About Us
School Overview
Established in 1971, Chinese Fellowship Chinese School is Melbourne’s first weekend Chinese language school, recognised and funded by the Victorian education department. We welcome students from different language backgrounds, bringing Chinese language learning and cultural heritage together.
- Teaching for local learners: We have contributed to Chinese teaching resources for use in Australia, including VCE resource kits and Chinese pinyin examples.
- Engaging with our community: We participate in cultural and educational activities organised by government and Chinese community organisations, receiving government awards and community recognition.
Vision & Mission
Our Context
Chinese education is an integral part of multicultural Australia. However, within a country where Western cultural traditions predominate, opportunities to use Chinese can be limited. Students also come from varied social and family backgrounds, including mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam. Their previous living environments, time in Australia, Chinese proficiency and understanding of Chinese culture differ considerably. These differences create important challenges for teaching Chinese language and culture.
Our Goals
As a Chinese school outside China, we aim to nurture students’ character and abilities and encourage service to society. We are committed to sharing Chinese culture, promoting Chinese education and enriching Australia’s multicultural society. By helping students understand China’s long history and cultural traditions and develop positive values, we prepare them to participate confidently in Australian society.
Our Philosophy
Through structured and varied teaching, we help students develop Chinese listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. Our motto is “Practicality, Knowledge, Character”. With a practical approach and rigorous teaching, we provide a place for children of Chinese heritage and those interested in Chinese culture to learn the language, understand its culture and carry valued traditions forward.
School History
55 Years of Shared Memories
Our school’s history is also our community’s history.
It began with a wish among first-generation migrants to keep Chinese alive for the next generation. Establishing a school and a permanent home took the combined efforts of members, teachers and parents.
- 1971
The Fellowship and School Are Founded
Chinese Fellowship of Victoria was established as a non-profit organisation. Its Chinese school opened in the same year, with Ms Xu Zhiqing as the first principal.
Historic Chinese Fellowship Chinese School premises - 1974—1976
Members Fund a Permanent Home
A building fund was launched in 1974. Permanent premises in North Melbourne were purchased in 1976, and the loan was repaid within two to three years of moving in.
Early community services also included Chinese interpreting, refugee settlement support and free weekend medical consultations. - 1991—1995
Campus Expansion and VCE Teaching
In 1991, the school became Victoria’s first weekend Chinese school to gain VCE registration. A Carey campus was established in 1995.
Fellowship members in 1996; the original caption names Dragon Boat Palace. School archive. - 1997—2004
Enrolment Grows Beyond 600 Students
In 1997, Wang Yingbing achieved first place in VCE Chinese in Victoria. Enrolment continued to grow, exceeding 600 students by 2004.
- 2005—2024
Five Campuses and Growing School Exchanges
The school continued to expand, gradually developing a network of five campuses.
Exchanges with schools in China gave students opportunities to broaden their perspectives and experience different school cultures.School exchange group photograph, July 2012 - 2026
Five Campuses, Continuing the Tradition
From preschool to VCE, the school continues to offer Chinese learning opportunities for community families. Exchanges, competitions and cultural activities bring the language beyond the textbook.
In September 2026, the school hosted Chinese Culture Wonderland in Melbourne, offering twelve cultural experience courses.
Our People
Philip Chui JP
Philip Chui JP has served several terms as President of Chinese Fellowship of Victoria while also acting as School Chairman. In recognition of his community contribution, he was appointed a Justice of the Peace and received awards for volunteering, community achievement and multicultural service, as well as a Whitehorse small and medium business award. His dedication has played an important part in the school’s achievements and in helping generations of students maintain their connection with Chinese culture.
Dr Linda Huang
Experienced educator Dr Linda Huang previously served as school principal. A much-loved teacher earlier in her career, she remained committed to Chinese cultural education after moving to Australia, alongside her medical practice. She advocated creating opportunities to experience Chinese culture and adapting teaching to the Australian setting through lively, engaging lessons. Her commitment to education, teaching quality and support for teachers and students helped lay the foundations for the school’s success.
Dr Yali Shao
Dr Yali Shao holds a doctorate and has more than 20 years of experience in Chinese language teaching. She has taught VCE Chinese at Chinese Fellowship Chinese School and worked as a VCAA assessor since 1995. Students benefit from her academic background, knowledge of VCE Chinese teaching and extensive experience in Victoria’s Chinese education system.
Dr Shao combines strong encouragement with high expectations for every student. She regularly reviews and updates a comprehensive curriculum across varied areas of Chinese learning, helping VCE students reach their potential and prepare for assessment. Her teaching experience makes a distinctive contribution to the quality of Chinese education at the school.
Our Teaching Team
We thank our experienced teachers over the years, listed in no particular order: VCE teachers Yali Shao and Jing Cheng, and teachers Li Li, Yuping Song, Luo Shen, Bing Zhang, Boya Li, Hailian Zou, Ruiyan Wang and Yan Gao. We are grateful for their outstanding contributions to Chinese education.
Awards & Recognition
Learning is reflected in the classroom,
and in achievements and recognition.
First Place in VCE Chinese in Victoria
Year 12 student Wang Yingbing achieved first place in VCE Chinese in Victoria and was invited to Government House to receive her award.
Victoria’s Multicultural Awards for Excellence — Language Education
The school, Honorary Principal Linda Huang and VCE teacher Jing Cheng received Victorian multicultural excellence awards for language education(Note 1)。
Read the 2013 report (Chinese) →Victoria’s Multicultural Awards for Excellence — Language Education
VCE teacher Yali Shao received an individual Victorian multicultural excellence award for language education.
Read the 2015 report (Chinese) →Outstanding Overseas Chinese Language Teacher Awards
VCE teacher Jing Cheng received an Outstanding Overseas Chinese Language Teacher (Note 2)Lifetime Achievement Award; VCE teacher Yali Shao received a Contribution Award, and Hailian Zou received an Excellence Award.
Teacher Professional Development
In October 2018, Yan Gao completed the Certificate IV in Community Languages Teaching, becoming the first member of our teaching team to gain this qualification.
Community Language Teacher Contribution Awards
Honorary Principal Linda Huang and preschool teacher Yuping Song received annual language teacher contribution awards from Community Languages Victoria.
Read the 2019 report (Chinese) →VCE Results & Student Awards
Over the years, students have achieved strong VCE Chinese results, including perfect study scores of 50 and scores of 49. Students have also received winning and excellence awards in Chinese competitions, including the inaugural Huawen Cup and Chinese short-video competitions.
View a student achievement report (Chinese image) ↗50th Anniversary Messages
On its 50th anniversary, Chinese Fellowship of Victoria received congratulatory messages from a federal MP, the then Premier of Victoria and the Chinese Consulate-General in Melbourne, recognising its contribution to community service, cultural heritage and exchange.
Select an image to read the complete message.
School Resources
Five Campuses, Close to Home
Find a campus near you. Explore addresses, class times and school calendars to plan your child’s Chinese learning.
Kew Campus
Carey Baptist Grammar School
349 Barkers Road, Kew VIC 3101
View Map ↗2026 Term 4 start date:
10 October 2026
Class time: Saturday 9:30am – 12:15pm
View School Calendar
Maribyrnong Campus
Maribyrnong College
2 River St, Maribyrnong VIC 3032
View Map ↗2026 Term 4 start date:
10 October 2026
Class time: Saturday 9:30am – 12:15pm
View School Calendar
Templestowe Campus
Templestowe College
7 Cypress Avenue, Lower Templestowe VIC 3107
View Map ↗2026 Term 4 start date:
11 October 2026
Class time: Sunday 10:00am – 12:45pm
View School Calendar
Casey Campus
Foundation College
1 Malcolm Court, Narre Warren Vic 3805
View Map ↗2026 Term 4 start date:
10 October 2026
Class time: Saturday 10:00am – 4:30pm
Glen Iris Campus
Sacré Cœur School
172 Burke Road, Glen Iris Victoria 3146
View Map ↗2026 Term 4 start date:
10 October 2026
Class time: Saturday 2:00pm – 4:30pm
View School Calendar
Campus image sources
Campus exterior images: Carey；Maribyrnong — Joyceclintonphillip, public domain, 2008 archive photograph；Templestowe College；Foundation Learning Centre；Sacré Cœur — Devco。
Year Levels & Courses
Additional courses: VCE Chinese, English and Mathematics tutoring; adult Chinese and English for migrants; special interest classes and tai chi.
Curriculum
Our teaching programme covers foundation classes through Year 10 and VCE Chinese, combining language learning with cultural and social content. The school’s curriculum information refers to the Victorian Essential Learning Standards (VELS) and the F–10 Chinese Language Curriculum.
Learning Materials
We use textbooks developed for overseas Chinese learners, complemented by materials written or selected by our experienced teachers. Teaching responds to Australian language-school requirements and students’ different language backgrounds. Through varied approaches, encouragement and guidance, we build interest in learning. Pinyin and 750 commonly used characters help develop foundations in listening, speaking, reading and writing for practical communication.
School Management
Our school follows government child safety requirements and maintains student codes of conduct and defined responsibilities for teachers and the principal. Teachers arrive half an hour before classes for educational discussions and to share teaching experience.
Teachers are encouraged to undertake 20 to 70 hours of professional development each year. Training includes first aid, Languages Other Than English (LOTE) teaching methods, Chinese Teaching Levels 1 and 2, and the Certificate IV in Community Languages Teaching.
Last updated: October 2026
Additional Information · Award Notes
- Victoria’s Multicultural Awards for Excellence recognise individuals and organisations for outstanding contributions to promoting multicultural understanding and cultural diversity in the community. ↩︎
- The Outstanding Overseas Chinese Language Teacher awards recognise contributions to Chinese education, school development, cultural heritage and international exchange. The school’s original award notes describe nominations through overseas Chinese organisations and schools, review by the Chinese Consulate-General in Melbourne, and an award programme organised by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office and China Overseas Exchange Association. ↩︎