ELTHAM College is a contemporary, independent co-educational school offering Early Learning to Year 12. At ELTHAM, education is a daring adventure - we provide authentic learning opportunities so that students can become world-ready.

We provide a broad range of activities and experiences, which are tailored to meet the developmental needs of all students. Our programs ensure students learn in, and through a range of diverse environments. We encourage all students, regardless of gender, to explore a range of learning opportunities and interest areas.

First established in 1974, ELTHAM College's main campus is located in Research, in the leafy outskirts of Melbourne, and is very easily accessed by public transport. During the Year 9 City Experience Program, students are based at our city campus - enriching their learning with the perspective of the dynamic city landscape and resources.

Our Research campus comprise of approximately 100 acres of land - home to our school buildings for ELC - Year 12, an environmental reserve, Performing Arts Centre, multiple sporting grounds, gymnasium, indoor pool, as well as the Hospitality Training Centre and Swiper's Gully vineyard.

Students' experiences are supported by a technology rich environment, including an IT personal device program, STEM labs, and an on-campus Observatory. 

The environment at ELTHAM is unique and supportive. Students can pursue their interests through the curriculum and a wealth of co-curricular programs. Individualised learning pathways enable our young people to fulfil their potential. Students are encouraged to become active community members and critical thinkers, preparing them for life outside the classroom.

Students are guided by a community of exceptional educators, with academic excellence being complimented with a focus on student wellbeing. Students have the support of our team of Mentors, Teachers, Year Level Coordinators and Directors of School, along with a Student Services team to guide wellbeing, safety and inclusion.

 ELTHAM College is CRICOS registered to accept international students - our strong and successful International Program has been established for over 30 years. Our International Program includes long term international student study, as well as reciprocal exchange programs and Sister School partnerships. 

Co-curricular Program

Co-curricular opportunities are plentiful at ELTHAM. Co-curricular programs foster student engagement and connectedness, contributing to the creation of well-rounded, fulfilled young people.

Our co-curricular opportunities allow students to uncover new passions, dive deeper into already established interests, and meet like-minded staff and peers. At ELTHAM, most students partake in a variety of endeavours to broaden their horizons and connect with each other.

ELTHAM College offers eight different categories of co-curricular: Active, Belong, Communicate, Community, Create, Discover, Explore and Outreach. This allows our students to easily locate activities of interested, and also lets students extend their learning by exploring areas they may not have explored before.

Examples of weekly co-curricular activities:

• Film & Photography Club
• Sustainability Club
• Astrographers Club
• Tech Club
• Pride Club
• Chess Club
• Coding Club
• Science Society
• Literature Society
• Creative Writing Club
• Choirs – Harmoni, Suara, Cantare, Voci & Songsters
• Ensembles for Brass, Clarinet, Guitar, Strings & Percussion
• Wagner Concert Band
• Sidewinders Jazz Band
• Rock Bands

Elite and Emerging Athletes Program

The Elite and Emerging Athlete Program (EEAP) strives to provide an environment and opportunities for students with athletic potential to thrive. Students will have access to sports-specific coaches and strength and conditioning testing, and programs to assist them in achieving their personal best.

EEAP offers extensive knowledge to assist students striving for sporting success, nurture future career aspirations and foster general health and wellbeing benefits. Successful entry into the program is based on an application and coach references.

Amplify

Amplify is an ELTHAM College program with the ambitious goal of exploring what contemporary learning could look like for an ELC – Year 12 school. It cultivates relationships with like-minded individuals and organisations to pursue ELTHAM College’s vision of growing hearts and minds.

The Amplify program:

• Cultivates and scaffolds authentic learner driven goals
• Develops and promotes learning-driven programs and activities
• Contributes to research projects with partner organisations
• Cultivates a community mentor program
• Offers a calendar of learning events to provoke critical thought and action among the ELTHAM College community

Co-curricular Program

Co-curricular opportunities are plentiful at ELTHAM. Co-curricular programs foster student engagement and connectedness, contributing to the creation of well-rounded, fulfilled young people.

Our co-curricular opportunities allow students to uncover new passions, dive deeper into already established interests, and meet like-minded staff and peers. At ELTHAM, most students partake in a variety of endeavours to broaden their horizons and connect with each other.

ELTHAM College offers eight different categories of co-curricular: Active, Belong, Communicate, Community, Create, Discover, Explore and Outreach. This allows our students to easily locate activities of interested, and also lets students extend their learning by exploring areas they may not have explored before.

Examples of weekly co-curricular activities:

• Film & Photography Club
• Sustainability Club
• Astrographers Club
• Tech Club
• Pride Club
• Chess Club
• Coding Club
• Science Society
• Literature Society
• Creative Writing Club
• Choirs – Harmoni, Suara, Cantare, Voci & Songsters
• Ensembles for Brass, Clarinet, Guitar, Strings & Percussion
• Wagner Concert Band
• Sidewinders Jazz Band
• Rock Bands

Student Reward and Recognition program

At ELTHAM College, we are enriching and investing in our students’ education with a scholarship approach that dares to be different. ELTHAM’s new approach to the traditional scholarship program will align with our core value of authentic learning, and will inspire students to strive for excellence during their journey with us. We will be creating scholarships, funding opportunities and grants that acknowledge, inspire, and reward students in more creative ways.

While we’ll continue to provide hardship bursaries and recognise academic, sporting and musical achievements, there are other ways our students stand out and excel. We may reward student-led innovation, offer grants for social impact, or seed-fund entrepreneurial pursuits. Students should have equal opportunity for recognition in diverse endeavours for excellence.

Hear from our students

When I first came to the College, I felt instantly that I belong. The ELTHAM family has given me the confidence to chase my dreams, be ambitious and jump at new opportunities. ELTHAM’s unique culture has nurtured and helped me to grow into the young man I am proud to be today, and can confidently say that coming to ELTHAM was the best decision my parents and I have ever made.

Rory Bradshaw - Class of 2022

ELTHAM College offers a wide variety of incredible opportunities: there are so many co-curricular activities, clubs and events, you're bound to discover a new passion or interest, whether it be music, sport, drama or science! I can play around with state-of the art equipment in the Chem Hub, use a laser cutter in Amplify, play on a grand piano in the Recital Hall, and cook a meal for the public at Swipers Gully Training Restaurant, all in a single school day. By embracing all these opportunities ELTHAM offers, I definitely grew and learned from my experiences, and it's led me to become who I am today.

Amelia Trinh - Year 12, 2023

When I walked onto campus for the first time, my whole world changed. I remember being amazed by the Open Day experience. But it wasn’t the huge library or kids kayaking in the swimming pool that made me fall in love with ELTHAM. It was the two girls who took me on tour - they made me feel welcomed. ELTHAM has a way of doing that, making every single student feel just as special as the next.

Ada Whitwell - Class of 2022

Everyone has a passion, and one of mine happens to be music. ELTHAM has helped ignite this spark, from playing our grand piano at Soirees, to performing at the Jazz Festival with our Jazz Ensemble. They have granted me the opportunity to play in school productions alongside professional musicians, and to perform at Hamer Hall for our annual House Music competition. It has taught me things I will carry through the rest of my life.

Elishia Brown - Class of 2018

As an International Student who came to a foreign place with no friends in Australia, one of my biggest struggles at the start of my overseas journey was making friends. ELTHAM College has a buddy program that helps new students transition to the new school environment. I still vividly remember the enthusiasm and effort that my buddy put in to get to know me and befriend me on my first day of school., As a shy boy who was lacking social confidence, ELTHAM has helped me significantly.

George Chen - Class of 2022

The stars align for ELTHAM College students

Discovering a Jupiter-sized exoplanet, orbiting a star situated 400 light-years from Earth, is far from your everyday school experience! But for three ELTHAM College students, their co-curricular explorations in Astronomy and inherent curiosity led to this thrilling find. Year 12 students Darcy, Oscar and Derrick made their exoplanet discovery last year using ELTHAM College’s Observatory to capture and analyse deep-space images.  

Their work became internationally recognised when Darcy, Oscar and Derrick presented their findings at the Robotic Telescopes Student Research and Education Conference in USA in June 2022. The students’ academic paper is set to be published in the American Association of Variable Star Observers journal in December 2022.  

As one of the students reflects, “I remember visiting our College observatory one cold June night, looking through the telescope’s lens at the rings of Saturn, as a tiny shivering 12-year-old. That was the moment I discovered my passion for space.” Ahead of its time, the College opened its first Observatory in the early 1980s.  

Stella D’Amico, Head of Science, agrees “We are fortunate to have cutting-edge equipment across our STEAM discipline that ignites our students’ curious minds.”  

An ELTHAM education is a daring adventure, full of authentic learning opportunities.