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…
Blog – Behaviour
Catch Up with the Experts: How to Navigate the Transition with Dr. Lisa Fahey
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…
Social Media v Real World Relationships… how are boarding schools winning the battle ?
Transitioning to Boarding School
Healthy Habits for Boarding School
Dr Justin Coulson answers the important question “what are some healthy habits that every student should know about before they start boarding school?”. He touches on sleep, diet, exercise, friendships, and practicing their spirituality when away from home. Watch Justin’s video to learn about the importance of each one.
Teens’ Mental Health and Distance: What to Expect
Our teens’ mental health can be impacted by distance from family and loved ones. Here’s what to expect if you are sending your children to boarding school. A surprisingly large number of Australian teens are struggling when it comes to mental health issues. The Young Minds Matter Survey for 2013-2014 showed that almost one in…
Encouraging independence in your teen boarder
Your teen is getting ready to venture out into the boarding school world. Encouraging independence in your teen will help them be prepared for their new responsibilities. Here’s how to do just that. Research shows that independence, or agency, is one of the most important contributors to success and happiness. It is a predictor for almost…
Handling exam stress
The process of settling into the new school year (Part 2)
The process of settling into the new school year (Part 1)
Our communications specialist at Boarding Schools Expo, Kim V. Goldsmith, is an ex-boarder of Ravenswood School for Girls (1987) who clearly remembers her boarding days, particularly that first year and the first weeks of the new school year. She caught up with Kate Ponder of Louth (pictured), ex- boarder of Kinross Wolaroi School (2014) and…
Building confidence, takes baby steps
The seriously impressive Megan Dalla-Carmina, a strategist, coach, writer, speaker and researcher, penned a timeless article titled “The truth about becoming more confident”. In her words, building confidence takes babysteps. Like purpose, confidence does not strike us all at once and from that moment on we conquer the world. No, confidence and for that matter…
When your teen turns into the silent type
Teenage years means an appropriation of space – emotional, intellectual and physically – from an adult. Whilst parents of boarders have accepted (but may not have overcome) the physical separation, it is often the emotional and intellectual separation that can be the hardest to manage. As a sister of a younger brother, with a very…
Toughening Up Children with Kindness
Some children are more sensitive than others, which can contribute to their feelings of self worth as they struggle to shrug off negative feelings, or painful barbs directed at them. Many people will say they need toughening up. But do they? International best-selling, award-winning author and speaker L.R Knost says, “It’s not our job to…
Book Review – Mastering Your Mean Girl – Melissa Ambrosini
I’m too tall, not smart enough, too quiet, too loud (yep, at the same time), a corporate banker moonlighting as a yoga teacher & wellness coach, and just, well different from my family and friends. For a while there, the voices inside my head dictated whom I hung out with, what activities I became involved…
Are we breeding an entitled, spoiled generation?
Entitled and spoiled are two adjectives thrown around a lot about this generation of teenagers and young adults. This often comes from smothering your children with love and kindness, without setting boundaries. We often hear about this when parents think they can be best friends with their children and fail to set any boundaries or…
