Theological Education in Australia: The Past and Present as Possible Indicators of Future Trends

Abstract

Theological Education in Australia has been shaped by significant influences, many of which are unique to Australia. For most of its history, theological education has been excluded from the universities, and hence is still today largely found in small institutions with strong denominational ties. The challenges of quality assurance, together with the increasing burden of government and church accreditation led to the formation of several multi-college providers, such as the Australian College of Theology (1891), the Melbourne College of Divinity (1910; now the University of Divinity), and the Sydney College of Theology (1983). Several government initiatives in tertiary education have impacted Theological Education in Australia. These include, (a) Fee Help which grew out of the West Review; (b) the ability to use state-based accreditation for theological degrees, and then (c) the Bradley Review and the establishment of TEQSA as a national accreditation and quality assurance body. One theological provider has achieved specialist university status (the University of Divinity), and under TEQSA, several have been granted self-accrediting status (e.g. Alphacrucis College, Avondale College of Higher Education, the Australian College of Theology, Moore Theological College, and Sydney College of Divinity). Theological colleges are increasingly involved in research, research supervision, and in mixed mode and distance delivery. They continue to survive, and the make substantial contributions continue to research and their church communities.