Vision
Where love and learning come to life is the vision for Lutheran education.
About LEA
The Lutheran church is a Christian tradition dating back to the 16th century. With some 70 million members, the Lutheran church remains one of the largest Protestant denominations in the world.
Through Martin Luther and its early beginnings, the Lutheran Church championed the importance of universal education for all.
Lutheran Education Australia (LEA) serves as the national body supporting Regions, and Lutheran schools and early childhood services.
Lutheran Education Australia
Lutherans have operated schools in Australia since 1839 and Lutheran Education Australia (LEA) is the national support body for Lutheran education across the country.
As a national support body, Lutheran Education (LEA) works closely with state-based Lutheran education bodies (Regions) and Lutheran learning communities (schools and early childhood services).
Lutheran Education Australia partners with Regions, schools, early childhood services and staff, walking alongside them and connecting them with the resources they need.
The foundation of Lutheran education is the gospel of Jesus Christ, which informs all learning and teaching, relationships and activities (The LCA and its Schools, 2001).
LEA’s role
LEA has a nationwide role supporting the Lutheran education sector. Our work crosses a wide range of areas, including:
- Development of nationally consistent policies and guidelines
- Administration of key funds
- Provision of training, accreditation and professional development services
- Supply of the Worship and Devotions Guides and other resources
- Assisting in the attraction and retention of staff in Lutheran education
- Leadership development for emerging leaders
- Lobbying Federal Government on behalf of the Lutheran education sector
Mission
Our mission is to encourage and nurture Lutheran learning communities to grow, serving, shaping and enriching the world.
Core values
Through faith in Christ and by the work of the Holy Spirit we are shaped by the gospel of grace, blessed by relationships, united by Christ, marked by integrity.
Lutheran Education Formation Team
The Formation Team supports staff in Lutheran schools and early childhood services to grow and develop understandings of Lutheran theology in action.
The programs developed for staff include:
Connect
An induction program for staff that provides initial understandings of Lutheran theology and how it impacts their work.
Equip
Provides support for teachers of Christian Studies in the classroom.
Lutheran Education Project Groups
From time to time LEA establishes projects and groups, with budgets approved and endorsed by the LEA Board.
Lutheran Education regional bodies
Within the Lutheran education system in Australia, there are a number of Regional bodies directly supporting Lutheran schools and early childhood services.
Each of the national and regionally-based organisations plays a vital role in directly supporting schools and early childhood services within their areas of responsibility.
These are:
LEQ
Lutheran Education Queensland (LEQ) is a department of the Lutheran Church of Australia Queensland District.
LEQ supports 26 schools, 23 OSHCs and 31 early years services throughout Queensland.
LESNW
Lutheran Education SA, NT & WA (LESNW) is an association for its members — 40 co-educational schools and early learning services across South Australia, the Northern Territory and Western Australia.
LEVNT
Lutheran Education Vic, NSW, Tas (LEVNT) supports 19 schools and five early childhood services across Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania as subsidiaries.
Board of Directors – Lutheran Education Australia Limited (BLEA)
Directors
Debbie Bennett
BT (JunPrim), GradDipThEd, GAICD
Debbie taught in Lutheran schools for 12 years after which she moved into administration and operations within the growing family business.
Jill Lange-Mohr OAM
MBA, Grad Cert Ed Lead, BEd, FACEL
Jill began her teaching career at Grace Lutheran College in 1980 and continued full-time in education for 43 years.
Chris Materne
BPSych(Hons), PhD, MAHRI
Chris Materne has a wide variety of professional experience in private sector, state government and tertiary settings.
Reid Matthias
BA (Fin), MDiv
Reid has worked as a College Pastor for the last fourteen years in three different Lutheran schools.
Craig Schmidt
BHMS(Ed), MEd, MBA, MEdTheol
To be updated – one line about Craig.
Heather Vogt
DipT, BEd, MEd
Heather Vogt brings 42 years of experience in education as a teacher and leader, with 35 of those in Lutheran education.
Sarah Wiltshire
BA, LL.B, GDLP
Sarah is a legal practitioner with twenty years of experience in the Supreme Court of South Australia.
Lutheran Education communities
When families join a Lutheran school or early childhood service, they become part of a community that offers warm, caring relationships and a safe environment.
Lutheran Education students
All students who receive a Lutheran education are acknowledged as unique, with their own gifts, needs and abilities.
Lutheran Education staff
Our staff join Lutheran schools because they want more than a job. They take up a vocation where they are valued, supported and provided opportunities for development within their school or centre and the Lutheran education system.
Lutheran Education ethos
Lutheran schools and early childhood services have a shared vision that is based on the Gospel message of Jesus Christ.
As a Christian learning community, our schools and early childhood services nurture a culture and ethos built on our core values of love, justice, compassion, forgiveness, service, humility, courage, hope and gratitude.
We encourage social cohesion, tolerance and inclusivity.
Lutheran Education worldwide
Lutheran Education Australia is part of a major network of schooling worldwide. Lutheran schools operate in Europe, North and South America, Africa and Asia.
Australia has a long tradition of Lutheran education, with schools and early childhood services operating in Australia since 1839. As a church with an emphasis on biblical literacy and Christian education, the Lutheran Church has supported education since its beginnings in the sixteenth century.
The Lutheran church also has its own tertiary institution, Australian Lutheran College, which provides special training for Lutheran teachers that promotes a distinctive ethos in its schools and early childhood services. Learn more about the history and structure of Lutheran Education.
Lutheran schools and early childhood services strive to provide excellence in education and a quality learning experience for all students.
We recruit highly-qualified staff and support them with continuous professional learning and development.
Our learning programs incorporate the curriculum requirements of relevant state education authorities.
Lutheran education caters for students with diverse needs and abilities.
Our education programs emphasise key competencies, stimulate thinking skills and integrate technology.
- Ensure compliance with the LCA staffing policy
- Track staff completion of Connect, Equip, LDP, Accreditation for ministry
- Nurture a faith-based learning community
- Promote professional and theological development
- Maintain staff records in the national database, LExICON
The Induction covers these areas, with reflection questions and prompts provided in each section:
Enduring understanding
Christian Studies in Lutheran education engages learners in inquiry into beliefs about the nature of God while being responsive to the diversity of learners and their spirituality.
Outcomes
At the completion of Equip 1, participants will be able to:
- Articulate an understanding of key Lutheran theological concepts related to the question ‘Who is God?’, including an analysis of scripture related to this theology.
- Critically reflect on the nature of Christian Studies in a Lutheran school or early childhood service.
- Discuss the implications of the nature of Christian Studies for their learners, learning and learning environment.
Lutheran education invites students and staff into scripture-shaped learning and faithful service grounded in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Leadership and Governance
Developed to support the continued professional development of teachers and principals, LEA offers four comprehensive programs.
Leadership Development Program (LDP)
An accreditation and formation program for new staff in Lutheran education, that explores the beliefs, spiritual life and practicalities of these in Lutheran education.
Learn moreLead and Thrive
A professional learning program for teachers of Christian Studies in Lutheran education.
Learn moreThe Global Leadership Immersion program
A program that offers Lutheran Education Australia principals a formal job shadowing opportunity through an international exchange with colleagues abroad.
Learn moreSupport for Governors and Board Members
A program to support emerging and current leaders through skill development and theological understandings.
Learn moreConnect ePortfolio submission page
To submit your Connect ePortfolio:
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Download and complete the ePortfolio submission cover page
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Submit your Connect ePortfolio and the cover page
Please note:
- Acceptable file types include Word and PDFs, which can be attached to the email during submission. Please do not exceed a file size of 8MB.
- Alternatively, you can link to an external site, such as YouTube, a website URL or OneNote. As we have an external ePortfolio marking team, your link must be accessible to these people. You can convert your website to a PDF for easy access for the markers. If linking to an external URL, the ePortfolio must remain available for 6 months.
Please contact LutheranEdAust@lutheran.edu.au if you require assistance to submit your ePortfolio.
Frequently asked questions
This workshop is facilitated every 1 or 2 years. Please contact your Regional Office Formation Leader in LEQ, LESNW or LEVNT for the next workshop dates. Once dates are decided, a promotional flyer with registration information will be available through Regional Offices with dates available through the LEA events calendar.
This workshop is designed for Lutheran education staff and leaders engaged in governance, formation and professional development activities.
Greetings from the National Director
Thank you for your commitment to Lutheran education and for the gift of your service on a governing body. The work you undertake is both significant and deeply appreciated. Lutheran schools and early childhood services rely on the wisdom, diligence and goodwill of hundreds of volunteers across Australia: people who steward our communities with grace, skill and care.
Lutheran Education Australia (LEA) exists to support this work. LEA is not an authority over Lutheran learning communities. Rather, it serves the three Lutheran education regions, LEQ, LESNW and LEVNT, by progressing matters of shared national importance. Our remit is shaped by the regions, and our purpose is partnership: to collaborate where consistency, coherence and shared identity strengthen our collective mission.
Governance across Lutheran education takes different forms depending on region, jurisdiction, entity type and constitutional structure. For this reason, governance advice and operational support are appropriately provided to governing bodies by each region and by the relevant independent schools association. LEA’s contribution focuses on the one aspect of governance that unites all Lutheran learning communities: the Lutheran landscape, our shared history, identity, theology, mission and educational purpose.
It is in this spirit that we offer these governance resources. They are designed to support governing bodies as they attend to the cultural, spiritual and missional dimensions of governance that are unique to Lutheran education. These resources are designed to complement, not replace, the broader suite of governance resources that boards already use.
We warmly welcome your feedback and suggestions for improvement. Your insights help us to refine and expand these resources so they remain useful, relevant and responsive to the needs of the boards of Lutheran learning communities across Australia.
We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you.
Colossians 1:3