Our story...

The birth of College & Church  

The vision for a college to bridge the gap between church based education programs and those of The traditional theological college was formed in the mind of Rev. Dr M. A. Wells, a man who during 40 years as a minister, exercised a unique church planting role in the foothills of Perth’s southern suburbs. In 1978 the vision was realised with the establishment of the West Australian Bible College (WABC), initially operating from the Gosnells Baptist Church. Former Principals were David Shalley, Geoff Fewster and Hayden Nelson. Dawson Elliott was appointed Principal from 1 July 2007.

Over the years of the life of Bible College of Western Australia, a steady stream of graduates have found employment as Pastors, Missionaries and para-church workers along with many others who have taken an enriched Christian faith back into their own communities. Sessional trainers have come from a wide spectrum of Christian organisations and have enriched the students’ appreciation of the Christian faith. As at June 2023, the college has since its inception in 1978, enrolled and discipled 1441 students and participants. Flexibility of self-accredited courses and availability of a personalised approach to the provision of Bible–based education for Christian life and service remain distinctive traits of the college. Now platforming as Equip College, the ministry continues to “Equip People for Life - From the Word to the world.”

With Rev. Dr Dawson Elliott, pioneering a church plant (Grace Community Church) in 2013 and serving as its founding and Senior Pastor, this fruitful church has become the college’s official platform church for discipleship, and spiritual formation. These two arms bring a blessed synergy within the “Body of Christ” for ongoing fulfilment of the the Great Commission. We continue to labor for our Lord and pray, “Your Kingdom Come.”