Letters From Home

Lisa Green - Just Go and Ask the Question – A Dubbo Mum’s Boarding School Journey

07 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

While we’re travelling across regional Australia for our face-to-face Boarding Schools Expo events, we’re opening the vault and revisiting some of...

When Schools Travel the Distance Too - Why Access to Education Matters in the Bush: with Angie Nisbet

30 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 ou...

After the Drop-Off - What Term 1 Really Feels Like (and Why It’s Normal) & What to Expect for Term 2: with Kirsty Wiggins

23 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Over the next few weeks, while we’re out on the road for our face-to-face Boarding Schools Expo events, we’re opening up the vault and sharing som...

From the Archives: Peter Debus - The Very Personal Decision of Choosing Boarding School

16 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Peter Debus is the Managing Director of PrincipleFocus, a financial management and advisory business based in Dubbo NSW with branches in Sydney and Wa...

From Boarding School to Womn-Kind: Ruby Riethmuller Is Changing Lives

09 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Ruby Riethmuller grew up on a farm outside Wagga Wagga and like many country students, the path to opportunity eventually led her to boarding school.I...

When the Local Fit Isn’t the Right Fit: with Tina Clifton

02 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

When Education Opens the Gate with Duncan Taylor

26 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Duncan Taylor knows firsthand what it means to leave a small rural town in pursuit of education - and what it means to come home again.Growing up on a...

From ‘Not Us’ to ‘Why Not?’: A Family’s Unexpected Boarding Path with Robert Bevern

19 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 w...

The Postie with the Mostie: The 600km Mail Run with Bec Climie

12 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In some of the most isolated parts of Australia, Bec Climie hasn’t just delivered the mail - she’s delivered connection, joy and community.On the ...

The Courage to Change Course: Parenting through a boarding journey that didn’t follow the plan with Geraldine Clark

05 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 Le...

Not in Our DNA: A Walgett Family’s Unexpected Journey to Boarding School with Daniel Bashford

26 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

When Daniel Bashford and his wife moved their family from the Hunter Valley to Walgett, boarding school wasn’t part of the plan.Daniel had taken up ...

Two Homes, One Heart - Boarding from the Top End with Anna Cochrane

19 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From one of Australia’s most famous cattle stations, this episode of Letters from Home offers a deeply grounded and quietly powerful reflection on w...

City Girl, Bush Life, Big Decisions with Amy Clark

12 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Amy Clark on belonging, “critical mass” in small-town schools, and choosing boarding to give her boys room to grow.In this episode of Letters From...

Big Steps, Big Love with Lisa Green: A Single Mum’s Journey to Boarding School

06 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Researching schools, navigating scholarships, and letting go with love.In this heartfelt episode of Letters from Home, Amanda sits down with Lisa - a ...

The Spirit of Boarding with Tamara Nixon: Why Rural Kids Matter to City Schools

29 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Tamara Nixon is a sixth-generation farming mum from Oaklands in the Southern Riverina, balancing life on the land with the big-hearted reality of pare...

Around Australia with the ICPA - WA State President Jane Cunningham

22 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Western Australia’s size brings opportunity - and enormous challenge. In this episode of our capsule series Around Australia with the ICPA, Amanda F...

From Country Quiet to City Life: Phoebe’s Boarding Story

20 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Nailing Homesickness, Amanda Ferrari chats with Phoebe, a Year 10 boarder at Methodist Ladies’ College in Melbourne, who began bo...

Around Australia with the ICPA - SA State President Belinda Hatcher

15 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Throughout the year, we’ve been following the work of the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association - the ICPA - across Australia. In these short...

Finding Confidence, Consistency and Calm at Boarding School with Nouvelle M.

13 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Nailing Homesickness, we meet Nouvelle, a Year 8 boarder at Canberra Girls Grammar School, whose upbringing in an Australian Defenc...

A Leap of Faith, Kept Close to Home - Celebrating 10 Years of Boarding at MAGS

08 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What regional boarding gives bush families - confidence, community, and opportunity.This episode takes us to Macquarie Anglican Grammar School (MAGS) ...

Finding Your Feet: Isla’s First Year of Boarding

06 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 t...

From the Header to the Boarding House: Harry’s First Year at Scotch

29 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 mee...

From Collie to the Classroom Paddock: Lara’s Leap to Boarding

22 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Nailing Homesickness, we’re heading northwest of Dubbo to chat with Lara, a Year 9 boarder at Hurlstone Agricultural High School ...

Around Australia with the ICPA - QLD State President Wendy Henning

17 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Throughout the year, we’ve been following the work of the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association - the ICPA - across Australia. In these short...

From Station Life to City School: How Clem Found Her Feet at Boarding School

15 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Nailing Homesickness, we’re heading a very long way from Brisbane - all the way to a cattle station in the Northern Territory, fo...

Around Australia with the ICPA - NT State President Moira Lanzarin

10 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Throughout the year, we’ve been following the work of the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association - the ICPA - across Australia. In these short...

Nailing Homesickness: Homesick, New School, New Sport, & Loving It: Archie’s Story

08 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today on Nailing Homesickness we’re chatting with Archie, a boarder at Brisbane Boys’ College who never – and I mean never – imagined he’d e...

Around Australia with the ICPA - NSW State President Annabel Strachan

03 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Throughout the year, we’ve been following the work of the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association - the ICPA - across Australia. In these short...

Heart-work, good policy, & the power of love behind Bronnie Taylor

27 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Special announcement: Since recording this episode, The Hon. Bronnie Taylor has been appointed Chair of the national charity Motherland. We’re thr...

“Go Floppy: A Quandialla Mum on Boarding School, Letting Go, and Raising Resilient Kids” - Sarah Ryan

19 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Part 2: From Surf Club to the Station - Tannas Godfrey’s Journey of Courage and Change

13 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Part 1: From Surf Club to the Station - Tannas Godfrey’s Journey of Courage and Change

12 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Finding belonging when home keeps changing: a Defence family’s story - Kate B.

05 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 diffe...

Lessons on Life & Loss from the Outback Schoolroom Part 2 - Kimberley Wilson

31 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 h...

Lessons on Life & Loss from the Outback Schoolroom Part 1 - Kimberley Wilson

29 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Catch Up with the Experts: Certification of Boarding School Staff with Richard Stokes

08 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today I’m with Richard Stokes. Richard is the CEO of the Australian Boarding Schools Association (ABSA).ABSA, as the leading authority in Austral...

Inside a Small Boarding Community at a Big School: with Danniella at Assumption College

01 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Parenting from Afar: Creating Safer Spaces for Our Kids with Dolly's Dream

25 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today’s episode is a particularly special one. We’re speaking with Sally Sweeney, CEO of Dolly’s Dream, an organisation that holds deep signific...

From Gunnedah to Loreto: A Boarding School Choice Built on Values with Rebecca Ryan

24 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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. Som...

Scholarships, Wellness & the Heart of Boarding at Ascham with Allysia

17 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome back to another week of Destination Boarding, where we continue to deep dive into the big conversations around our Australian Boarding School...

Leading the Charge with Warmth & Determination for ICPA Queensland

11 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 Presi...

Catch Up with the Experts: Social Media Management in Boarding Schools with Richard Stokes

10 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome back to Destination Boarding, where we dive into the conversations that matter most for boarding school families—whether you're just st...

Kirsty Wiggins - how did we go for Term 1?

04 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 addit...

Catch Up with the Experts: The Impact of Screen Time with Dr. Lisa Fahey

03 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome back to Destination Boarding, where we dive into the big conversations that matter to families, students, and boarding school communities. Whe...

Big or Small? Finding the Right Boarding Fit with Nonie Ayling

20 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 Boardi...

Catch Up with the Experts: Being the Boarding Parent Your Child Needs with Richard Stokes

13 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Destination Boarding, we sit down with Richard Stokes, Executive Director of the Australian Boarding Schools Association (ABSA), t...

Building Resilience: A Journey Through Farming, Family, & Education with Kate Kennedy

06 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Bridging the Gap: Academics, Country Kids & Opportunity with Phillip Heath

27 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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—...

Catch Up with the Experts: How to Navigate the Transition with Dr. Lisa Fahey

20 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Lisa Fahey, a psychologist specialising in trauma recovery and behavioral interventions for young people. As a m...

Summer Series – Nailing Homesickness with Anna & Will

30 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Each year we do a summer series for our incoming boarders called ‘Nailing Homesickness’ where I chat with current boarders from across Australia....

Summer Series - Nailing Homesickness with Luke Bartolo

23 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Each year we do a summer series for our incoming boarders called ‘Nailing Homesickness’ where I chat with current boarders from across Australia....

The Boarding School Drop Off: It’s Okay To Grieve

17 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this conversation, Kirsty and Amanda discuss the emotional challenges faced by parents during the transition of their children to boarding school. ...

Summer Series - Nailing Homesickness with Thomas Rutledge

16 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Each year we do a summer series for our incoming boarders called ‘Nailing Homesickness’ where I chat with current boarders from across Australia....

Summer Series - Nailing Homesickness with Sophie Laing

09 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Each year we do a summer series for our incoming boarders called ‘Nailing Homesickness’ where I chat with current boarders from across Australia....

Summer Series - Nailing Homesickness with Jasper Brooker

02 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Each year we do a summer series for our incoming boarders called ‘Nailing Homesickness’ where I chat with current boarders from across Australia....

Summer Series - Nailing Homesickness with Ned Kennedy

26 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Each year we do a summer series for our incoming boarders called ‘Nailing Homesickness’ where I chat with current boarders from across Australia....

Summer Series - Nailing Homesickness with Sarah Bertollo

19 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Each year we do a summer series for our incoming boarders called ‘Nailing Homesickness’ where I chat with current boarders from across Australia....

Angie Nisbet Wraps Up Mount Isa

12 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Hello again, thanks for tuning in to Destination Boarding. Today, I sat down with Angie Nisbet from Married to the Land podcast. Let me tell you, this...

Jane Morris - Stuartholme School

09 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Thanks for listening to our podcast chat this week. We’re still on our ‘journey’ to Mount Isa - and if that’s not your jam maybe you know some...

David Marriott - Scots PGC College

21 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I love my job. I need to tell you that because today’s chat was with someone who clearly loves their job too.  To understand what I do, you need t...

Lesa Fowler - St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School

19 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today’s chat is with the Director of Boarding at Brisbane’s St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School, Lesa Fowler. Lesa is a familiar figure in the ...

Tom Floyd - John Paul College

14 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome back to Destination Boarding and our series of conversations where we introduce you to the schools that are heading up to Mount Isa with us, a...

Stuart Delaney - St Peters Lutheran College

12 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We’re back with another episode of A Road To Mount Isa and today I’m chatting with Head of Boarding at St Peters Lutheran College, Stuart Delane...

Sharon Currie - The Glennie School

07 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Hello again. Most of you listening to this series where we introduce you to the amazing schools that are coming with us to Mount Isa will know just ho...

Genevieve McDonald - Brightlands Station

05 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome back to our series ‘A ROAD TO MOUNT ISA’. This week we are having the most authentic real time chat with Genevieve McDonald. Gen is fro...

Simon Murphy - Blackheath & Thornburgh College

31 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today I’m chatting with Simon Murphy, Principal of Blackheath and Thornburgh College in Charters Towers. Charters Towers is around an hour and a ...

Luke Baills – The Cathedral School, Townsville

24 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today we’re chatting with Luke Baills from The Cathedral School in Townsville. Luke is the new Head of School having previously headed up Cathed...

Danielle Doyle aka "Miss Chardy"

17 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

// Hello again - this week’s pod chat brought me such joy. I’ve been a fan of ‘Miss Chardy’ for years and finally got the chance to sit down ...

Ross Jorgensen - Tec-NQ

10 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to Destination Boarding – the little podcast that tells the big story about Australian boarding schools. I’m your host Amanda Ferrari fro...

Dr Campbell & Mike Symons - Churchie

03 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to Destination Boarding – the little podcast that tells the big story about Australian boarding schools. I’m your host Amanda Ferrari fro...

Amanda Rigby - St Hilda’s School

26 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to Destination Boarding – the little podcast that tells the big story about Australian boarding schools. I’m your host Amanda Ferrari fro...

Jim Noble - Marist College Ashgrove

19 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to Destination Boarding – the little podcast that tells the big story about Australian boarding schools. I’m your host Amanda Ferrari fro...

Katie Brown - Escott Station, Burketown

12 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to Destination Boarding - the little podcast that tells the big story about Australian boarding schools. I’m your host Amanda Ferrari from ...

Summer Series - Nailing Homesickness with Aspen Moore

26 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Our Summer Series of Destination Boarding the podcast is here. We are often asked how we select our students for this series. Well, it’s quite simp...

Summer Series - Nailing Homesickness with Gemma Turkington

19 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Our Summer Series of Destination Boarding the podcast is here. Each week right through the summer school holidays we’ll be having short chats with t...

Summer Series - Nailing Homesickness with Annabelle Williamson

08 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Our Summer Series of Destination Boarding the podcast is here. Each week right through the summer school holidays we’ll be having short chats with t...

Summer Series - Nailing Homesickness with Daniel Canellis

01 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Our Summer Series of Destination Boarding the podcast is here. Each week right through the summer school holidays we’ll be having short chats with t...

Summer Series - Nailing Homesickness with Rose Fisher

24 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Our Summer Series of Destination Boarding the podcast is here. Each week right through the summer school holidays we’ll be having short chats with t...

Summer Series - Nailing Homesickness with Annie Triggs

17 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Our Summer Series of Destination Boarding the podcast is here. Each week right through the summer school holidays we’ll be having short chats with t...

Geoff Marsh - Beyond the Classroom: Leading One of Australia's Largest Girls Boarding Schools

15 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to Destination Boarding wherever you’re tuning in from. For those of you that are new to our podcast we are here to share the stories of bo...

Summer Series - Nailing Homesickness with Quenton Brooking

11 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Our Summer Series of Destination Boarding the podcast is here. Each week right through the summer school holidays we’ll be having short chats with t...

Oli Le Lievre - Seeds of Inspiration: Unearthing the Story Behind Humans of Agriculture

08 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

You may have heard of Oli through his wildly successful podcast Humans of Agriculture where he shares the stories of agriculture with the aim of conne...

Summer Series - Nailing Homesickness with Lucy Hall

13 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It’s here…Our Summer Series of Destination Boarding the podcast. Each week right through the summer school holidays we’ll be having short chats ...

Summer Series - Nailing Homesickness with Sophia Slater

13 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It’s here...Our Summer Series of Destination Boarding the podcast. Each week right through the summer school holidays we’ll be having short chats ...

Sarah Smith - From Boarding to Brushstrokes and Everything in Between

11 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Here we are again, another week, another great chat with someone that went to boarding school. You know I’m always on the look out for interesting p...

Adam Larby - What’s it really like to head a co-educational Adventureland for primary aged children?

01 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week we sit down with Adam Larby, Head of The King’s School, Tudor House.  Adam Larby is the son of immigrants - a mother of Chinese heritage...

Summer Series - Nailing Homesickness with Chavela Ellis

29 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It’s here…Our Summer Series of Destination Boarding the podcast. Each week right through the summer school holidays (kicking off with a head start...

Emily Patterson: From City to Country, One Child at a Time

12 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Emily Patterson’s bridging the great divide by sending her kids to country boarding schools.  Hello welcome back to Destination Boarding. Today’...

Craig Mansour - Opening A Boarding School... Creating A Legacy

12 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Macquarie Anglican Grammar school is located almost right in the centre of NSW in Dubbo, well a couple of hours off but who’s counting…. More comm...

Yvette McDonald - Turning Deep Seated Convictions On Their Head

07 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This is a really frank discussion with Yvette McDonald, who, among many other strings to her bow, is a parent of three ex boarders. The perspective yo...

From the rugby field to medicine… the remarkable achievements of Susannah Cooke

25 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to this episode of Destination Boarding where we talk about boarding school with families, ex-students, industry leaders and the executives of...

Kate Kovacs - The Shifting Dynamics of a Boarding School Community

14 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to this episode of Destination Boarding where we talk about boarding school with families, ex-students, industry leaders and the executives of...

Peter Debus - the very personal decision of choosing boarding school.

03 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Peter Debus is the Managing Director of PrincipleFocus, a financial management and advisory business based in Dubbo NSW with branches in Sydney and Wa...

Summer Series: Nailing Homesickness with Quintin

10 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to Episode 9 of our Summer Series: Nailing Homesickness where we chat to Quintin, an inspiring student from Haileybury Rendall School in Darwi...

Summer Series: Nailing Homesickness with Sylvia

03 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to Episode 8 of our Summer Series: Nailing Homesickness where we chat to Sylvia, a wonderful student from Wenona School in Sydney, NSW! In thi...

Summer Series: Nailing Homesickness with Mandy & Lara

27 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to Episode 7 of our Summer Series: Nailing Homesickness where we chat to both Mandy & Lara, students from Ipswich Girls' Grammar School in...

Summer Series: Nailing Homesickness with Oscar

20 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to Episode 6 of our Summer Series: Nailing Homesickness where we chat to Oscar, a student from The King's School in Sydney, NSW! In this serie...

Summer Series: Nailing Homesickness with Sophie

13 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to Episode 5 of our Summer Series: Nailing Homesickness where we chat to Sophie, a student from Kincoppal-Rose Bay School in Sydney, NSW! In t...

Summer Series: Nailing Homesickness with Jack & Caite

05 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to Episode 4 of our Summer Series: Nailing Homesickness where we chat to a two students Jack & Caite from The Armidale School in Armidale,...

Summer Series: Nailing Homesickness with Tess

23 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to Episode 3 of our Summer Series: Nailing Homesickness where we chat to an insightful student named Tess from Tara Anglican School for Girls ...