Hillcrest Christian College

Hillcrest Christian College is an independent Christian school located in Reedy Creek, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

The medium-size, co-educational, Christian school has approximately 1500 students enrolled in each semester with students ranging from Pre-Prep to Year 12. There is also an on-campus Kindy and Outside School Hours Care. Hillcrest Christian College is a member of the CSA (Christian Schools Organisation), which defines the school as a locally governed and not-for-profit organisation.

History
Hillcrest Christian College (previously named Southern Gold Coast Christian Community School) was opened by Reedy Creek Baptist Church (previously named Palm Beach Baptist Church) in 1982. Starting with just 37 students, ranging from years 1–7, the school operated on the Church grounds before moved to Reedy Creek in 1986.

The school has had four principals since its opening:
 * Andrew Mackie (Founding Principal): 1982–1990
 * Stuarte Kerdel: 1991–2001
 * Keith Francis: 2002–2014
 * Jeff Davis: 2015–current

In 2021, Hillcrest will introduce a Middle Learning Community which will create four distinct learning areas: Kindy, Junior, Middle and Senior Learning Communities.

Partnerships with universities
Hillcrest Christian College has partnerships with Griffith University and Bond University. In 2013, 32% of Year 12 graduates completed vocational studies while in Year 12. In addition, five scholarships and guaranteed entries were awarded to students in 2013 to these universities.

Gifted & Talented
Hillcrest Christian College offers a dedicated Gifted & Talented program to cater for students who have been identified as significantly more advanced academically than their age group.

International
International enrolments make up 6% of the total student population at Hillcrest Christian College. The school implemented its International Student Program in 1996 and teaches English as a Second Language (ESL) to students currently speaking:
 * English
 * Chinese
 * Japanese
 * South Korean
 * Taiwan(China)
 * Hong Kong(China)

Sport (HCC)
Hillcrest Christian College provides a range of sporting activities to all students including:


 * Physical Education
 * Aquatics Program
 * Interschool Sport
 * Outside School Hours Sport
 * Interhouse Carnivals

Hillcrest run a very successful Basketball Excellence Program, which culminated in a 2016 senior boys state championship and a third-place finish in the national championships. The College also claimed the 2019 Junior Female AFL Schools Cup State Championship, coached by 251-game former AFL player Matthew Lappin.

Arts (HCC)
Hillcrest Christian College offers an array of options for students wanting to pursue performing arts including:
 * Dance Academy
 * Drama
 * Choral Program
 * Choral Excellence Program
 * College Musical
 * Instrumental

House system
Hillcrest Christian College has four houses that each student represents in the swimming, cross country and athletics carnival. Each house is named after a Christian missionary throughout history.

Carmichael (Red)
Amy Carmichael (1867–1951) was a Protestant Christian missionary in India who opened an orphanage and founded a mission in Dohnavur. She worked mostly with young ladies, some of whom were saved from forced prostitution and wrote thirty-five published books.

Flynn (Blue)
John Flynn (1880–1951) was an Australian Presbyterian minister who founded the Royal Flying Doctor Service (the world's first air ambulance). After studying to at Ormond College in Melbourne, he was made the first superintendent of the Australian Inland Mission. Flynn quickly established the need for medical care for those living in the Australian outback and opened a number of hospitals in the bush.

Greene (Green)
Betty Greene (1920–1997) used her love for flying for Christian mission work after serving with the Women Airforce Service Pilots in World War II. She served for 16 years in 12 different countries until her death in 1997.

Taylor (Yellow)
Hudson Taylor (1832–1905) was a British Protestant Christian missionary to China and founder of the China Inland Mission. During his 51 years in China he was responsible for bringing over 800 missionaries to China who opened 125 schools. Taylor was able to preach in several varieties of Chinese, including Mandarin, Chaozhou and the Wu dialects of Shanghai and Ningbo. He used these talents to prepare a written edition of the New Testament.

Notable alumni

 * Flynn Cameron, basketball player with Melbourne United (NBL), New Zealand (FIBA)
 * Tobias Cameron, basketball player with the Taranaki Airs (NZNBL)
 * Izzy Wright, basketball player with the Melbourne Boomers (WNBL)