Life on campus

Campus students have great opportunities to engage in the Ridley campus community. We believe that character is ‘caught not taught’ and that it is through the values and culture of the community that people see and experience what it means to be a mature follower of Jesus. Campus students benefit from an integrated formation program including daily chapel services, community meals, Guided Spiritual Formation groups, and Vocational Mentoring Groups.

Our purpose is to help train men and women to serve Jesus Christ among God’s people, and throughout God’s world. That’s what life here at Ridley is all about.

Formation

We have a variety of programs and initiatives which aim to build up our students and the wider Christian community. Some programs are available exclusively to Ridley students, and others are available for the wider community to be involved in. See below for the details of the various formation and mentoring programs. 

Guided Spiritual Formation

During your first, foundational year (or part-time equivalent) on-campus students take part in two Guided Spiritual Formation units (PC156, PC155). These units combine personal reflection with group discussion and give you an opportunity to focus on your own spiritual life, forming good habits of reflection for a life of ministry. This is part of the Ridley pathway for any on-campus students who are doing a two year or longer award.

Guided Spiritual Formation is designed to give you space to help you reflect on your own spiritual development and identity and to grow in your ministry and relationship with God; it will help you develop habits of spiritual practice and theological reflection that will enable you to pursue ongoing spiritual formation throughout your life. Learn More

Vocational Mentoring Groups

Anglican Institute

The Anglican Institute is a specialised formation program which aims to raise up, train and equip future ordained leaders for the Anglican Church of Australia.  We aim to provide a high quality Anglican ministry formation program, producing missionally focused Anglican leaders for parishes, chaplaincies, theological colleges, and dioceses.
How do I become part of this formation program?

Participation in the Monday Anglican Institute program requires completion of the application form. Those who have been accepted as ordination candidates will participate as full members of Anglican Institute. Those who are considering ordination and others electing to participate in Anglican Institute will become associate members of the Anglican Institute. Fees are outlined in the application form.

Click here for the Anglican Institute Application

Click here for more information about ordination requirements for the Diocese of Melbourne and Network 1:28.

Global Mission

The Global Mission group exists to form missionaries, missiologists and mission advocates.

A suite of specialist vocational units in cross-cultural and global mission is available to all Ridley students on a two-year cyle. In addition, students have the opportunity to belong to the Global Mission Vocational Mentoring Group, and participate in its extracurricular program.

The core extracurricular activity takes place on Wednesdays during the semester, when members of the Global Mission program meet for lunch in the college dining room, followed by a Vocational Mentoring Group. Guest speakers, focused reading, workshops, personal sharing, and prayer take us beyond the formal curriculum as we explore God’s global mission and our place within it.

The Global Mission formation program is open to diploma and degree students who have completed their foundational units. For degree students applying to join the Global Mission Learning Community, a commitment to at least one year of full-time study at Ridley is strongly encouraged at some point in their studies.

Assistance with specialist unit selection is available.

For further information, contact the Global Mission Coordinator, Claire Livingstone

CYM Mentoring

TBC

Chapel

Chapel services are held Tuesday to Thursday at 10 am during the semester, where we praise God, pray together, and meet God in his words and in our fellowship. Chapel is a key part of the community life at Ridley College.

We use a variety of services with a mix of musical and liturgical styles; prayer book, open, contemporary, traditional. Not only is it a great opportunity to worship God together, but to use your gifts to serve the Ridley community, and learn important skills in arranging and leading services.

Community Meals

Morning tea is provided for students each day of classes and is enjoyed in the dining room or outside. College lunch is held for all students on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays during semester. Students pay a subsidised cost for these meals.

Library

The Leon Morris Library is an excellent facility that plays a vital role in the academic and community life of Ridley. Its quality reflects many years of sustained investment by the college and its supporters.

Ridley Student Committee

The Ridley Student Committee is elected by the student body to enrich the community experience on campus and online. The committee listens to student needs and organises activities such as prayer triplets, coffee carts, comedy nights, camps, and fundraisers.