Tapping into the opportunities of scholarships and bursaries
We know that accessing a diverse education for children in rural and remote areas of Australia can be a significant challenge for families. Australian Boarding
Helpful Articles, Stories and Resources
The Ultimate Packing List for Boarding School (updated)
This is the 2022 revised edition. Compiled from the real-life experiences of families who have gone before.
She Wasn’t Looking for a Rural Life…
Teacher, ICPA advocate and researcher Hannah Calcino’s journey from city life to Winton has been shaped by one unwavering belief — that every child deserves equitable access to education, no matter where they live. Her story is one of purpose and place.
One Year That Changed Everything
When Kate Brow spent a year boarding in the mountains, she had no idea it would shape her resilience for life. Now a farmer’s wife and mother, she’s helping rural women find connection through Motherland Village.
When Choosing Isn’t Easy: A Rural Principal Reflects on the Freedom to Choose
Rural school principal Brett Wilkie shares the deeply personal decisions many country families face when considering boarding school. A thoughtful conversation about choice, community, opportunity and why every family deserves the freedom to do what’s best for their child.
Takeover Thursday with Frensham
Discover why boarding has been at the heart of Frensham for more than a century. Explore Australia’s largest girls’ boarding school by percentage of boarders and learn how its close-knit community fosters independence, confidence and lifelong friendships.
What Happens When Country Kids Leave, Learn and Come Home?
Agribusiness lawyer and Women in Ag co-founder Maddie Morgan shares how boarding school built her confidence, independence and lifelong friendships, preparing her for a successful career before returning to support rural communities and Australian agriculture.
When Paradise Isn’t Enough
When Katie and Dan Toney discovered boarding school could offer their children new opportunities without leaving the coastal community they loved, it transformed their family’s future. Their experience is now inspiring other families to rethink what’s possible.
You Just Make It Work – One Mum’s Journey Through Loss, Boarding School and Bush Resilience
After sudden tragedy, Sophie Elliott rebuilds life in Winton, raising children through distance education, reflecting on rural schooling, boarding school challenges, community resilience, and the sacrifices and opportunities shaping remote Australian families journey.
The Right to Choose… the stories that shape our decisions.
This month explores educational choice for rural families, shares Annabel’s reflections 17 years after boarding school, previews upcoming events in Goondiwindi, Moree and Tamworth, and highlights programs and conversations supporting rural parents, connection and community.
Are Rural Families Allowed to Choose?
Using her family’s decision to send children to boarding school as an example, Amanda Ferrari contends that rural parents deserve the freedom to make educational choices without judgement.
What It Really Feels Like to Leave Home at 12 – An honest conversation with my daughter Annabel.
After interviewing hundreds of parents and boarders over the years, today I’m turning the microphone closer to home. In this deeply personal conversation, my daughter Annabel and I look back on her transition to boarding school, the grief and uncertainty surrounding it, and how differently mothers and daughters can remember the same story.
Takeover Thursday with Hurlstone Agricultural High School
This week we’re shining a spotlight on Hurlstone Agricultural High School, one of only three government boarding schools in NSW. Combining strong academics, agricultural learning and affordable boarding, Hurlstone continues to open doors for rural families while helping country students stay connected to their roots and future opportunities.
What I Wish I Knew About The School Interview Process Before We Went In
For many country families, the school interview can feel intimidating. You might drive hundreds of kilometres, put your child in their best clothes and walk through gates wondering if your child is “good enough” for the school.
City Wings, Country Roots
Oaklands mother Tamara Nixon believes boarding school gives country children the best of both worlds — strong rural roots alongside wider opportunities, lifelong friendships and the confidence to thrive beyond the farm.
The 5 Things the Smartest Families Know When Choosing a Boarding School
All boarding schools care deeply about what they do.
All boarding schools work incredibly hard to support their students.
And all boarding schools value the contribution rural, regional and remote families bring to their communities in ways that are both practical and cultural.
The Boarding School Question So Many Rural Parents Ask – Amy Clark’s Honest Education Journey
This week in our From the Vault series, we revisit a conversation with Amy Clark about speaks the research process, visiting schools, attending expos, parenting in small rural communities, and the guilt that can come with choosing boarding school when there actually is a local option nearby.
Go Floppy – Sarah Ryan’s Very Real Guide to Boarding School
This week we revisit a heartfelt conversation with Sarah Ryan from Quandialla ahead of our Wagga Expo. Sarah shares an honest and reassuring perspective on the boarding school journey — from rural life and researching schools, to the emotions of sending children away to board.
The Postie with the Mostie: The 600km Mail Run with Bec Climie
12 March, 2026
Remote postie Bec Climie shares how her 600km mail run across North Queensland delivers more than letters – building connection and community for isolated outback families.
The Courage to Change Course: Parenting through a boarding journey that didn’t follow the plan with Geraldine Clark
5 March, 2026
When a boarding school isn’t the right fit, parents can change course. Geraldine Clark shares her family’s journey navigating school changes and finding belonging.
Takeover Thursday with Scotch Oakburn College
5 March, 2026
At Scotch Oakburn College, scholarships celebrate far more than academic achievement – they recognise character, curiosity, creativity and compassion. These are the qualities that shape exceptional young people and future ready leaders.
As we settle in to parenting from afar….
27 February, 2026
When February feels heavy and the boarding year begins with long drives, labelled socks and wobbly goodbyes, we’ve got you covered — reminding rural, regional and remote families that homesickness is normal, resilience is built over time, and being a calm, steady “soft place to land” is exactly what helps your child thrive.
Not in Our DNA: A Walgett Family’s Unexpected Journey to Boarding School with Daniel Bashford
26 February, 2026
Daniel Bashford shares his family’s unexpected decision to choose boarding school, navigating myths, finances and rural NSW schooling realities.
Two Homes, One Heart – Boarding from the Top End with Anna Cochrane
19 February, 2026
Anna Cochrane, a Northern Territory mum shares the realities of boarding school for remote families and parenting from thousands of kilometres away.
Takeover Thursday with Ascham School, Sydney
19 February, 2026
With a long-standing boarding tradition, a close-knit and thriving boarding community, and recognised leadership in boarding excellence, Ascham offers a confident, contemporary boarding experience in the heart of Sydney.
City Girl, Bush Life, Big Decisions with Amy Clark
12 February, 2026
Amy Clark shares the realities of rural family life in Walcha, NSW and the big decision to choose boarding school for her boys.
Big Steps, Big Love with Lisa Green: A Single Mum’s Journey to Boarding School
6 February, 2026
A heartfelt conversation with Lisa Green about choosing boarding school, navigating scholarships, and the mix of excitement and grief that comes with letting go.
The Way We Met
2 February, 2026
From boarding school connections to life on a Merino sheep station, Emily McLeod and Tom Riggs share how love, timing and country roots shaped their story.
The Spirit of Boarding with Tamara Nixon: Why Rural Kids Matter to City Schools
29 January, 2026
Tamara Nixon shares why boarding matters, the importance of rural students in city schools, and how belonging, community and culture can be rebuilt in boarding houses post-COVID.
Around Australia with the ICPA – WA State President Jane Cunningham
22 January, 2026
In this episode, we are joined by Jane Cunningham, President of ICPA Western Australia, to unpack the realities of accessing education across one of the largest and most sparsely populated states in the country.
From Country Quiet to City Life: Phoebe’s Boarding Story
20 January, 2026
In this episode of Nailing Homesickness, Amanda Ferrari chats with Phoebe, a Year 10 boarder at Methodist Ladies’ College in Melbourne, who began boarding at the start of Year 9 after growing up on her family’s farm in northern Victoria.
Around Australia with the ICPA – SA State President Belinda Hatcher
15 January, 2026
Today we’re in South Australia with Belinda Hatcher, where engagement is surging – this year’s conference saw a record 29 motions.
Edith’s Next Step
15 January, 2026
Meet the O’Brien family from a mixed farm near Warren in Central Western New South Wales.
Finding Confidence, Consistency and Calm at Boarding School with Nouvelle M.
13 January, 2026
In this episode of Nailing Homesickness, we meet Nouvelle, a Year 8 boarder at Canberra Girls Grammar School, whose upbringing in an Australian Defence Force family has shaped her ability to adapt, connect and grow.
A Leap of Faith, Kept Close to Home – Celebrating 10 Years of Boarding at Macquarie Anglican Grammar School
8 January, 2026
This episode takes us to Macquarie Anglican Grammar School (MAGS) in Dubbo for a milestone moment for them at the end of last year: the first cohort of boarders to complete the full six-year journey from Year 7 to Year 12 at this growing regional boarding school.
Three Families & Their Holiday Destinations
7 January, 2026
Three boarding school families share their favourite holiday destinations and why familiar places, slower days and time together matter most.
Finding Your Feet: Isla’s First Year of Boarding
6 January, 2026
In this episode of Nailing Homesickness, we hear from Isla, a Year 10 boarder who made the move from a farm near Dubbo to St Catherine’s in Sydney this year.
From the Header to the Boarding House: Harry’s First Year at Scotch
30 December, 2025
Today on Nailing Homesickness, we’re heading to a little place near Oaklands in southern New South Wales, not far from Albury and Yarrawonga, to meet Harry – a Year 8 boarder at Scotch College in Melbourne.
Katie Last, Cootamundra, NSW
29 December, 2025
Katie Last shares her family’s rural life near Cootamundra, their boarding school journey, and the growth, resilience and pride she’s seen in her three daughters.
Expo activities
Vote for
your favourite school
at an Expo for a chance
to WIN $10,000!
From boarding school experts, to scholarship opportunities to prizes
The School of the EXPO Award celebrates genuine connection between families and schools. Voted on by families attending each event, the award recognises schools that stand out for their friendliness, presentation, and knowledge of boarding life. It’s a fun, interactive way for families – and their children – to engage with the schools in the room, while giving exhibitors valuable feedback on what resonates most. Each winning school receives a free registration for the following year’s Expo in recognition of their excellence.
Join the Circle
Be part of the community
Connect with fellow boarding school families, and share in a collective of wisdom, support and love.