New to Uni?
Christian Union is a friendly place to explore faith and meet people
Starting Fresh…
Starting uni can be exciting — and a bit overwhelming. New people, new routines, new questions about who you are and what matters. If you’re exploring faith, or just curious about Christianity, you’re not alone.
At CU, we’re a group of students who meet to explore life and faith together by Uncovering Jesus Together. You don’t need to have it all figured out, and there’s no pressure to pretend you do.
Get Known as a Christian
The best tip ever: get known as a Christian from early on.
Not in an annoying way, but a natural way, like: “Just heading off to the Christian uni group at lunch time. I’ll join you another time.”
You can do this as you introduce friends: “We met at church”, or “we met at the Christian uni group.”
Getting known as a Christian is simple; everyone can do it. It starts your journey as an active believer at uni.
uni-level exploration
unconditional community
unmissable presence
What to expect
Here’s what usually happens when you come along to something CU-related:
- You’ll be greeted by friendly students (we remember what it’s like to be new!)
- There’s time to chat, hang out, and get to know people
- We might read a part of the Bible or hear a talk
- You can listen, ask questions, or just observe — that’s completely fine
You won’t be put on the spot, asked to pray, or expected to sign up for anything. Many people come once or twice just to see what it’s like.
Get Connected
I’m an international student. is this for me?
Yes! Uni can feel especially unfamiliar if you’re new to Australia. We have a group especially for international students, and many also take part in our other meetings.
It’s a welcoming place to meet people, make friends, and explore Christianity alongside others. We aim to create spaces where you can feel at home and get connected at uni.
Learn MoreCommon Questions
Yes! Bendigo Christian Union is affiliated with La Trobe University as an official club on campus.
You’re very welcome to come – regardless of your experience of church (or if you have no experience of church!). Bendigo CU is a place to make friends and discover more about Jesus.
That’s great! AFES groups aren’t trying to replace church. They bring Christian community and the Bible into the place where students spend much of their time — uni.
CU helps you think through what following Jesus looks like in lectures, friendships, and everyday student life. It’s also a natural place to invite classmates to explore Christianity in a familiar setting, alongside your involvement in a local church.
Our group is part of AFES, the Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students, a national community of students discovering Jesus together. All AFES groups across Australia stand in the same grace of God, the same gospel of Christ. Being part of this wider community means we’re connected to other campus groups, supported by experienced staff, and able to be part of something bigger than ourselves.
We understand the pressures on uni students – exams, assignments, work, and more. It can be hard. We don’t want to overload your schedule, but we really do want you to make the most of your time at uni by exploring faith together with us. We run several events a week, on different days and times – some in the day, some in the evening. Just start off small. Perhaps there is just one event that you can make it to?
There are also opportunities to connect outside of semesters, including our midyear camp in July, and NTE (our National Training Event) in December. 🙂
Totally valid question. There’s an increased awareness of questionable sects operating on university campuses. At Bendigo Christian Union, we’re never okay with manipulating or coercing people. We strive for transparency: we openly name our beliefs, affiliations and leaders, and are affiliated with La Trobe Uni’s clubs and societies.