We know that accessing a diverse education for children in rural and remote areas of Australia can be a significant challenge for families. Australian Boarding schools often provide a solution, but the associated costs can be utterly overwhelming. Fortunately, there are various scholarships and bursaries available to ease this financial burden.
One of our discussion panels for our 2024 Australian Boarding Schools Summit is centred solely on the real deal behind scholarships and bursaries for regional, rural and remote students heading to boarding school. Whether you’re looking for a boarding school in NSW, QLD, Victoria, ACT, SA, Northern Territory or WA there is an entire breadth of opportunities for you to explore. A great place to begin is right here at Boarding Schools Expo Australia with our link to Scholarships & Bursaries.
There are a wide variety of opportunities and initiatives – and yes, there is a process.
One such initiative is the Commonwealth Regional Scholarship Program, a pilot launched by the Australian Government in 2024. This program offers substantial financial assistance to boarding school students from regional, rural, and remote communities. Up to 100 scholarships are available, with tiers offering $20,000 and $10,000 per year, depending on the family’s income level. These scholarships aim to support students over the entire six years of their secondary education. An incredible boost to providing stability and reducing the financial strain on families
For families looking to access these scholarships, it is essential to stay informed about the application process. The Department of Education will release more details, so keeping an eye on their announcements is crucial. Engaging with local educational advocates, such as the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association (ICPA), can also be invaluable.
We’ll be discussing the best approach to scholarship seeking at our Summit this year. Parents often ask whether they should choose the school best suited to their child, (or shortlist a few), then apply for that particular schools’ offerings…. Or take the ‘scattergun’ approach where families apply to numerous schools and take the best offer. Look, honestly, this is such an individual choice – and while I do believe that some schools are better suited to some children, I can’t argue with the parent that takes the best offer if that’s what is going to get them over the line and their child off to boarding school.
Scholarship exams can be stressful – so if you decide to take the ‘scattergun’ approach and ask your child to sit quite a few examinations it’s best to try and strike a balance to avoid undue stress. You can access past papers, speak with other parents, perhaps do some tutoring with your child – but please ensure your child knows that they can only do their best with the tools they have. Focus on their effort rather than just the results, be a positive support for them. It’s super stressful to arrive at a strange campus and sit an exam with dozens, even hundreds of kids they’ve never met before.
If your child is awarded a scholarship keep in mind that sometimes scholarships can bring significant pressure on students, given the high expectations that come with them. It’s important for both families and schools to provide robust support systems. Regular check-ins, ensuring your child has someone they can confide in at school, and encouraging them to get involved with other extracurricular activities can help manage stress and maintain a balanced lifestyle. During our discussion on Scholarships & Bursaries at the Australian Boarding Schools Summit later this year we’ll be talking with schools and the students themselves on whether the expectations of a scholarship award can impact negatively on their wellbeing.
Bursaries are different, and are often awarded to families that if it were not for that assistance would not be able to attend the school. They can be offered to children of ex-students, or some schools have bursaries to assist families living super remotely. Again, a great place to begin the search is right here on our website.
Our discussion will also evaluate the need for boarding schools to continue to expand their scholarship offerings beyond academics. While academic standards can be sought and achieved with great support, fostering holistic development through arts, sports, leadership, and community service programs is equally important. Such programs help students develop essential life skills, enriching their school experience and preparing them for life beyond the school gate.
While we would love more of them, the Commonwealth Regional Scholarship Program represents a significant step towards bridging the educational gap for rural students. Regional Education Commissioner Fiona Nash has emphasised the importance of providing financial support to ensure that geographic location does not impede access to quality education. The program’s success will be monitored, with potential expansions based on its outcomes, promising sustained support for rural families. It is a significant initiative in this direction, offering hope and support to many families across Australia and we applaud the Federal government in establishing these scholarships.
There are many external stakeholders offering scholarship assistance to Australian Boarding School students. A few I can think of include: BushED; Winchester Foundation; Yalari; Bush Children’s Education Foundation; Australian Indigenous Education Foundation; Madalah
While the landscape of scholarships and bursaries can be challenging to navigate, the available resources and support systems can certainly assist in making it possible for rural families to access a diverse secondary education for their children. By registering for our Boarding Expo 365 you will have access to watch the Australian Boarding Schools Summit live on Friday 11th October. If you can’t make it that day, then you’ll be able to watch it on demand at a time that suits you and your family.
Check out our scholarships & bursaries page
References
- Australian Government Department of Education. (2023). Commonwealth Regional Scholarship Program. Retrieved from education.gov.au
- Ministers’ Media Centre. (2023). Better support for boarding school students from regional Australia. Retrieved from ministers.education.gov.au