Destination Boarding

In Part Two, Amanda and Annabel continue their conversation, exploring academic struggles, learning support, friendships, confidence and the lessons boarding school taught that continue to shape Annabel's life today.Now a paediatric occupational therapist and business owner, Annabel shares practical advice for parents and new boarders, along with insights into how children process change, uncertainty and big emotions.A must-listen for families preparing for boarding school or supporting a child through those early years.Follow Annabel:Instagram: @theotcollective_tamworth

As we continue travelling throughout regional New South Wales and Queensland for our Boarding Schools Expo events, we’re revisiting some of the conversations from the vault that continue to resonate deeply with families researching boarding school.This week’s episode with Amy Clark is one of those conversations.Amy is a rural mum of three boys living between Walcha and Bendemeer in northern NSW. But unlike many boarding school families, Amy did not grow up in the boarding world herself. She grew up in Sydney before agriculture, nursing and family life led her to rural Australia.What unfolds in this episode is such an honest reflection of the questions many rural and regional parents quietly wrestle with.What happens when there actually is a local high school nearby… but you still wonder whether your children might need broader opportunities? How do you weigh up community loyalty, logistics, sport, subject choices, friendships and future pathways? And how do you navigate a boarding school system when you have no lived experience of it yourself?Amy speaks openly about the research process, attending boarding school expos, touring schools, trying to find the right fit for three very different boys, and the importance of connection, belonging and community within a school environment.She also touches on something many rural families understand deeply - the juggle of parenting largely solo during busy farming seasons, the exhaustion of long-distance logistics, and the reality that sometimes boarding school becomes less about prestige and more about sustainability for the whole family.This is a warm, thoughtful and incredibly reassuring conversation for families currently exploring their options. Especially those wondering if it’s okay to consider boarding school even when a local option exists.

As we continue our From the Vault series while travelling for our face-to-face Boarding Schools Expo events, this week’s episode feels especially timely.We’re revisiting my conversation with Robert Bevern from Dubbo on the eve of our 2026 Dubbo Boarding Schools Expo - because Robert’s family story began at this very event.Boarding school had never really been on the radar for Robert, his wife Tracy, or their daughters. They were living happily in Dubbo, their eldest daughter Lily was enrolled locally for high school, and the idea of sending her away was certainly not part of any grand plan.Then came a rainy Saturday in Dubbo.With a bit of time on their hands, Robert and Tracy decided to walk through the doors of the Boarding Schools Expo, just to have a look. Lily was deeply reluctant, her younger sister was upset at the very thought of her going away, and as Robert shares so honestly, they had no idea what questions they were meant to ask.But that simple decision to stay open to possibility changed everything.In this conversation, Robert talks about moving from Sydney to Dubbo for what was meant to be a short country posting, falling in love with regional life, and then discovering that boarding school could offer Lily opportunities they had not expected, particularly through swimming, community and the right school fit.Since this episode was recorded, Lily has settled into her new boarding school and is thriving.This is a beautiful listen for families who are curious but unsure. It is a reminder that you do not need to have it all worked out before you arrive. Sometimes the first step is simply walking through the door and saying, “Tell us about your school.”

As we hit the road again for our face-to-face Boarding Schools Expo events, we’re dipping into the vault over the next few weeks to share some of our favourite past episodes - the ones that still speak so clearly to why we do this work and why these conversations matter.This week’s episode is one of those.It features Angie Nisbet, who many of you will remember from our Mount Isa event in 2024. Angie was such a genuine and generous supporter of that event, and since this conversation was recorded (actually just a few weeks ago) she has deservedly been named Queensland’s Rural Woman of the Year. We are so proud of her and thrilled that she’ll be returning to Mount Isa this year to host our Live Q&A panel.I wanted to bring this episode back because it captures so much of the heart behind our Boarding Schools Expo events. In this conversation, Angie and I talk about distance, about what it really means for rural and remote families trying to access educational opportunity, and about why it matters that schools travel too - meeting families where they live rather than expecting them to navigate unfamiliar cities and systems on their own.That is such a big part of our why.This episode also reflects the themes we explored at our Mount Isa event last year - connection, access, equity and the importance of creating spaces where families can ask questions, gather information and feel seen.If you’ve ever wondered what sits behind this work, or why we care so deeply about taking these events into regional and remote Australia, this conversation explains it beautifully.It is thoughtful, encouraging and a very worthy listen.Links mentioned:Married To The Land PodcastFarmHer HandsAgrifutures Rural Women's AwardICPA Queensland

Peter Debus is the Managing Director of PrincipleFocus, a financial management and advisory business based in Dubbo NSW with branches in Sydney and Warren, servicing clients all over Australia.We're bringing this one back from the archives because honestly, it's just that good!When we first sat down with Pete, I wanted to talk about the decision he and his wife Virginia made to send their three children to boarding school from a regional centre that already had plenty of educational options on offer. What unfolded was something much richer. Some of Pete's responses really speak to an invisible pressure that many families carry - that feeling of obligation to repeat the opportunities their own parents gave them.We also got into the financial side of choosing boarding school (of course we did - Pete's an accountant!), and the very real conversations you can have with schools about what's on offer.Pete is an engaging sort of guy. Full of relatable stories. We covered visions for your children, cultural diversity, a place to call home, boarding school communities, and practical options for financial management through the boarding years.If you haven't heard this one yet, you're in for a treat. And if you have, it's worth another listen.

A Gunnedah mum’s honest story of school refusal, confidence, and why regional boarding became the circuit-breaker.Tina Clifton is a Gunnedah mum of two boys, raising them on the land with horses, cattle, sheep and mixed cropping at the centre of family life. She’s also a veterinary surgeon, whose career has evolved from mixed practice, to intensive poultry industry, and now into a government role focused on technical and policy work.In this episode of Letters from Home, Tina speaks candidly about the reality behind a schooling pivot: the social mismatch that can happen even in a great town, the quiet kid whose confidence takes a dive, and the pressure that builds into school refusal and daily conflict. What follows is a moment many parents will recognise - a turning point, made quickly and with love.At our boarding school expo event in Tamworth, Tina and her husband handed their son something powerful: choice. From there, regional boarding became a “not too far, but far enough” solution - close enough to maintain strong ties to home, horses and campdraft weekends, while giving the boys the structure, discipline and peer group where they could belong.Tina also shares the part people don’t always say out loud: the unexpected grief of becoming an empty nester early, the shift in a household when the boys - and the farm helpers - are suddenly gone, and the emotional weight of phone calls that come at the end of a long day.If this conversation resonates, we also recommend listening to our episode with Dr Lisa Fahey, where we explore the emotional side of boarding transitions and how families can support their children - and themselves - through the change.Listen here!It’s an honest, practical and quietly emotional conversation - and one that will resonate with families navigating big schooling decisions.

What happens when boarding school isn’t in your family “DNA”… and then suddenly it is?In this episode of Letters From Home, Amanda sits down with Robert Bevern - a NSW Police dad whose family story is a powerful reminder that sometimes the biggest decisions don’t begin with a grand plan. They begin with a simple moment of curiosity.Rob is a born-and-bred Northern Beaches local. His wife, Traci, grew up on a property outside Casino in northern NSW. Their policing careers brought them together in Sydney, and later a promotion took the family to the Central West - what was meant to be a three-year posting turned into ten years in Dubbo, and a country lifestyle they’ve grown to truly love.And then came one cold, wet Saturday in 2023.With netball done for the day and nothing much planned, Rob and Traci took their girls along to the Dubbo Boarding School Expo “just to have a look.” They didn’t have questions prepared. They didn’t think it would go anywhere. Their eldest, Lilli - then in Year 6 - was adamant they weren’t sending her away.But as they walked the aisles, spoke to schools, and began to understand the options, something shifted. They realised that if Dubbo’s secondary options didn’t feel like the right fit, they wanted a Plan B - and for Lilli, a strong swimming program mattered. From there, tours followed, and the decision became real in the most unexpected way: a phone call from St Catherine’s swimming coach, who had been tracking Lilli’s times and wanted to know how her application was going.Rob shares the emotional reality of that “snowball” moment - the tears, the long conversations, and the importance of letting Lilli have a genuine voice in the choice. He also speaks honestly about what helped her settle: routine, opportunity, and getting involved from day one.If you’ve ever thought, “Boarding school isn’t for us,” this one will leave you with a simple, reassuring message: keep an open mind - and go and have the conversation.Also in the show notes: a related listen on choosing the right fit - “Big or Small? Finding the Right Boarding Fit with Nonie Ayling.”

Not every boarding school journey follows a straight line - and sometimes, the bravest thing a parent can do is change direction.In this episode of Letters from Home, Amanda sits down with Geraldine Clark from Barraba, NSW, a mum who knows firsthand that “best intentions” don’t always lead to the right fit. Geraldine shares her family’s lived experience of navigating boarding school choices for two daughters - starting at one school, recognising when things weren’t working, making the difficult decision to step away, and finding new environments where her girls could truly belong and thrive.At the heart of this conversation is a powerful reminder: our children only get one Year 7, one Year 10, one Year 12. When something isn’t right, parents are allowed to pause, reassess, and choose again.Geraldine also speaks passionately about the culture of boarding houses and the unique energy that rural and regional students bring to school communities. She describes it as a “vibe” - something you can feel the moment you walk through the corridors. From the way staff know the students beyond the classroom, to the loyalty and camaraderie between boarders, it’s this sense of belonging that often makes all the difference.Country kids, Geraldine believes, are the heartbeat of many boarding houses. They muck in, lift each other up, bring humour, resilience and perspective - and when the boarding house is alive, the whole school feels it. Without that bush spirit, schools can struggle to ignite the sense of commitment and connection that keeps communities strong.This is an honest, generous conversation for any parent questioning their choices, worrying about fit, or wondering whether change is even an option. Geraldine’s message is clear: trust your instincts, stay connected with the school, and never be afraid to choose your child - even when the path changes.Also mentioned: https://boardingschoolco.com.au/inside-a-small-boarding-community-at-a-big-school-with-danniella-at-assumption-college/

From one of Australia’s most famous cattle stations, this episode of Letters from Home offers a deeply grounded and quietly powerful reflection on what it means to parent from afar.Anna Cochrane lives and works alongside her husband on Newcastle Waters, managing life on a vast Northern Territory station while raising three daughters - all of whom now attend boarding school in Brisbane.In this conversation, Anna shares her journey from growing up in regional New South Wales to station life across Queensland and the Northern Territory, and the realities of sending children to boarding school when distance is measured in days, not hours. She speaks candidly about the logistics - flights, long drives, cost, and planning - but also about the emotional work of staying connected when your children live thousands of kilometres away.What emerges is a thoughtful and deeply reassuring perspective on boarding school. Anna reflects on independence, resilience, and the way distance can sometimes strengthen family relationships rather than strain them. She also shares practical wisdom for families preparing for boarding - from early conversations with children to managing expectations around visits and homesickness.This episode will resonate strongly with remote and regional families navigating big decisions, and with parents quietly doing the work of loving, supporting and letting go - all at the same time.Listeners may also enjoy our Nailing Homesickness episode with Anna’s daughter Clementine.

Researching schools, navigating scholarships, and letting go with love.In this heartfelt episode of Letters from Home, Amanda sits down with Lisa - a single mum, teacher, and devoted advocate for her daughter Ellie - to explore what it truly looks like to research and choose boarding school as a single parent.As this episode goes live, Lisa and Ellie are preparing to head to Frensham, where Ellie will begin Year 7 and her boarding journey this year in 2026. Their story captures that tender in-between space so many families know well: the excitement of new opportunity, the weight of financial realities, and the quiet grief that comes with letting go.Lisa shares what gave her the courage to walk into a Boarding Schools Expo knowing that a bursary or scholarship was the only way boarding school could be possible. She speaks openly about co-parenting through major decisions, the support she received from Ellie’s dad - whose own boarding experience shaped his perspective - and how together they weighed fit, welfare, learning style and opportunity.Despite living in a large regional centre with many schooling options, Lisa explains why boarding school felt like the right choice for Ellie - particularly as a creative, curious learner hungry for language, arts, independence and connection.This episode is also a powerful reflection on values: where Lisa’s belief in education comes from, why she is unapologetically pro-girls, and how she hopes this experience will shape Ellie’s confidence and independence.If this conversation resonates, we highly recommend listening to our much-loved episode The Grief of Dropping Your Child at Boarding School with Kirsty Wiggins - our most listened-to episode ever - which we’ve linked here.We send our love to Lisa and Ellie as they begin this new chapter, and to all boarding families - especially those facing their very first drop-off.Big steps. Big love.

Western Australia’s size brings opportunity - and enormous challenge. In this episode of our capsule series Around Australia with the ICPA, Amanda Ferrari is 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.Jane shares how distance, travel costs and limited services shape schooling options for WA families - from early childhood through to boarding school, distance education and tertiary pathways. She explains the vital role of WA’s Schools of the Air and the School of Isolated and Distance Education (SIDE), and how targeted advocacy has led to new programs supporting maths and science in multi-age regional classrooms.The conversation also explores some of WA’s biggest pressure points: a declining boarding away-from-home allowance, cancelled school bus services, lack of transport support for School of the Air families, inclusion and disability support within residential colleges, teacher shortages driven by housing availability, and the urgent need for whole-of-government solutions across education, transport, housing and health.It’s a powerful reminder that for families in Western Australia, education access isn’t about choice -it’s about fairness and of course, equity. Above all else.If you would like to join the ICPA in your state, visit www.icpa.com.au⁠.If you didn’t catch Amanda’s conversation with Moira Lanzarin, President of ICPA Northern Territory it’s well worth a listen. Moira’s acknowledgment of the vast distances of NT life are mirrored here with Jane from WA. Two enormous parts of Australia that while sparsely populated pack above their weight for Australia’s economic prosperity.

Throughout the year, we’ve been following the work of the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association - the ICPA - across Australia. In these short episodes, we’ll be catching up with each State Council President to hear how their delegations to Parliament have gone, what motions were carried from their State Conferences, and the wins and challenges they’ve faced along the way.These conversations are a chance to celebrate the tireless advocacy of rural, regional and remote families who continue to champion equitable access to education - from early childhood right through to tertiary.Today we’re in South Australia, where engagement is surging - this year’s conference saw a record 29 motions. Belinda Hatcher shares how SA families are pushing for practical change: extending AIC support to start at preschool, valuing distance-education supervisors with a dedicated allowance, and reviewing the State Education Allowance (currently just over $5,000 and indexed) toward a fairer model that recognises real costs. There’s targeted work under way too - from airfare subsidies to help kids get home from boarding more affordably, to increases in school travel rates, to a common-sense tweak to the PATS scheme so geographically isolated families can reach the care they actually use. And in early childhood, new links with Child & Family Health and the RFDS are closing gaps for young mums and little ones across the South Australian outback. It’s all about one goal: support the family, and you keep the community.So, wherever you’re listening - in the ute, on the road, or out on the station - I hope you enjoy this snapshot of the ICPA in action in South Australia.If you would like to join the ICPA in your State visit www.icpa.com.au

What regional boarding gives bush families - confidence, community, and opportunity.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.First, Amanda chats with Eli Kinscher, Director of Boarding, about what it means to lead a regional, co-ed boarding community - and why boarding closer to home can be a game-changer for rural and remote families. Eli paints a picture of MAGS’ unique rural boarding campus just outside town, the rise of weekly boarding, and the culture they’ve built with families over the past decade.Then we hear from Abbey Medcalf, a boarder from Tottenham who completed Year 12 last year, reflecting on small-town life, early homesickness, finding her people, and the opportunities that helped her grow - from sport and community connections in Dubbo to her next big dream: studying Music Performance in Sydney.A warm, honest listen for any family considering boarding - especially those hoping for opportunity without feeling worlds away from home.