The Ultimate Packing List for Boarding School (updated)
9 September, 2026
Our Ultimate Packing List is, indeed, the ultimate packing list. Compiled by families who’ve done it all before. You’ll be sorted in no time.
Our Ultimate Packing List is, indeed, the ultimate packing list. Compiled by families who’ve done it all before. You’ll be sorted in no time.
Leading the charge with warmth and determination for ICPA Queensland. In this episode I chat with Wendy Henning from Glenmorgan in the ‘middle of everywhere’ Queensland as Wendy aptly puts it. Wendy is the State President of the Queensland ICPA,
Hello to you all it’s lovely to have you back here at Destination Boarding. We’re popping into your podcast feed with a few BONUS episodes in addition to our weekly drop. They’re short and straight to the heart and I
As a parent sending your child off to boarding school, it can be overwhelming to navigate this transition. Not only do you want your child to thrive in this new environment, but you also want to be the best support
Kate Kennedy, mother and farmer from Trangie, shares her journey running a 3000-ha farm, raising four kids, and navigating rural life with resilience.
In this episode, I sit down with Phillip Heath, Head of Barker College, to discuss a key topic from this year’s Australian Boarding Schools Summit—Academics, Country Kids & the Art of Encouragement. We explore how parents and schools can best
In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Lisa Fahey, a psychologist specialising in trauma recovery and behavioral interventions for young people. As a mother of five former boarders, Dr. Lisa brings both professional expertise and personal experience to the table—making her
Boarding schools, with their structured environments and often stringent social media use policies, offer a much sought after solution to address these concerns and in doing so, provide a host of benefits for teenage development.
In today’s rapidly evolving world, the prevalence of disconnected teenagers has become a concerning issue for many families.
Buy From The Bush caught up with Amanda Ferrari to get her take on all things Boarding.
Don’t let the financial commitment of boarding school cast a grey cloud over the experience – it doesn’t have to. Just know there’s no shame in asking for financial support; the worst a school can say is “no,” and even
When my sister was starting at boarding school – following in my footsteps – I created a book for her with photos and pieces of advice I felt she would benefit from. Here are 18 pieces of advice that were
Whether your child has just begun their boarding journey or is soon to graduate, you can feel confident that they will walk away from school with an understanding far more valuable than algebra or knowledge of the battles of modern
Dr Justin Coulson, from Happy Families, goes through a series of questions that will help you determine whether or not a boarding school aligns with your family’s values.
Dr Justin Coulson, from Happy Families, discusses the important topic of helping your child transition to boarding school. Key points include: Watch Justin’s video, where he explains each one.
Dr Justin Coulson answers the important question “what are some healthy habits that every student should know about before they start boarding school?”. He touches on sleep, diet, exercise, friendships, and practicing their spirituality when away from home. Watch Justin’s
Connection is critical for healthy relationships with our kids. But how do you maintain a strong relationship with your child when you’re physically apart? Dr Justin Coulson discusses some communication strategies, including: Watch Justin’s video to learn more.
Dr Justin Coulson, from Happy Families, chats about the factors to consider when choosing a boarding school, in addition to friends, philosophy and fun which he mentioned in the last video. Other factors worth considering include: Watch Justin’s video to learn more.
Dr Justin Coulson, from Happy Families, discusses the all-important questions parents ask themselves when considering boarding school for their child—”is boarding school right for my child?” and “is a boarding school right for my child?”. There are many reasons you might consider boarding
During the teen years our children’s friendships become increasingly complicated, volatile and important. Suddenly friends and friendships begin to mean everything to our teens, and when there are problems with those friendships it can feel utterly devastating. Before the age
Connecting with teens can be challenging. The stereotype tells us that our sweet, loving child has turned into an argumentative, rebellious young person. More likely, however, is that your connection has shifted. Your child is more inclined to stare at
It’s normal for children to feel scared, homesick, lonely, or unsure. Here’s how to make the transition to boarding school easier. Every January boarding schools welcome new students into their doors. These students come from different backgrounds, situations and walks
Our teens’ mental health can be impacted by distance from family and loved ones. Here’s what to expect if you are sending your children to boarding school. A surprisingly large number of Australian teens are struggling when it comes to
Starting boarding school, or any new school for that matter, can be a bit of an upheaval for teens. But being armed with information can be reassuring and assuage some of those nerves. The trick… is getting that information. Open
Boarding school vs day school. When it comes to motivation, engagement and psychological wellbeing, which is the better choice? Boarding schools have been a feature of the educational landscape here in Australia for a long time. But unlike in the
My name is Chelsea White and I am a Year 12 boarder at Kinross Wolaroi School (KWS) from Narromine. I started as a boarder in New House in Year 9.
Who, what year, where from, how long have you been boarding? My name is Tilley Stuckey, I’m in Year 9 from Condobolin NSW and am in my third year of boarding at Ravenswood. Expectations Boarding has exceeded my expectations. What
Over the course of an hour, you’d discover my love of guitar, the South Sydney rugby league team, and my hometown Coffs Harbour. By the end of the day, you’d have come to learn just how great a part of
We spoke to some PLC Armidale students about how boarding has helped them build resilience and get through some very tough times.
2020 marked the beginning of a new decade but with this exciting milestone came new and old challenges for regional communities.
To say 2020 has been a year of challenge and change would be an understatement. However, St Stanislaus’ College in Bathurst has put a range of measures in place to manage the challenges of Covid19. During this unprecedented time, the
Transition, change and uncertainty – this is the world we live in and judging by the recent drought, bush fires, and the Covid-19 crisis, there are no signs that we will be changing direction any time soon. Successfully navigating life
Bourke has been in drought for a couple of years. Living in the boarding house at Scots All Saints has helped Meg Davis overcome the fear of the drought.
UPDATE: 25 MarchGood news for those with students at home and working online. Skymuster Plus will have education webpages unmetered and those on standard Skymuster will receive increased data. ICPA NSW sees this as welcome relief for those concerned about data, with
As our kids made the trek back to their boarding houses for the start of the new school year late last month, we knew many of them had home firmly on their minds.
More fabulous boarder stories shared with us throughout 2019, highlighting the unique experiences and opportunities boarding school offers. Here are links to those stories that ran between June and October. Enjoy! Isaac Barrett: prepared for the opportunities JUNE: Year 8
Over the past year, we’ve been putting the spotlight on the lived experience of boarding in the words of boarders, themselves. Themes of community, resilience, and independence come through these stories regardless of what school they’re from. Here is a
Boarding is a world away from the realities of the farm Year 11 boarder, Andrew Newton, has been at Shore since Year 7. Home is a seven hour drive away at Gurley, near Moree. Sixty-five per cent of Shore’s 200 boarders
Confidence to dream Where to send your child to school is a big decision for any parent. Never more so than if you’re considering boarding-based education for them. Boys like Cranbrook School’s Head Prefect Tully O’Regan from Scone, started life
Boarding offers many pathways Keen to go away to boarding school from Year 7, Year 11 student at Yanco Agricultural High School, Dimity Evans has thrown herself into the activities on offer over the past five years – everything from
Katie and Shona Donald You know that finding the right education opportunities are a high priority when a family travels well over a thousand kilometres return to spend two days talking with staff of the schools at the 2019 Dubbo
Sibling support when living away from home Brother and sister, Will and Emma Benham are both boarders at The Armidale School (TAS), where they’re enjoying a range of opportunities at the same time as carving out their own interests and
Myfi and Grace Kellahan When nine year-old Grace Kellahan (Year 4) turned up at the 2019 Dubbo Boarding Schools Expo from West Wyalong with her mum, Myfi, she had with her a carefully handwritten list of questions for the schools
Maintaining outside interests all part of the boarding experience Bellata’s Georgia Kirkby, a passionate poultry and duck breeder, started as a boarder at Kincoppal-Rose Bay School (KRB) in Year 7 following her primary years in Narrabri. Her small hometown has
Boarding memories to cherish Boarding captains at Barker College, Cooper Evans and Rosie McNair are part of a tight-knit, coeducational boarding community. Both are in their third year of boarding, building memories that will take them beyond school. With boarders
Prepared for the opportunities Year 8 boarder at St. Stanislaus’ College, Isaac Barrett of Coonamble loves everything about boarding and the opportunities it presents. It’s said he bleeds the Stannies blue and white. Founded in 1867, the Bathurst school fondly
Fast-tracking tolerance & independence Like it is for any young person starting a new school a long way from home, the year has been a mix of excitement and homesickness for Torie Burton, a Year 7 boarder at Pymble Ladies’
A support network of boarding sisters Fourteen year old Asha from Newcastle, was worried about homesickness until she arrived at the Ravenswood Residential College (RRC) to discover a strong support network for boarders, not only in the College but across
An outgoing student and leader, Riley Bomford has every intention of utilising his boarding school experiences to build a career in law.
Apprehensive at first about the idea of boarding school, 15-year-old Damon O’Sullivan from Dubbo has come to see the experience as one to cherish.
Georgia Porteous recently graduated from Kinross Wolaroi School. A boarder from Dubbo since Year 7, she was excited about boarding school for several years prior to starting. So much so, some were worried boarding may not live up to her
One of the great things about Boarding Schools Expo is not just the events we host each year that bring boarding schools and families from rural and regional NSW together under the one roof, it’s the resources we gather over
Living 50km north of Moree, Jodie and Andrew Crowe had discussed the idea of boarding school before the first of their six children arrived. It was something they felt was right for them but would take some adjustment as each
Prudence Brosnan is one of the Boarding House captains who co-leads the St Margaret’s sisterhood living on campus. She hopes to inspire, motivate and encourage her fellow ‘sisters’ to take full advantage of their St Margaret’s boarding experience and all
Fiona and Bill Aveyard from Tullamore have approached the search for boarding schools for their brood of four children with an open mind…and some time on their side. Both went to boarding school, Kinross Wolaroi School and The Scots College,
Year 8 student at Pymble Ladies College, Eloise Wilson of Narromine is a most composed and eloquent young woman. She sat down with Boarding Schools Expo’s Kim V. Goldsmith recently to share her experience of being a boarder. What has
Stephanie Day from Wagga Wagga is a mother of three children – Harry (finished 2014), Lachie (finished 2016), and Sophie (who will finish this year). In the transition to becoming a boarding parent, she opened her gallery, Paper Pear, clocking
Technology has infiltrated our daily lives in such ways, many of us are almost unaware of it…until it starts to interfere with what we’re doing. The use and abuse of technology in schools across the globe has taken the headlines
Amanda Ferrari hails from Trangie, on the Central Western Plains of NSW. She’s still starry-eyed over the fact that she managed to snag a farmer, and has been married to Ross for 22 years. They have three children, twins Amy
Continuing from our last blog post on the changing face of contemporary boarding, now we look specifically at the needs of boarders, and the expectations of their parents. In her research into the Australian boarding industry, Ascham School’s Head of
The days of ice-cold showers in open area bathrooms, unidentifiable food, military-style dormitories with regulation bedspreads (hospital corners, please) and white sheets stiff as boards with starch, are long gone in Australian boarding schools. Along with banishing the austere living
Mel and Ado Scolari of Narromine are parents of three children aged between 12 and 19, who have been or are currently at boarding schools in Sydney. They went into the process of choosing schools with a very clear idea
It sounds daunting and expensive, and while that may be so, think of the prospects it offers our children. I was a boarding school child and yes, I was miserable and homesick at times, but there was so much I
The first month of the new school year is almost at an end and before the term gallops away we look at part 2 of our Q&A with ex-boarder (Kinross Wolaroi School, 2014), Kate Ponder, we talk more about some of
Our communications specialist at Boarding Schools Expo, Kim V. Goldsmith, is an ex-boarder of Ravenswood School for Girls (1987) who clearly remembers her boarding days, particularly that first year and the first weeks of the new school year. She caught
It’s back to school time already and often it’s hard to know what to pack for your child if it’s their first time at boarding school. Often it’s the little things that aren’t listed on the official school packing list,
Do you constantly argue with your teenager? Is he or she defiant or rebellious? One of the mums on our team has a 14-year-old boy who is driving her crazy at the moment. A healthy, intelligent and athletic boy, he
Before long, parents will be packing up their children to return to boarding school after the winter holidays. So what else goes into their bags to help them settle back in after the winter break? Ugg boots and a warm
When choosing the right school, it’s not like buying clothes – one sizes doesn’t necessarily fit all and you can’t take a few home and return the ones that don’t fit. A parent at one of our exhibiting schools told
We have spoken to lots of parents recently about the issues they consider when choosing a boarding school to meet the needs of their family. While the Boarding Expo team advises parents to start by thinking about all the aspects
This week we are doing things a little differently and featuring a current Boarder Success Story. Let us introduce Tyson Williams, a year 12 Cranbrook student who hails from Jervis Bay on the NSW South Coast. Tyson’s recent achievements and
Welcome to Queensland. Our first Former Boarder Success Story from a Queensland School is a St Margaret’s Girl; the lovely Courtney Gemmell. Courtney is passionate about children’s education and a true country girl at heart. We found out about her
Welcome to 2013 on Boarding Schools Expo Blog and to a whole new batch of former boarders and their success stories. We met Joel Smith on the plane flying from Sydney to Dubbo as he was on his way home
Merry Christmas all the way from Switzerland. This is where former Joeys boy Richard Porter is living and working at the moment and enjoying the cold weather. Read on to find out about how his boarding experience gave him the
Pip Kehoe Pip Kehoe is a great role model for girls passionate about their sport. She has maintained her links to the land and now has a challenging but interesting job working for an energy company in Queensland. Pip is
Georgia Etheridge: We went to our 1st Boarding Schools Expo in Narrabri with our minds just about made-up which School we were going to send our child to. We left later that day with our preconceptions blown away. Not only
For some parents, the range of boarding school options on offer is daunting. With more than 30 schools in one location at some of our Expo sites, there is a lot of information to digest. Our Checklist of questions to
An interesting article in the The Telegraph (UK) by Education Editor, Graeme Paton… Rising numbers of young children are being sent to boarding schools as recession-hit parents are forced to work longer hours in the downturn, it emerged today. Figures show
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