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Matthew Flinders Anglican College is one of Queensland's leading co-educational, independent schools, located at Buderim on the Sunshine Coast.
Founded in 1990, the College continues to provide its 1,410 students from Prep to Year 12 with an quality education and the character to prepare them for a bright and rewarding life beyond graduation.
Students are guided to recognise and develop the College's core values of compassion, courage, integrity and respect, which support them in developing as ethical, aware and empowered young people with the desire and skills to make a positive contribution in the wider world.
The Flinders Early Learning Centre supports children during their early years of pre- and kindergarten education, and enables a smooth transition to the Preparatory Year at Matthew Flinders Anglican College.
Outstanding academic results have seen Flinders recognised as one of the top schools in Queensland and a leading school on the Sunshine Coast.
The College is investing in the campus with its Flinders Masterplan to provide new agile, contemporary learning spaces for its students. New learning precincts include the world-class Infinity Centre, the Flagship Centre for students in Years 5 and 6, and the Wonderarium learning centre in the Primary School.
The College prides itself on a culture of innovation and ongoing professional development for staff to support their expertise and enable a rewarding career journey.
Flinders students embrace the vast opportunities available to them at the College through an extensive co-curricular program across sports, the dramatic arts, music and community service.
The Flinders Music Program is one of the top development and performance programs in Queensland, with a Music EDGE extension program for students in Years 8 and 9 to develop their passion. Students with a passion for the performing arts are nurtured through the Flinders Dramatic Arts Program to develop skills for the stage, as well as technical skills in lighting, design and more.
College sporting teams achieve across a variety of sports including netball, cross country, water polo, AFL, rugby union, touch football, basketball, swimming, athletics and football (soccer).
The Flinders Elite Athlete Program supports and extends top student athletes to reach their potential in their chosen sport as well as in their academic life. Student wellbeing is a priority at Flinders and the FEAP program strives to teach young athletes the skills and strategies for a healthy life.
We invite you to tour our charming 22-hectare rainforest-fringed campus in Buderim, located in the heart of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland.
Matthew Flinders Anglican College is regarded as a leading private school on the Sunshine Coast, committed to providing a quality education for 'Excellence in Learning and Life" for our more than 1,400 students from Prep to Year 12.
There is also our Flinders Early Learning Centre to guide and inspire children in their pre-Prep years.
Founded in 1990, our College has established a distinguished reputation for weaving academic excellence with a comprehensive co-curricular program, complemented by strong wellbeing and pastoral care initiatives.
Guided by our vision to ‘Educate for Excellence in Learning and Life’, Flinders aims to foster an environment where students are encouraged to engage in a range of leadership, entrepreneurship and community service opportunities.
Through these experiences, students develop into ethical, informed and empowered individuals, equipped with the skills and commitment to make meaningful contributions to society.
To learn more, visit our website at https://www.mfac.edu.au/flinders-advantage/
At Flinders, learning extends far beyond the classroom.
Our rich and dynamic co-curricular program inspires students to discover their passions, build confidence and develop lifelong skills.
Whether excelling in music, sport, service learning, dramatic arts, chess or academic projects such as STEM and coding, students are expertly guided and encouraged by our dedicated coaching staff and tutors.
Through these experiences, Flinders students cultivate resilience, teamwork and a strong sense of belonging, preparing them for success in school and beyond.
Creating a sense of belonging and connection is a key priority at Flinders.
Our strong House structure fosters inclusiveness and identity while creating a supportive environment where students are known, valued and encouraged by peers and mentors across different year levels.
House activities, such as sporting events and service initiatives, encourage students to develop camaraderie, teamwork and leadership skills.
There is a welcome sense of tradition as each House system nurtures pride and lifelong friendships, enriching the overall school experience.
Our commitment to students’ holistic development is reflected in a comprehensive and age-appropriate wellbeing curriculum and outdoor education program, guided by the Flinders Wellbeing Framework.
In Secondary, the WELL4Life program includes the awardwinning The Resilience Project, and in Primary we embrace the Grow Your Mind initiative to equip students with essential skills and strategies to navigate life’s challenges with confidence.
Across Years 10-12, our bespoke Academic Care program also provides targeted lessons on study skills, career and tertiary pathways, and academic integrity.
Together, these initiatives foster self-awareness and a strong sense of purpose, empowering students to thrive academically and personally while fostering a positive, healthy and meaningful learning experience.
ABOUT THE FLINDERS SCHOLARSHIPS PROGRAM
Matthew Flinders Anglican College is committed to providing a wide range of learning opportunities across all areas of the curriculum and to nurturing individual student’s talents and interests.
As part of this commitment, the College offers scholarships for students with special talents who, in turn, will make a significant contribution to the life of the College.
Opportunities are offered across Academic, General Excellence, Music, Sports, Flinders Foundation and Principal's Scholarships.
To learn more and apply, visit the Scholarships page on the Flinders website.
To learn more about our alumni network, our Old Flinderians, please visit our website here and enjoy reading Q&A profiles with some of our graduates over the years.
The sense of community and strong bonds fostered at Matthew Flinders Anglican College continue long past graduation and we always follow, with a sense of pride, the accomplishments of those who spent their formative years at the school.
It is a privilege to be the fifth Principal of Matthew Flinders Anglican College. As one of the pre-eminent schools in Queensland, we are proud to provide excellence in education in a co-educational setting.
The role of school principal is so often defined as one of ‘stewardship’ and, with this in mind, my focus is always on providing a quality education that caters for every student and celebrates inclusivity, respect and trust.
I’m delighted to be a part of Flinders with its vibrant school culture.Flinders has a proud reputation for nurturing the academic and co-curricular growth of young children in the Flinders Early Learning Centre, the vibrant Primary School students and the emerging adults in the Secondary School.
The journey of each student brings with it a unique set of challenges and opportunities, yet the core aspects to students achieving their potential include providing high-quality education with engaging, well-trained and passionate teachers.
One of the very best things about Flinders is the positive climate for learning present throughout the College.
Our teachers are deeply committed to creating the optimal conditions for our students' wellbeing, learning and growth.
Our team recognise the students must feel valued, supported and experience a sense of belonging within every learning environment.
Flinders provides an innovative curriculum, full of authentic learning experiences and a problem-based learning approach, to develop agile and entrepreneurial thinkers who are eager to seek problems, explore and create solutions, and contribute positively to the wider world.
Flinders is well-known for its impressive facilities and charming setting among trees on a beautifully landscaped campus, approximately 10 minutes’ drive from the coastal beaches.
Our Flinders Master Plan has delivered contemporary, high quality, functional spaces, including the new Infinity Centre, to support both teaching and learning as well as the extensive co-curricular program.
Our students benefit from having all our facilities onsite and readily accessible during school hours and beyond.There is so much to see and enjoy at Matthew Flinders Anglican College – I invite you to visit and experience it for yourself.
With good wishes,
Ms Michelle Carroll?| Principal
Matthew Flinders Anglican College
NEWS STORY: Flinders Wins Australasian Learning Environments Design Award 2025
Matthew Flinders Anglican College on the Sunshine Coast has been named the winner of the Landscaping/Outdoor Learning Area category at the 2025 Learning Environments Australasia (LEA) Design Awards on 9 May for its new master-planned outdoor learning zone, named The Green.
Flinders was applauded by the awards jury for setting a “benchmark for outdoor educational spaces” with a “flexible and inclusive setting that supports both structured curriculum and spontaneous engagement”.
The College teamed up with leading Australian landscape architects, Tract, to design The Green alongside the new Infinity Centre project as part of the Flinders Master Plan. Both world-class projects opened to students for learning in January 2024.
The awards jury said, “The Green exemplifies a forward-thinking, holistic design approach that is at once functional, inclusive and uplifting. It delivers a rich, layered and joyful environment that enhances campus life and sets a benchmark for outdoor educational spaces.”
The Green features a range of study nooks and seating zones in varied configurations, an open stage and exhibition space, as well as large turfed areas, stepped seating terraces and plaza spaces, all bordered by lush, landscaped gardens.
Principal Michelle Carroll said it was an honour for the College to receive an award of such high-calibre, amidst an excellence awards program featuring 70 entries across eight award categories.
“Flinders is honoured to be recognised by the LEA as one of the outstanding learning environments across Australasia that exemplify innovation, purpose-driven design and powerful collaboration between architects, educators and communities,” Ms Carroll said.
“The Green is a result of our deep commitment to provide our students and staff with innovative learning environments that inspire and support future-focused learning and enhance student outcomes.
“As part of our exciting Flinders Master Plan, The Green provides our College community with a healthy and modern centralised hub in the Secondary School campus that is enjoyed as an oasis of calm, creativity and connection.
“It is an inspiring and flexible outdoor space for our students to learn, socialise and perform; a place where they can explore a wide range of educational activities and opportunities as part of the curriculum and co-curricular program, and also gather, socialise and recharge during break times.
“It’s also a place for our wider community to gather, as we present events such as reunion get-togethers hosted by our Old Flinderians' Association and outdoor theatre presented by our Dramatic Arts students."
To learn more, visit the Infinity Centre.
NEWS STORY: Flinders Wins Sustainability Award for Flinders Farm and Flinders Masterplan
Matthew Flinders Anglican College has been awarded The Educator’s 5-Star Sustainable Programs Award 2024 for being “a shining example of effective sustainability education in action”.
Read The Educator’s award announcement here.
Flinders is one of just six schools in Queensland and a total of 25 schools across Australia to be awarded a 5-Star Sustainable Program and recognised as “forward thinking and innovative schools, leading a movement to conserve natural resources and create a greener future”.
The Educator’s 5-Star Sustainable Programs aims to influence more schools and communities to follow the schools playing a critical role in equipping young people to be lifelong stewards of society and the environment.
Flinders Principal Michelle Carroll said it was wonderful for the College to be recognised for being at the forefront of sustainability and environmental education programs.
Flinders won the award for its commitment to sustainability across the campus, including the regeneration of its half-hectare Flinders Farm, which includes a 900m2 citrus orchard, 500m2 of vegetable beds, 14 bee hives, chickens, a compost-making facility and a biofertilizer-making facility.
The College’s new podcast, “At the Bell Tower” features a conversation between Ms Carroll and Flinders Farm Manager Jeff MacLennan on the award-winning Farm - listen here.
Under the expert guidance of Farmer Jeff, the Farm has become a vibrant, hands-on environmental education hub for the College’s more than 1,400 students from Prep to Year 12 as well as the Flinders Early Learning Centre community.
The College is also committed to sustainability as a key part of campus operations and development, such as through the Flinders Masterplan’s suite of new facilities, and has one of the largest school solar installations across Australia.
Ms Carroll said, “Flinders is delighted to be awarded The Educator’s 5-Star Sustainable Programs Award 2024 and to be recognised as one of the leaders in embedding sustainability into school culture.
“Our aim is to empower our students to understand their place in the world and build the skills, confidence and capacity to have a positive impact in their communities,” Ms Carroll said.
“Through our Flinders Farm and a range of curriculum and co-curricular programs, our students are learning how to act responsibly and respectfully to nurture and protect the planet for future generations.”
Read the full story here.
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MATTHEW FLINDERS ANGLICAN COLLEGE