Destination Boarding

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 ar...

Special announcement:  Since recording this episode, The Hon. Bronnie Taylor has been appointed Chair of the national charity  Motherland . We’re thrilled for Bronnie and proud to support Motherland and their incredible work for rural and remote women across Australia. Congratulations, Bronnie! In this warmly honest episode of Letters from Home , Amanda sits down with Bronnie Taylor - oncology nur...

In this heartfelt episode of Letters from Home , Amanda sits down with Sarah Ryan , farmer’s wife, artist, and creator of the iconic Quandialla Candle Co . Broadcasting from her family’s merino stud in southern NSW, Sarah shares her beautifully honest story of raising three children in a tiny village school, navigating the drought years, running a creative business from a backyard studio - and ult...

In this two part episode of Letters from Home, we’re joined by Tannas Godfrey , whose story is one of quiet determination and incredible adaptability. Tannas grew up on North Stradbroke Island, where life revolved around the surf club, small-town friendships and salt-sprayed independence. But when school on the island finished at Year 8, her parents made a brave decision that would change everythi...

In this two part episode of Letters from Home, we’re joined by Tannas Godfrey , whose story is one of quiet determination and incredible adaptability. Tannas grew up on North Stradbroke Island, where life revolved around the surf club, small-town friendships and salt-sprayed independence. But when school on the island finished at Year 8, her parents made a brave decision that would change everythi...

Some families spend generations in one postcode. Paddocks and fence lines become the story of a life. Today’s guest, Kate B*, has lived a very different rhythm - one defined by movement. As a Defence Force wife, Kate has packed up her family nine times in just over twenty years, moving interstate and overseas, sometimes with months to plan… and sometimes with only six weeks’ notice, like the posti...

In the second half of our conversation with  Kimberley Wilson  from Rutchillo Station near Julia Creek, we pick up where we left off - talking about her daughter  Cadence , a bush kid turned medical student whose journey began in a tiny schoolroom on the family’s outback station. After almost two decades as a home educator, Kimberley has seen education evolve across the airwaves and through the se...

In this two part episode of Letters from Home , we travel to Rutchillo Station near Julia Creek to meet Kimberley Wilson - a woman of the outback whose story will both humble and inspire you. Kimberley has spent nearly two decades teaching her children through School of the Air , balancing lessons with station life and community commitments. In this heartfelt two-part conversation, she opens up ab...

Today I’m with Richard Stokes. Richard is the CEO of the Australian Boarding Schools Association (ABSA). ABSA, as the leading authority in Australia on boarding for school-aged children, promotes the interests and well-being of boarders, boarding staff, boarding parents and boarding institutions in Australia. It is an organisation that fosters collegiality and professionalism at a regional and fed...

Here we are another episode of Destination Boarding - The Podcast, and this one is part of our Summit Series where we expand on the panel discussions we had for our Australian Boarding Schools Summit.   One of those topics was 'Big or Small, does size really matter when it comes to boarding cohorts?' We speak to families often about this very topic, and there’s obviously pro’s and con’s fo...

Today’s episode is a particularly special one. We’re speaking with Sally Sweeney, CEO of Dolly’s Dream, an organisation that holds deep significance for so many rural and remote families across Australia. Founded in memory of Amy ‘Dolly’ Everett, who tragically took her own life at just 14 years old following relentless bullying and cyberbullying, Dolly’s Dream has become a national movement advoc...

Welcome back and thanks for putting us in your ears. The best thing you can do for our little podcast is follow it and share it with your friends. Some episodes may be of particular interest to you or someone you know and we’d love it if you helped more families to know the story of Australian boarding schools. This week I’m chatting with Rebecca Ryan from Gunnedah. You might remember Rebecca from...

Welcome back to another week of  Destination Boarding , where we continue to deep dive into the big conversations around our Australian Boarding Schools Summit topics. In today’s episode, I’m joined by Allysia Heness-Pugh, Director of Boarding at Ascham School. For almost 140 years, Ascham has offered an outstanding education for girls, with boarding sitting firmly at the heart of that legacy—ensu...

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, a role she clearly cherishes for the peak parent body advocating for Rural, Regional and Remote Children’s education. For nine years she has been on their State Council and now at the helm, Wendy brings an engaging warmth an...

Welcome back to  Destination Boarding , where we dive into the conversations that matter most for boarding school families—whether you're just starting your journey or you're deep in it already. In this expert episode, I’m catching up with Richard Stokes, the CEO of the Australian Boarding Schools Association (ABSA) . If you’re not familiar with ABSA, they’re the go-to organisation for boa...

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 know they will resonate with you. This episode I’m catching up Kirsty Wiggins - you might remember we spoke with Kirsty at the beginning of this year, and we really dived deep into th...

Welcome back to Destination Boarding, where we dive into the big conversations that matter to families, students, and boarding school communities. Whether you're a parent—current or prospective—a boarder or ex-boarder, an expat looking to educate your child on home soil, or a boarding school staff member, there's something here for you. Today, we’re sitting down once again with Dr. Lisa Fa...

In this episode, we chat with Nonie Ayling from Wenona, a girls' school in Sydney. Nonie was of our panellists for last year’s Australian Boarding Schools Summit, where we explore the question:  Big or Small… Does Size Really Matter in a Boarding House? Families often ask me whether the size of a boarding cohort makes a difference—what’s best for their child, and what are the benefits or chall...

In this episode of  Destination Boarding , we sit down with Richard Stokes, Executive Director of the Australian Boarding Schools Association (ABSA), to explore what it means to be an intentional and purposeful boarding parent. Richard shares his expert insights on how parents can best support their children through the boarding experience, from preparing them for the transition to fostering indep...

In this episode, I sit down with Kate Kennedy, a mother, farmer, and dedicated community member from Trangie in central western NSW. Kate is the proud mum of four—Belle, an early childhood educator; Annie, a paediatric nurse; Charlie, who now helps manage the family’s farming operations; and Ned, currently in his final year at boarding school. After the devastating loss of her husband Al six years...

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 support boarders as they adjust to a new school environment, often facing a more challenging curriculum and the emotional toll of transition. Barker Co...

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 insights invaluable for families navigating the boarding journey. This chat focuses on how parents can best support their chil...

Each year we do a summer series for our incoming boarders called ‘Nailing Homesickness’ where I chat with current boarders from across Australia. We know that the schools, and friends will have sage advice for our kids before they head off - everyone really wanting to help alleviate the nerves of our new boarders.    But truly, who best to speak to than the boarders themselves? Our mission is to h...

Each year we do a summer series for our incoming boarders called ‘Nailing Homesickness’ where I chat with current boarders from across Australia. We know that the schools, and friends will have sage advice for our kids before they head off - everyone really wanting to help alleviate the nerves of our new boarders.    But truly, who best to speak to than the boarders themselves? Our mission is to h...

In this conversation, Kirsty and Amanda discuss the emotional challenges faced by parents during the transition of their children to boarding school. We explore the grief that accompanies this change, the impact on family dynamics, and the importance of community support.    Through personal anecdotes, we highlight the shared experiences of homesickness and the strategies that can help both parent...