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 federal level and across many parts of the world. ABSA continues to advance the profile of boarding and best practice in boarding and facilitates communication on boarding matters between schools, hostels, educational bodies and governments both in Australia and overseas.  

Now that’s the brochure spiel… Richard brings decades of boarding school experience to his role. In fact without him ABSA wouldn’t exist as it does today and serve to educate thousands of boarding staff each year. 

4000 boarding staff across Australia with a turnover rate of 25% ensures that Richard is never going to be able to retire! Did you know that ABSA offers Certificate level training right through to Masters of Residential Education and boarding school staff can pursue a career wholey and soley devoted to managing boarding houses within a school. 
It begins with Base Level 1 Duty of Care training and goes on to Active Duty, in between there’s a vast array of Certificates staff can undertake, leading to a Masters and then there’s the Emerging Boarder Leaders program. Staff do not have to be teachers to have a career in boarding. In fact Richard tells me 60% of staff in boarding houses across Australia are not teachers. 
Anyway this is the core practice of ABSA, to train the people that look after our kids when they’re living away from home. I don’t know about you, but that really inspires me and how good is it to know that our boarding house staff aren’t just going through the motions. There’s a clear path to career progression and as you’ll hear from Richard, a definite enthusiasm for what they do.

Follow our podcast today.

Thank you to Courtney Dunn for editing this episode.

Enjoy this conversation with Richard Stokes.

Boarding Schools Expo Australia

ABSA

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 for both. Ultimately, it comes down to you and your child. Understanding what’s best for their personality.

In this episode, we’re speaking with Director of Boarding at Assumption College, Danniella Yarman-Lalda about their boarding community. Assumption is a large school with a small boarding cohort and you’ll hear in this chat the opportunities that affords the students that are part of that boarding family.

I have a confession to make here. This is one of the first recordings I’ve done on a new platform and I got a bit cocky thinking I didn’t have to sit in my studio to record anymore…. Well my very noisy doggy thought this was too exciting and managed to yap her way through most of it. It was distracting for me, and I lost my train of thought a couple of times,  but I also didn’t want to stop and lose the valuable points that  Danniella was making.  Sometimes when you do that it’s just not the same the second time round.

This is a great conversation to listen to if you are wondering how smaller boarding schools ensure that their boarders are not lost in the throng of day students and it absolutely highlights the benefits of smaller boarding houses for those that are wondering.

Thank you to Courtney Dunn Productions for editing this episode.

Boarding Schools Expo

Assumption College

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 advocating for kindness, safety, and mental wellbeing—particularly in rural communities.

This episode isn’t just about raising awareness—it’s about connection. Sally and I talk about what makes Dolly’s Dream such a unique and impactful voice in the mental health space, especially for families living remotely and for young people transitioning to life at boarding school or working on isolated stations. Sally shares the heart and drive behind their programs, including their tailored workshops for schools, workplaces like AA Co stations, and their upcoming program specifically designed to support young people transitioning from remote education into secondary boarding life.

We also explore the important—and sometimes confronting—conversations about bullying. How do we spot it? How do we talk about it, both with our kids and with the adults around them? How do we educate not just the victims of bullying, but the bullies themselves—many of whom don’t even realise the harm they’re causing?

As a mum who’s walked the boarding school journey myself, these conversations strike right to the core of what we’re trying to do with this podcast: create a space where parents feel heard, seen, and supported. Parenting from afar comes with its own challenges—ones that don’t always get talked about. But together with organisations like Dolly’s Dream, we can start changing that.

Whether you’re a parent, a boarding staff member, or someone passionate about the wellbeing of young Australians, this episode will give you insight, empathy, and maybe even a few tools to better support the young people in your life. And for those of you heading to the Boarding Schools Expo in Emerald, you’ll have the chance to meet the Dolly’s Dream team and hear even more about their incredible new transition program.

Thank you to Courtney Dunn for editing this episode.

Boarding Schools Expo

Dolly's Dream

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 our recent Australian Boarding Schools Summit, where she was part of our panel unpacking the age-old question: does size really matter when it comes to choosing a boarding school?

It’s a topic that can stir plenty of discussion — especially when schools change the size of their boarding cohort. But as you’ll hear, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Rebecca beautifully explains how it all comes back to knowing what matters most to your family and your child.

Rebecca shares how faith, family, and familiarity guided her family’s decision-making process, ultimately leading her daughter Olivia to Loreto Normanhurst — where she’s not only thriving but discovering her passions.

There’s a lot to love in this episode, especially the way Rebecca speaks about the connection between city and country, and how the right school can feel like home, no matter its size.

Thank you to Courtney Dunn for editing this podcast episode.

Loreto Normanhurst

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—ensuring rural and remote students have access to an exceptional secondary education.

Ascham is well known for its academic program, delivered through the unique Dalton Plan. But something you may not know is the strength of their scholarship and bursary program. The school actively supports a diverse range of applicants, helping to ensure affordability and access to high-quality education for all.

Allysia is a career boarding professional, having held leadership roles at some of Australia’s top schools. In this conversation, she speaks with real warmth about the value of diversity in the boarding house and the ripple effect of Ascham’s wellness program across the school community.

There’s a lot to take away from this authentic and open chat—including insight into how Ascham approaches financial support and why it remains such an important part of their offering.

Scholarships and bursaries are also key topics in our 2024 Australian Boarding Schools Summit. Stream the Summit online anytime via our Boarding Expo 365 platform—we’re exploring the impact and real value these opportunities bring to both families and schools alike.

Enjoy this episode with Allysia Heness-Pugh.

Thank you to Courtney Dunn for editing this podcast episode.

Ascham: https://boardingexpo.com.au/schools/ascham-school/

Boarding Schools Expo https://boardingexpo.com.au

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 and humility to her advocacy role. 

I was really grateful to Wendy for taking the time to chat to me - she’s an incredibly busy woman and particularly at the time of recording as the devastating flood situation is unfolding in western and south western Queensland. 

Just a heads up that due to the cloud cover Wendy’s connection was pretty unstable and we missed a few highlights towards the end of the interview. Bare with us here - it’s such a worthy listen as Wendy expresses herself so beautifully. There were moments where I felt that she’d dived into my head and pulled my thoughts right out - as we talked about her four daughters and their transition to boarding school and the depth of emotions that surround that leap.

If you enjoy this episode you might want to go back and listen to the episode with Kirsty Wiggins. It’s all about the drop off and the big feelings we experience. Link is in the show notes here.

The best way for other people to find us is for you to take a moment to like and rate our episodes. These are great conversations for families that are considering their options for secondary education of their children and for families that are already at boarding school. 

Let’s get on with today’s episode with Wendy Henning.

Conversation points:

• Meet Wendy’s four daughters and find out where they’ve ended up following boarding school
• Learn about what it’s like to be part of a small rural school such as Teelba (around 15 students) where Wendy’s girls went
• Find out how Wendy and husband Andrew went about the selection process of boarding school for their children
• Hear about the heartfelt emotions of the transition to boarding school and Wendy’s philosophy around preparing the parent - both of us almost in tears (again…) 
• Discover the core mission of the ICPA
• What has ICPA meant to Wendy ? The confidence, the common purpose with other families, the skills learned and the successes.
• Join Wendy with Boarding Schools Expo at Emerald 1-2 May

Links:

QLD ICPA

ICPA

St Hilda's

Boarding Schools Expo Australia

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

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 boarding schools in Australia—supporting staff, students, and families while working closely with educational and government bodies both here and overseas.

Today, we’re talking about a big one: social media. It’s everywhere, it’s fast-moving, and it’s incredibly hard to manage—especially when your child is living away from home.

We discuss:

• How boarding schools approach social media and phone use

• Why banning devices isn’t always the answer

• The importance of teaching students how to manage their screens (and sleep)

• Why conversations are more powerful than control

  
  

As Richard says in this episode, “The most important thing we do is actually continue to talk to our boarders about the challenges social media can be.”

It’s a world we didn’t grow up with, and for parents, it can feel like a minefield. But the key might just be in connection—between staff, students, and families.

Thank you to Courtney Dunn for editing this episode.

Boarding Schools Expo: ⁠⁠https://boardingexpo.com.au⁠

Australian Boarding Schools Association (ABSA): https://www.boarding.org.au

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 the emotions that surround the drop off to boarding school. It was an authentic impassioned conversation around our experience as parents as we transitioned from parenting at home to parenting from a far. 

I would absolutely recommend it to you - a beautiful episode.

Well, today we’re back… ‘banging on about boarding’ as we like to say. I love my chats with Kirst. She’s a warm gutsy woman and I love that we’re friends. 

I’m finding out how Term 1 has gone down for Team Wiggins. It hasn’t all been a bed of roses and in this conversation Kirsty drops some worthy pearls of wisdom as she always does.  Perfectly timed for the school holidays!

Graziher magazine were so enamoured with our conversation on the big drop off feelings that they included an interview with Kirsty in their Boarding Schools Guide 2025 available now. Here at Boarding Schools Expo we are thrilled with our partnership with Graziher magazine for their Boarding Schools Guide - we have a shared focus on bringing the stories of boarding school families to life.

Here are the links to a couple of episodes you might like to listen to if you haven’t already. A veritable caché of wisdom and advice to nail parenting from afar:

Dr Lisa Fahey : How to Navigate the Transition to Boarding School

The Boarding School Drop Off: It’s OK to Grieve with Kirsty Wiggins

Boarding Expo Virtual Summit

Quovus

Dumble Collective

Graziher

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 Fahey OAM. We’ve invited Dr. Lisa to be a regular contributor to the podcast, and after hearing her insights, you’ll understand why. Her advice for families is invaluable.

As a specialist in trauma recovery for young people, Dr. Lisa provides behavioural interventions to support families and children. Her entire career has been dedicated to working with teenagers, and as a mother of five former boarders, she brings both professional expertise and personal experience to the table.

In this episode, we’re tackling the growing concerns around screen time—whether it’s smartphones, computers, or tablets—and the impact it has on teenagers. Research now shows that more than two hours of daily screen time can noticeably affect a young child’s intellect.

Here’s a myth-buster: a toddler’s ability to navigate a touchscreen has no correlation to their academic ability.

This issue is more relevant than ever, as the Federal Government debates new restrictions on social media use for children under 16. But perhaps the most confronting aspect? It’s not just kids who struggle to disconnect—parents do too. Cutting the digital umbilical cord is proving to be a challenge, and finding a balance is crucial.

Join us for this eye-opening conversation with Dr. Lisa Fahey, where we unpack the realities of screen time and its influence on our families.

Thank you to Courtney Dunn for editing this podcast episode.

Boarding Schools Expo: ⁠https://boardingexpo.com.au⁠

Quovus: ⁠https://www.quovus.com.au/about-us

Dr Lisa Fahey OAM: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-lisa-fahey-oam-97a65625/

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 challenges of each option? There’s sometimes concern about smaller boarding communities, so I wanted to open up the conversation and bust some myths.

What I loved about talking with Nonie is that Wenona doesn’t shy away from being a smaller boarding school—they embrace it. They celebrate their cultural diversity, welcoming international students, ex-pats, city-based boarders, and rural families alike.

At the end of the day, you know your child best. You know the environment where they’ll thrive—and Nonie speaks directly to that. After this conversation, I see small boarding communities in a whole new light… and in a really positive way.

Enjoy our chat!

Thank you to Courtney Dunn for editing this podcast episode.

Boarding Schools Expo: https://boardingexpo.com.au

Wenona: https://boardingexpo.com.au/schools/wenona/