What do people say?
"Year 13 was epic! I have never learnt so much in my life! God has taught me heaps in just one year!"
Mandy Fowler, 2010
“I now feel so much more connected with the Christian community and, most importantly, connected to God. 2008 was a year for me to get my life back on track, re-prioritise, and prepare for whatever God sends my way in the future. Best of all, I spent the whole year fully supported and encouraged by Christian leaders, brothers and sisters.
Harrison Vesey, 2008
"Year 13 was the best thing I could have done. It was a year of growth, support and great friendships. Definitely the best year of my life so far!!"
Renee Anderson, 2010
"Year 13 is a full on, intense year of serving God. You find out what you're gifted at, and what you need to develop in. You get to understand the Bible better and receive enormous support and guidance as you grow in your relationship with God. Your whole year is focused on growing as a Christian ... it's the best thing in the world!"
James Vigar, 2007
“I now know where I stand and what I believe in.”
Sally Clemens, 2008
“For me Year 13 was an excellent context in which I could seek to better understand myself, the world, and my God. The trip to Kenya made me much more globally aware, and more aware of how God works in other people’s lives (as well as my own). I now realise that so many things that I once regarded as coincidence are not, it is the Lord.”
Haidee Carritt, 2007
“The community has helped me see the importance of prayer and regular time in God’s Word, I will hold those things dear all my days...”
Caitlin Brush, 2008
“An amazing year where God will shape and change you and where you will have awesome friendships with Christians the same age as you."
Clare Luke, 2008
“Year 13 has been very insightful in the way I view the world and of course God. I have made lifelong friendships with a lot of the fellow year 13ers which has brought me a lot of joy. Going step by step through the bible helped me to broaden my knowledge of what God has truly done for me. The trip to Fiji was an experience of a lifetime that I will never forget about, it moved me and made me think how fortunate I am and how privileged I am to live in this part of the world.”
Joel Thompson, 2008
“Year 13 has given me a solid grounding in my faith to launch me into further ministry for Christ. Having a community of Christian brothers and sisters encouraging me to live out my faith and support me was greatly helpful in my desire to serve God in whichever way he leads me. The year taught me the importance of Christian community and the roll I have to play in that.”
Kieran McKenna, 2008
“Year 13 exposed me to what living as a Christian is all about. It challenged me to change the way I was living and rethink where I thought I was heading. Year 13 made me realise that if Jesus paid for my life with his blood, the way I live my life has to reflect it.”
Owen Vaughan, 2008
“Year 13 has shaped my world view. 2007 was the first year I considered how serving God is the most important thing and every aspect of my life should be devoted to that. It gave me a love for God’s word that I may not have found without it.”
Jenny Cook, 2007
Year 13 Stories From Previous Years
Click here to read about our first ever international student who came all the way from Switzerland to do the Year 13 program in 2008.
Click here to read about Year 13 intensive student Zoe Murray from Lord Howe Island as she prepared to take the gospel across the Pacific Ocean, from one island to another in June.
Why Take A Gap Year?
Many universities actually recommend taking a gap year
Read an article from Harvard College in the US called "Time Out or Burn Out for the Next Generation".
Check out some recent research from Sydney Uni: "Gap Years Can Prepare Students for Uni Life".
The benefits of a gap year for your child
Find out why education web-sites commend a gap year.
Gap Year sends students to top of class (18/09/07)
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, there is now proof that taking a gap year translates into better marks at university.
Gap years growing in popularity (17/09/07)
Read the the Herald Sun report which claims that the number of people taking a "gap year" has almost doubled in the past two years.