access to mainstream schooling, such as students living in regional or remote locations. Our VLC has adapted the benefits of distance education to offer all families a world-class, independent school education that can be completed at home.
Unlike homeschooling, where parents need to source, plan and assess student lessons, your family will have access to dedicated and trained staff to engage them in daily online classes, working through an innovative and future-focused curriculum.
The VLC mirrors our on-campus communities with stages of age-appropriate learning.
Junior VLC (Prep – Year 4): Focuses on foundational literacy and numeracy through our I Love Reading program, integrated projects, and core Australian Curriculum subjects. Students also participate in Life Groups, Christian Living, online Gathering (Chapel), and Assemblies.
Middle VLC (Years 5 – 8): Supports students through Design-Centred Learning (DCL) projects, SECRET Skills development, and micro-credentialing, integrating core subjects and elective learning. Yearly camps foster personal growth.
Senior VLC (Years 9 – 12): Prepares students for post-school pathways with QCE, ATAR and non-ATAR options, plus access to VET courses. Core subjects and electives align with career and tertiary goals, complemented by leadership development, camps, and faith-based engagement.
Junior VLC (Prep – Year 4): Focuses on foundational literacy and numeracy through our I Love Reading program, integrated projects, and core Australian Curriculum subjects. Students also participate in Life Groups, Christian Living, online Gathering (Chapel), and Assemblies.
Middle VLC (Years 5 – 8): Supports students through Design-Centred Learning (DCL) projects, SECRET Skills development, and micro-credentialing, integrating core subjects and elective learning. Yearly camps foster personal growth.
Senior VLC (Years 9 – 12): Prepares students for post-school pathways with QCE, ATAR and non-ATAR options, plus access to VET courses. Core subjects and electives align with career and tertiary goals, complemented by leadership development, camps, and faith-based engagement.
Students in Years 11-12: choose five subjects from the following: English OR Essential English (compulsory); General Mathematics, Essential Mathematics OR Mathematical Methods (compulsory); Modern History; Legal Studies; Biology; Psychology; and Business. VET and other courses are also available in ATAR and non-ATAR pathways. As the VLC continues to grow, further options will become available. Please contact our enrolments team if you have any questions.
Students in the VLC also build a portfolio of SECRET Skills (Self-Manager, Effective Participator, Creative Thinker, Reflective Learner, Enquirer, Team Worker) as a key component of Hillcrest’s mission to develop the whole child. As a Christian College, units are taught from a biblical world view.
Students participate in live, daily online sessions with their teacher between 1-2 hours in total, depending on the year level. If they can’t attend the online sessions, students will be expected to watch these back in their own time throughout the week.
They will also have individual learning activities to complete each week in their own time. Students and families can structure the learning week to suit their circumstances. In general, students can expect their weekly workload to be a lot faster compared to a mainstream schooling setting.
Students participate in live, daily online sessions with their teacher between 1-2 hours in total, depending on the year level. If they can’t attend the online sessions, students will be expected to watch these back in their own time throughout the week.
They will also have individual learning activities to complete each week in their own time. Students and families can structure the learning week to suit their circumstances. In general, students can expect their weekly workload to be a lot faster compared to a mainstream schooling setting.
NAPLAN testing is compulsory for all Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 students across Australia, whether in a mainstream or Distance Education setting. However, parents may withdraw their child because of philosophical or religious reasons.
NAPLAN testing takes place in Term 1 each year. More information will be sent to parents about the testing (and process for withdrawals, if applicable) at the beginning of each school year. If you cannot arrange for your child to attend the Hillcrest Christian College Home Campus (Reedy Creek), arrangements can be made with your local school to complete the testing.
(07) 5593 4226
21 Bridgman Drive, Reedy Creek, QLD 4227 Australia
© 2025 Hillcrest Christian College. All Rights Reserved.
ACN 010 381 334 I ABN 68 947 459 366 I CRICOS No. 01043C
© 2025 Hillcrest Christian College. All Rights Reserved.
ACN 010 381 334 ABN 68 947 459 366 CRICOS No. 01043C
Site: YourSchool
