Hillcrest Christian College's Virtual Learning Community: A New Approach to Distance Education
Welcome to a new era of distance education. At Hillcrest Christian College, we’ve reimagined what it means to learn remotely. Our Virtual Learning Community (VLC) isn’t or traditional Distance Education school – it’s a dynamic, interactive, and supportive environment designed to nurture every aspect of your child’s development.
The Hillcrest VLC difference
Hillcrest’s VLC is an evolution of traditional distance education. While we have maintained the benefits of distance learning — your family controls how, when and where your child will complete their schooling — our VLC incorporates the best aspects of a world-class Hillcrest Christian College education. As well as participating in online, timetabled classes, VLC students will be able to access on-campus social opportunities, extracurricular activities and flexible learning at our Gold Coast Campus.
We provide dedicated and trained staff to engage students through interactive and hands-on modules, teaching an innovative and future-focused curriculum. Underpinned by our Christian worldview and values, we focus on educating the whole child, with a strong focus on nurturing their spiritual and emotional wellbeing.
Introducing Hillcrest Christian College's Virtual Learning Community
The Virtual Learning Difference
Hear from our Head of Virtual Learning, Danni Foster-Brown, as she describes the intentional differences to traditional Distance Education, and what it offers families.
Family Experience
One of our remote families in Northern Queensland, describes their family experience with the VLC.
Student Experience
Listen to Ian, one of our students as he speaks about his learning experiences in the VLC.
Virtual Learning
The VLC caters for students in Prep-Year 12 who reside in Queensland. It is a full-time Distance Education schooling offering.
Mirroring the organisational structure of the Hillcrest Christian College Home Campus, the Virtual Learning Community is arranged in three smaller communities:
Junior VLC (Prep-Year 4)
Middle VLC (Years 5-8)
Senior VLC (Years 9-12).
Year 12 will commence in 2025. Please submit a Register your Interest form to stay up-to-date with information about future VLC offerings.
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.
Regular assessment will take place through the Virtual Learning platform to assess how students are progressing and inform the teacher of how to best support your child.
However, in the Junior and Middle years, these rarely take the form of long assignments or exams. We design learning around real-world, meaningful tasks that allow students to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and understanding in a purposeful and real-life context.
At Hillcrest, we recognise that each student is unique and has different needs. An Individual Learning Plan (ILP) is a document that allows the teacher, student and parents to work together to look at a student’s strengths, aspirations, challenges and competencies to tailor an appropriate educational program.
This may include having extra time to consolidate core concepts, working at an alternate year level in a particular subject area or concept, working on accelerated content, or, in the case of students with diagnosed needs, having adjustments in place to assist in the completion of class-work and assessments. ILPs are reviewed by all parties every six months.
Unlike traditional Distance Education programs, the VLC aims to develop the whole child, meaning there is a focus on not only intellectual achievement but also development in the emotional, wellbeing, global and spiritual domains. Each child participates in Life Group lessons with their core class throughout the week, which are dedicated opportunities to build relationships and ‘do life’ with others.
The VLC offers frequent opportunities for students who live near our Hillcrest Christian College Home Campus (Reedy Creek) to attend on-campus events. This includes social catch-ups and enrichment days, where they can use College facilities to further explore the learning they are doing in the Virtual Learning platform.
These days are optional but provide an excellent opportunity for students and parents to meet and develop friendships they have made in the virtual space.
VLC students who live near our Hillcrest Christian College home campus (Reedy Creek) are most welcome to join our on-campus, co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. They currently include opportunities such as the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, outreach activities, Choral Program, Instrumental Program, Dance Program (CAPA), local sporting clubs (including AFL, Basketball, Futsal and Netball) and after-school clubs. Please note, some of these activities may incur an extra cost.
The VLC Term Dates mirror the Hillcrest Christian College Home Campus Term Dates. Queensland gazetted Public Holidays (including the Gold Coast Show Holiday) are observed, and online classes will not operate on these days.
If your family plans an extended trip away during the term, please advise your child’s teacher and the Head of Virtual Learning Community. In some cases, arrangements can be made for students to complete their learning while they are away or at an alternate time, depending on your circumstances.
No, we provide each student with a device from Prep to Year 12 to ensure a seamless learning experience. The device will have a camera and video capabilities to submit work samples and assessment items, and participate in live Virtual Learning activities.
The device will come with a protective cover and stylus. Limited insurance is included; we recommend families also organise their own insurance for these devices.
Students receive:
- Prep-6: Microsoft Surface Go
- Years 7-9 Microsoft Surface Pro
- Years 10-12 Microsoft Surface Studio
Devices come pre-loaded with the Office 365 Suite, as well as with necessary software for core learning activities.
From time to time, your child’s teacher may ask you to download relevant apps/programs to use in the Virtual Learning program.
You will need a reliable, consistent internet connection to participate in the Virtual Learning program. Ideally, we recommend a minimum of NBNTM25 (i.e. up to 25Mbps Down and 4Mbps Up) or similar.
If others are likely to be using the connection at the same time, this may need to be higher. Some 4G/5G mobile data services may be suitable if signal strength and speeds are good at your location. However, families will need to ensure they have a high mobile data allowance to avoid excess charges. The VLC is not responsible for internet fees or excess charges.
IT support is available during operational hours.
Yes. All teachers are qualified and registered teachers, trained specifically in Virtual Education practices. All of our teachers are excited to get to know and work alongside your family.
Yes. It is important for children to have a parent (or other responsible adult, such as a grandparent, uncle, tutor or nanny) at home to help them access their learning, provide active supervision and assist where needed.
Teachers are available during school hours to assist your child online, but parents are important partners to ensure the safety and wellbeing of each child. Some students may need extra assistance with their learning, which will require parents to be more hands-on during the learning sessions. Generally, as students grow older, less assistance is needed. You will be best placed to ascertain how much parental assistance your child needs. If you have any concerns, please speak to their teacher.
Yes. Hillcrest Christian College is well-known for its exceptional gifted and talented programs. All students have their own Individual Learning Plan, allowing teachers to tailor a program for children’s specific areas of giftedness.
Gifted students can also apply for our Lumos Gifted & Talented Program.
Parent Feedback
"...The amount of support we have received 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, and all of 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."
