Whitley College

08/09/2026

Come and experience one of our Whitley students bringing theology to life through performance and creativity.

This Friday, Whitley student Hua Priestly, who is currently studying 'Introducing the Hebrew Bible', will present 'No Regrets: The Romantic Confession of a Muggle-born Theology Student - A Theological Cabaret' as part of Yarra Theological Union’s Cultural Night.

Written and performed by Hua, the cabaret brings theology and performance together in a creative and playful way, drawing on ideas and themes she has been exploring through her studies, including creation.

Friday 11 September
Approximately 7:30 pm
YTU at St Paschal - 90 Albion Road, Box Hill

Everyone is welcome to come along and support Hua as she shares this creative expression of her theological ideas and learning.

Read more and RSVP here: https://ytu.edu.au/ytu-src-cultural-night/

Visit the post for more.

08/09/2026

Whitley students: discover how Accordance Software can support your biblical studies.

Join Ryan Mudge, PhD, from Accordance Software for a 45-minute Zoom session exploring practical tools for biblical study and exegesis, including original languages, lexicons, concordance searches, translations and commentaries.

Dr Megan Turton recommends Accordance in her Hebrew and Hebrew Bible classes as a valuable learning and exegetical tool.

Wednesday 16 September
5:00 pm
Online via Zoom

Whitley students interested in purchasing Accordance will also receive a 50% discount code.

This invitation is open to anyone in the Whitley community with an interest in biblical studies, particularly those interested in studying Hebrew or the Hebrew Bible.

If you would like to join the session, please email [email protected] and request the Zoom link.

04/09/2026

Meet Sarah, Director of TransFormation and a Whitley alumnus.

TransFormation is a specialist Diploma level program that offers theological education and leadership formation for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) students, whose first language is not English.

Sarah is a second-generation Vietnamese Australian who is highly active in ministry at her local Vietnamese church. Sarah obtained her Bachelor of Arts (Honours) through Melbourne University, and completed a Master of Divinity in 2020 at the University of Divinity, which included the completion of a minor thesis.

Sarah is also a gifted musician, leading staff in worship at prayers and chapel services. She is passionate about seeing people engage with the Bible holistically and helping others to discover the fullness of God’s work in themselves and in the world. She also enjoys a good cup of coffee, and spending time with her family.

We are blessed to have Sarah as part of our gifted, passionate and Jesus-led team.

You can read more about Sarah including her publications on our website: https://www.whitley.edu.au/people/sarah-do/

04/09/2026

SAVE THE DATE | Whitley College Open Day

Curious about theology and where it could take you?

Whitley College Open Day is coming up on Saturday 17 October, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at Whitley College, 90 Albion Road, Box Hill.

It’s a chance to meet our academic team and students, explore courses and study pathways, ask questions, and discover how theological study can connect with your faith, vocation and future.

More details will be released soon, so watch this space.

For now, get the date in your diary and don’t miss out.

Register here: https://bit.ly/4qTfqHn

We look forward to welcoming you!

01/09/2026

We’re delighted to welcome Junho Cho to the Whitley College team as Assistant Director of the TransFormation Programs!

Junho brings a rich combination of theological study, ministry experience and a deep commitment to intercultural and intergenerational Christian community.

He graduated from Korea Baptist Theological University and Seminary with a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Education before moving to Melbourne, where he completed a Master of Theological Studies at Whitley College.

Junho has extensive ministry experience serving in a Korean migrant church and is currently planting a new church with a vision of becoming an intercultural and intergenerational community. He has also worked as a Church Planter with the BUV Mission Catalyst team.

In his new role at Whitley, Junho supports the TransFormation Programs by providing academic assistance and pastoral care to current students, while also exploring opportunities for the program’s expansion and growth.

We’re very pleased to have Junho joining the team and look forward to the experience, care and insight he will bring to the TransFormation community and the wider life of Whitley.

Please join us in giving Junho a very warm welcome to the team!

28/08/2026

The Baptist Union of Victoria and Whitley College invite you to a gathering for pastors and leaders who are discipling young people in migrant contexts.

We will explore some of the questions below:

- What does it mean to disciple young people in our cultural contexts?

- How do we navigate the differences between first and second-generation migrant experiences?

- How can we respond to mental health and pastoral needs within migrant communities?

What can we learn from one another’s ministry contexts?

How do we create churches where young people feel seen, heard and able to belong?

Saturday 19th September, 9am – 3pm at Essendon Baptist Church
$30 per person, lunch included

Speakers include:

- Rev Alex Lam (Senior Pastor, Central Chinese Baptist Church)
- Savaen Cameron (National Lead for Intercultural Mission Development, the Salvation Army)
- Esther Nimasung (Youth Leader, Grace Baptist Church of Melbourne)
- Tluang Lausaw (Youth Secretary, Lutuv Baptist Church)
- Leah Min Kyung Oh (Lev Clinical Psychology)

REGISTER NOW: https://www.buv.com.au/event/youthsymposium26/

We encourage you to bring your pastoral and youth ministry leadership teams!

We hope to see you there!

28/08/2026

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of former Whitley Faculty member, Rev Dr Simon Holt, who died on Tuesday evening, August 25.

Simon served at Whitley for more than 10 years as Senior Lecturer in Spirituality and Practical Theology, before leaving in 2010 to become Senior Pastor at Collins Street Baptist Church. In 2025, Simon and his wife Brenda moved to Canberra.

Many in the Whitley community will remember Simon as a gifted teacher, thoughtful theologian, pastor and writer. Others will know him through his long ministry at Collins Street Baptist Church, or through his books, including God Next Door: Spirituality and Mission in the Neighbourhood, Eating Heaven: Spirituality at the Table, and Heaven All Around Us: Discovering God in Everyday Life.

His contribution to Whitley and to the wider church has been significant, and he will be deeply missed by so many whose lives were shaped by his teaching, ministry and friendship.

Our hearts and prayers are especially with Simon’s wife, Brenda, their children Alli and Nathaniel, and all those who loved him and are grieving his loss.

We give thanks for Simon’s life, his faith, his ministry and the generous contribution he made to the Whitley community and beyond.

Simon's funeral will take place on Friday September 4, at 11:00am at Collins Street Baptist Church, Melbourne.

May Simon rest in peace, and may those who grieve be held in God’s comfort and love.

14/08/2026

Rev Dr Andrew Mitchell is Whitley’s Academic Dean and Senior Lecturer in Baptist Studies.

Originally from Aotearoa New Zealand, Andrew initially came to Australia to study. He worked in the jewellery industry, completing a Diploma of Gemmology and a Bachelor of Arts (International Studies), before pursuing a call to ministry.

Andrew served at a few churches in the BUV, completing a Master of Arts (Christian Studies) at Ridley College, as well as being ordained by the Baptist Union of Victoria. His PhD was completed through a partnership between NAIITS: An Indigenous Learning Community and the University of Divinity. His thesis, titled Shalom: Towards New Narratives of Right-Relationship for the Baptist Union of Victoria, explored how local churches in the BUV could think theologically about their relationship with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Andrew is also on the faculties of NAIITS and Kawthoolei Hope Theological Seminary in Thailand. He is part of the editorial team of the NAIITS Journal, as well as the Ordination Discernment Group of the BUV, and speaks regularly across the BUV.
This semester Andrew is teaching a diploma unit in the Gospel of Mark and coordinating Whitley’s Capstone units.

You can read more about Andrew here: https://www.whitley.edu.au/people/rev-andy-mitchell/

11/08/2026

We join with the BUV and churches across Victoria to pray for the congregations on this week's prayer calendar. Pray with us as we lift them up.

🙏✝❤️Welcome to Monday! This week we will be praying for the following 'C' churches and their communities. Please join with us as hold them in prayer.
If you have a prayer request for your church please DM us.
Collins Street Baptist Church Community Church of St Mark Connect Baptist Church Ballarat Corryong Baptist Church

30/07/2026

Meet Robyn Wrigley-Carr, Associate Professor in Spirituality and Spiritual Care at Whitley College.

Robyn teaches with a deep commitment to helping students navigate life's most profound questions with wisdom, compassion and hope. This semester, she’ll be teaching 'Grief, Loss and Trauma-Informed Spiritual Care' and 'Patterns in the Practice of Spirituality', drawing on more than 20 years of experience teaching theology and spirituality in higher education.

An award-winning educator, Robyn is a recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award from Alphacrucis University College and holds qualifications from the University of St Andrew’s (Scotland), Regent College (Canada), the University of London, and the University of Sydney. Robyn also holds her Graduate Diploma in Spiritual Direction from Wellspring (University of Divinity).

Robyn’s research explores spirituality across every stage of life, including spiritual care for people living with dementia, and aged care chaplaincy. A respected scholar, spiritual director and retreat leader, she has published widely, presented keynote addresses both in Australia and internationally, and serves on the Executive Committee of the International Network for the Study of Spirituality and is on the Editorial Board and Book Reviews Editor for the Journal for the Study of Spirituality.

Robyn is passionate about building a sense of community in her classes and helping students integrate classroom learning with their lived reality.

When she isn’t engrossed in research or enthusiastically preparing classroom content, Robyn loves spending time with family and friends and travelling. She is an accomplished pianist, proud mother of three children, and enjoys watching films.

We're delighted to have Robyn inspiring the next generation of students at Whitley College.

Read more about Robyn here: https://www.whitley.edu.au/people/associate-professor-robyn-wrigley-carr/