Focus Newcastle
Welcome! 欢迎！स्वागत! ようこそ！ترحيب! Chào mừng!
We’re so excited you’ve come to study in Newcastle, Australia!
University is a great time to meet new people and ask deep questions. ‘Why am I here?’ ‘Why is there suffering in the world?’ You don’t have to ask these questions alone.
FOCUS Newcastle gives you a place to meet friends, connect with other internationals, practice your English, and explore the meaning of life together.
NCS has a community specifically for international students, called “FOCUS Newcastle” – short for the Fellowship of Overseas Christian University Students, Newcastle. Whatever your country, culture, religion or language, you are all welcome, and we’d love to meet you.
Get Connected
Heading to uni?
University in Australia is many new things – new experiences, new challenges, new friends, and even a new country! If you’re a committed Christian or just curious, FOCUS Newcastle is a community where you will be known, supported, and invited to belong. You don’t have to study, navigate your faith, or go through life alone!
What is a Uni Group?
So what’s the point of a Christian uni group?
There are many social groups and clubs at UON, but FOCUS Newcastle is a great place for people to meet other international friends and learn about Jesus and even learn how to share about him with your classmates.
If you don’t know Jesus, that’s ok! We’re a safe space to explore the meaning of life , what the Bible says, and ask hard questions. If you are a Christian, FOCUS Newcastle is a great place to grow in your faith with others and learn now to lead others. At FOCUS, you’ll meet great friends (that you might even come to think of as your family here in Australia), dive deep into the Bible, pray for each other, and gain confidence to tell people about Jesus. Whatever background you’re from, FOCUS Newcastle is a community here to support you while you study here in Newcastle.
Throughout the year we meet together every week during semester for dinner, socials and Bible studies. We also run socials, camps, and other fun activities.
Some students choose just to attend occasionally. Others make Friday FOCUS a part of their weekly schedule, and some even serve in leadership positions at FOCUS. Whatever your capacity, you’re welcome to come along. So come check us out!
Settling In & Being Supported at Uni
Studying in Newcastle can be lonely when your family and friends and everyone you know is far away. Our top advice for success at uni is to join FOCUS Newcastle! That way, you can make friends, be welcomed into a warm community – and learn where to buy the things that you need in Newcastle, learn the best modes of transport around Newcastle, or even find help with finding a place to live and even people to help you move house!
We meet every week during campus!
FOCUS Newcastle meets every week during semester, and we often organise social activities in the university breaks. Even in the long break in the middle of the year! Here is a list of our weekly activities. Please let us know you are coming as soon as possible by texting 0466831437 so we can make sure we have enough food for everyone. We can also help you organise transport.
FOCUS usually meets weekly at Friday FOCUS in the Nelson Room (above the Brennan Room), Shortland Building, Callaghan or one of our members houses for our all-in gathering to hang out, enjoy good food, study the Bible, and pray together. If you need directions we can meet you at the Bus Stop near V Building at Callaghan Campus at 6pm.
JOIN US ON AN AUSSIE ADVENTURE
Join us on a 2 night outback stay on a farm in the beautiful countryside of Dungog just around an hour northwest of Newcastle. Depending on the numbers or your choice we may not be doing actual camping. Limited spots available.
Registration FormHere are
some Qs we get
asked a lot.
Yes! FOCUS Newcastle is part of Newcastle Christian Students (NCS), and is affiliated with University of Newcastle Student Association (UNSA) as an official group.
Everyone is welcome – regardless of your experience of church, your denomination, if you’re part of a different religion or if you have no experience of church or religion at all! NCS is a place for anyone to make friends and discover more about Jesus. It’s an awesome place to meet Christians from different churches and grow together!
By the way: NCS is not a church, it’s more an expression of the church. We want everyone at NCS to regularly go to your own church, but that doesn’t mean you can’t come to NCS.
Newcastle Christian Students compliments – not replaces – church. They’re a community to walk alongside you in your faith during your uni years. They’re a great place to invite classmates who might not feel comfortable entering a church service to explore Christianity. AFES groups will grow your love for God, biblical understanding and missional heart in a unique and unmissable way whole you’re at uni!
AFES stands for the Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students. We’re a movement of student groups from across the country, associated with IFES (the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students).
That’s okay! We understand the pressures on uni students – exams, assignments, work, and more – you don’t have to come to NCS, but making time to invest in your faith is also important. NCS is here to help and serve you, so we are just happy when we get to see you and would love to help you in your faith journey any way we can.
There are also opportunities to connect outside of semesters in informal socials, at the annual AFES conference called National Training Event (NTE), and local mid-year conferences (FOCUS Aussie Adventure, Getaway and WinterCon!)
No. NCS or FOCUS Newcastle is not a cult. At FOCUS Newcastle or NCS, 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 the Student Union. Also we don’t want your money. All we will ever ask you for is to help us with the costs of serving dinner, activities, with a small fee and money for your camp fees.