Midway through Term 3, boarding families feel the strain—tired kids, long travel, rising costs and behaviour challenges. Here’s how parents can work with schools, know when to rest a boarder, and keep family bonds strong, while bracing for the sprint to Term 4 and year-end commitments.
Now, today I wanted to shine a light on the happenings at Kambala in Rose Bay (Sydney). Over the past few years, Kambala has undergone a significant transformation, shifting from a larger boarding cohort to a smaller, more intimate group of around 50 boarders. This change, while not without its challenges, has allowed them to create a truly unique, “boutique” boarding experience that feels like family.
With just a couple of weeks to go, I received word that the Crossing Theatre in Narrabri could no longer host our Boarding Schools Expo – through no fault of ours obviously. Faced with this sudden venue loss, I had a choice to make. Cancel, or adapt.
When The McDonald College joined us for our Boarding Schools Expo events for the very first time this year, it triggered a response in so many families that walked through our doors. There was this collective moment of realisation among country families: “Hang on… my kid might actually be able to do this.”
To the quiet achievers of agricultural advocacy. Our boarders and their families. Wherever you call home.
It’s school holidays again. They roll around quickly. Right across rural and remote Australia there are families reunited. Together again for the ordinary. For the joy. For the day to day of life at home.
For generations, families from across Australia have entrusted us with their child’s education and wellbeing. Located in the vibrant heart of Launceston, Tasmania, our boarding community is warm, inclusive, and deeply connected — where care is personal, friendships are lifelong, and every student is known and valued.
Gosh it’s a worthy question isn’t it? When the educational outcomes for rural, regional and remote (RRR) children are compromised (as they are) by a variety of challenges, isn’t it ‘ok’ to seek more for your kids?
We’ve created a live and interactive panel discussion format that gives rural, regional and remote (RRR) families the chance to listen, learn and connect with others navigating the same journey.
We are celebrating our 21st birthday by hosting LIVE Q&A sessions at many of our Expo events this year, kicking off with Emerald on 1-2 May. BRING YOUR QUESTIONS!
We are celebrating our 21st birthday by hosting LIVE Q&A sessions at many of our Expo events this year, kicking off with Emerald on 1-2 May.
Boarding School isn’t just about the kids. As parents we are often gifted with lifelong friendships along the way and it’s so so worth it. Make the effort – you’ll be in the winner’s seat for life.
Boarding School isn’t just about the kids. As parents we are often gifted with lifelong friendships along the way and it’s so so worth it. Make the effort – you’ll be in the winner’s seat for life.
Boarding School isn’t just about the kids. As parents we are often gifted with lifelong friendships along the way and it’s so so worth it. Make the effort – you’ll be in the winner’s seat for life.
The time has finally arrived – 2024’s Australian Boarding Schools Summit will go LIVE tomorrow FRIDAY 11th October at 2.30pm. This year’s content continues to probe the issues that are important to families with children at Australian boarding schools, or those families that are exploring their options. Hosted by renowned regional journalist and author Jennifer Cowley OAM, discussions begin with a financial theme where we investigate the myriad of options when it comes to bursaries and scholarships and continue through to academics (country kids playing ‘catch up’) and whether size really matters when it comes to big and small boarding cohorts. Our students are back again with schools represented from Victoria, Queensland, NSW and the Northern Territory and facilitated by founding director of Womn-Kind, Ruby Riethmuller. We are in our third year of producing content that is just so relevant to families with kids at boarding school. We ask the questions you want answers to, and explore in depth the responses from leading industry specialists, boarding school staff, parents and of course the kids themselves. Our previous Summits (2022 and 2023) are still available to watch on demand, but today it’s all about 2024. You can pop your headphones on and listen as you go
Boarding School isn’t just about the kids. As parents we are often gifted with lifelong friendships along the way and it’s so so worth it. Make the effort – you’ll be in the winner’s seat for life.
Happy ‘slide-into-winter’ time for our southern states, while our Queenslanders up north watch on in awe (or bewilderment). Toe socks, woollen gloves, gentle washing of the ice off the windscreen, industrial strength felt lined rubber gloves to clean the troughs…. I’m getting colder just writing the list. Well I’m off to sunny Townsville for the Queensland Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association (ICPA) State Conference and watching the weather on the nightly news has me pulling out the summer frocks from their recent relegation to the back of the wardrobe. (insert small happy dance). Queensland must be exhausted from its hosting duties. Unless you’ve been living under a winter weighted feather doona you may have noticed Beef Week just wrapped up and honestly this celebration of beef gets better and better every time Rockhampton opens its gates! I loved watching along at home via the socials. A bit further up the coast, Townsville is bracing itself for the arrival of hundreds of delegates – members, schools, stakeholders and sponsors – for the annual State Conference of ICPA. I’ve written an article this month about the vital role the ICPA plays in ensuring equity of access to education for rural, regional and remote
Boarding School isn’t just about the kids. As parents we are often gifted with lifelong friendships along the way and it’s so so worth it. Make the effort – you’ll be in the winner’s seat for life.
Boarding School isn’t just about the kids. As parents we are often gifted with lifelong friendships along the way and it’s so so worth it. Make the effort – you’ll be in the winner’s seat for life.
We’re off to a great start for 2024! Holy moly the humidity out where I live has knocked us off our feet for the best part of summer – we’re just not used to it. On the bright side, our regular falls of rain have been welcomed and summer crops are looking the goods. February has been a busy month for the team here as we get ready for our in-person events, and begin to put together the agenda for our Australian Boarding Schools Summit. Did you know that we host an online event each October where we discuss the matters that matter to you, families at boarding school and families looking for the best option for their children? 24 Australian Boarding Schools partnered with us last year to ensure that you have access to this event, wherever you call home. This year will be our third year of hosting and with over 550 families registered from across Australia and overseas we’re proud to know that it provides an avenue for nuanced conversations between parents, staff at boarding schools, industry experts and of course, the boarders themselves. Do you have topics that you would like to see us dive into at our Summit ?
We’re off to a great start for 2024! How has your year begun ? Hopefully gently, and maybe even a get away to the coast ? Thinking of any of you affected by flooding and storms which have cast a big shadow over the new year for some of our Victorian and Queensland families. We’re back ‘on air’ with Destination Boarding and launched 2024 with Humans of Agriculture head honcho and champion of rural Australia, Oli Le Lievre. Link below – it’s a great chat. The Summer Series, ‘Nailing Homesickness’is still rolling out and there’s some really heartwarming tips and tricks from boarders who have managed to overcome the struggles of settling in to boarding school. Speaking of heading off, many of you (or your friends) will be beginning to plan the farewell for your new boarder and with that we’ve got a few links below that may help you over the next couple of weeks. Wishing you and your boarders all the very best for the coming year and we really hope that our resources continue to provide support to our new families, and our families that have been with us for a while. Do you know of a super duper kid with personality plus ? We’re
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