Country guide

Boarding Schools in Australia

For international students under 18, the Australian Department of Home Affairs requires evidence of welfare arrangements as part of a Student visa (subclass 500) application. Normally the education provider approves the arrangements and issues a Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation and Welfare (CAAW), or a parent or eligible relative is nominated as guardian. Boarding is one way a school can provide accommodation and welfare, which is why the CAAW dates matter to the visa.

Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge across the harbour with the city skyline behind — Destination image. Photo: DXR · CC BY-SA 4.0

Coverage: 63 schools and 65 campuses published so far. Research is substantial for this country but not exhaustive.

Terminology: Year levels (for example Year 7 to Year 12), with state-specific senior certificates.

Country notes reviewed 17 October 2026.

How boarding works in Australia

Welfare arrangements for students under 18

As published by the Department of Home Affairs on 2026-10-17: an applicant under 18 must provide Form 1229 (or a statutory declaration) with each parent's or guardian's consent, or evidence of sole custody, plus evidence of adequate welfare arrangements. Options are a CAAW approved by the education provider, an AASES form for secondary exchange students, or a nominated guardian using Form 157N. Check the official page before applying; none of this guarantees a visa. official source

CAAW dates and arrival

As published by Home Affairs on 2026-10-17: welfare arrangements must run until the student turns 18, and the CAAW period must cover the Confirmation of Enrolment period plus 7 days. A student must not enter Australia before the welfare start date, which is a visa condition, and must not change arrangements without the provider's written approval. official source

Nominated guardians

As published by Home Affairs on 2026-10-17: a nominated guardian must be the student's parent, a person with custody, or a relative aged 21 or over nominated in writing by a parent or custodian. A guardian who is not a parent or custodian must supply police certificates, passport details and proof of relationship and residency. Home Affairs states that a guardian who must leave Australia needs approval of alternative arrangements first. official source

Sources

States and territories with schools

Schools

65 campuses from 63 schools, listed A to Z by school name. Paid placements are labelled and never change this order.

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Hale School
Perth, Western Australia
- Research checked
A boys' independent day and boarding school in Perth, Western Australia, with a junior boarding house for Year 7 and a senior boarding house from Year 8.
Boarding
Offered (type not named)
Boarding entry
Boarders typically join Hale in Year 7.
School
Boys, day places
Curriculum
Not confirmed
Independent
Annual boarding fee
A$74,750 per year
boarding (pattern not named). International pupils. 2026. Range across the year groups the school lists.
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Kambala
Rose Bay, New South Wales
- Research checked
An Anglican girls' school in Rose Bay, Sydney, with a boarding house (Fernbank) for about 50 girls in Years 7 to 12.
Boarding
Offered (type not named)
Boarding entry
Boarding for Years 7-12.
School
Girls, day places
Curriculum
Not confirmed
Independent · Faith-based
Annual boarding fee
Fees published, but no boarding total can be calculated from them.
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Kinross Wolaroi School
Orange, New South Wales
- Research checked
A co-educational independent school in Orange, regional New South Wales, with eight boarding houses for girls and boys in Years 7 to 12 on its two campuses.
Boarding
Offered (type not named)
Boarding entry
Boarders in Years 7 to 12; current day students in Years 8-12 can try boarding for one or two terms.
School
Co-educational, day places
Curriculum
NSW Higher School Certificate
Independent · Ages taught: Pre-Kinder to Year 12
Annual boarding fee
Fees published, but no boarding total can be calculated from them.
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Knox Grammar School
Wahroonga, New South Wales
- Research checked
A boys' school in Wahroonga, Sydney, with boarding for about 210 boys from Year 7 to Year 12, including selective placements for regional and overseas students.
Boarding
Offered (type not named)
Boarding entry
Boarding from Year 7 to 12; selective placements for Years 7-11 regional and overseas students.
School
Boys, day places
Curriculum
Not confirmed
Independent · Faith-based
Annual boarding fee
Fees published, but no boarding total can be calculated from them.
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Launceston Church Grammar School
Launceston, Tasmania
- Research checked
A day and boarding school in Mowbray, Launceston, Tasmania, with separate boys' and girls' boarding houses for students from Grade 5.
Boarding
Offered (type not named)
Boarding entry
Boarding is available for students from Grade 5.
School
Co-educational, day places
Curriculum
Not confirmed
Independent
Annual boarding fee
Fees not confirmed
View profile
Loreto College Marryatville
Marryatville, South Australia
- Research checked
A Catholic girls' day and boarding school in Marryatville, Adelaide, from Early Learning to Year 12, offering full-time, weekly and short-stay boarding.
Boarding
Full boarding, Weekly boarding
Boarding entry
Not confirmed
School
Girls, day places
Curriculum
Not confirmed
Independent · Faith-based
Annual boarding fee
Fees published, but no boarding total can be calculated from them.
View profile
Melbourne Girls Grammar
South Yarra, Victoria
- Research checked
An independent girls' school in South Yarra, Melbourne, with a boarding house for girls in Years 7 to 12 beside the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Boarding
Full boarding
Boarding entry
Boarding for Years 7 to 12.
School
Girls, day places
Curriculum
Not confirmed
Independent
Annual boarding fee
Fees published, but no boarding total can be calculated from them.
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Melbourne Grammar School
Melbourne, Victoria
- Research checked
An independent school in Melbourne with a coeducational Prep to Year 6 campus at Caulfield and boys' campuses in South Yarra for Years 7 to 12, where boarders live in a…
Boarding
Offered (type not named)
Boarding entry
Accommodation for around 120 boys from Years 7 to 12.
School
Boys, day places
Curriculum
Not confirmed
Independent · Ages taught: Years 7 and 8 (Wadhurst) and Years 9 - 12 (Senior School), South Yarra
Annual boarding fee
Fees published, but no boarding total can be calculated from them.
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Methodist Ladies' College
Perth, Western Australia
- Research checked
A girls' school on the Swan River in Claremont, Perth, with an all girls' boarding school team and boarding wings divided by age group.
Boarding
Offered (type not named)
Boarding entry
Not confirmed
School
Girls, day places
Curriculum
Not confirmed
Independent · Faith-based
Annual boarding fee
Fees not confirmed
View profile
Newington College
Stanmore, New South Wales
- Research checked
An independent school in Sydney's Inner West whose Edmund Webb Boarding House, a short walk from the Stanmore Senior Campus, accommodates about 50 boarders in Years 9 to…
Boarding
Offered (type not named)
Boarding entry
Boarding is open to students from Years 9 to 12.
School
Not confirmed, day places
Curriculum
Not confirmed
Independent · Ages taught: Kindergarten to Year 12
Annual boarding fee
Fees published, but no boarding total can be calculated from them.
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Pembroke School
Adelaide, South Australia
- Research checked
A co-educational, non-denominational day and boarding school in Adelaide, South Australia, offering SACE and IB from ELC to Year 12, with boarding for girls and boys in…
Boarding
Offered (type not named)
Boarding entry
Boarding accommodation for girls and boys from Years 7 to 12.
School
Co-educational, day places
Curriculum
IB Diploma Programme, Other curriculum
Independent · Non-denominational · Ages taught: ELC to Year 12
Annual boarding fee
Fees not confirmed
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Perth College
Mount Lawley, Western Australia
- Research checked
An Anglican all-girls school in Mount Lawley, Perth, with a boarding house for girls.
Boarding
Offered (type not named)
Boarding entry
Not confirmed
School
Girls, day places
Curriculum
Not confirmed
Independent · Faith-based
Annual boarding fee
Fees published, but no boarding total can be calculated from them.
View profile
PLC Sydney
Sydney, New South Wales
- Research checked
A non-selective independent girls' school from Pre-K to Year 12 in Croydon, Sydney, with a Boarding House at the heart of the College for up to 58 boarders in Years 7 to…
Boarding
Offered (type not named)
Boarding entry
We offer boarding places from Years 7 to 12.
School
Girls, day places
Curriculum
Not confirmed
Independent · Ages taught: Pre-K to Year 12
Annual boarding fee
Fees not confirmed
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Presbyterian Ladies' College
Burwood, Victoria
- Research checked
A girls' school on a Burwood campus in Melbourne whose boarding house, Koorinya, accommodates up to 90 girls in Years 7 to 12.
Boarding
Offered (type not named)
Boarding entry
Up to 90 girls in Years 7 to 12.
School
Girls, day places
Curriculum
Not confirmed
Independent · Faith-based
Annual boarding fee
Fees published, but no boarding total can be calculated from them.
View profile
Prince Alfred College
Adelaide, South Australia
- Research checked
An independent boys' school in Kent Town, Adelaide, with a purpose-built boarding house for boys in Years 7 to 12 and a Year 12 choice of the IB Diploma or SACE.
Boarding
Offered (type not named)
Boarding entry
Boarding facilities are for boys in Years 7 to 12.
School
Boys, day places
Curriculum
IB Diploma Programme, Other curriculum
Independent
Annual boarding fee
Fees not confirmed
View profile
Ravenswood School for Girls
Gordon, New South Wales
- Research checked
A Uniting Church girls' school in Gordon, Sydney, from Prep to Year 12, with boarding offered from Year 7.
Boarding
Offered (type not named)
Boarding entry
Boarding from Year 7 (as printed on the 2026 fee schedule).
School
Girls, day places
Curriculum
Not confirmed
Independent · Faith-based
Annual boarding fee
Fees published, but no boarding total can be calculated from them.
View profile
Rockhampton Grammar School
Rockhampton, Queensland
- Research checked
A day and boarding school in Rockhampton, Central Queensland, where more than a third of Secondary students board, with live-in teachers and supervisors and an on-campus…
Boarding
Offered (type not named)
Boarding entry
Not confirmed
School
Not confirmed, day places
Curriculum
Not confirmed
Independent
Annual boarding fee
Fees not confirmed
View profile
Rostrevor College
Woodforde, South Australia
- Research checked
A Catholic boys' day and boarding college in Woodforde, Adelaide, in the Edmund Rice tradition, with boarders housed in Duggan House.
Boarding
Offered (type not named)
Boarding entry
Not confirmed
School
Boys, day places
Curriculum
Not confirmed
Independent · Faith-based · Ages taught: Reception to Year 12
Annual boarding fee
Fees published, but no boarding total can be calculated from them.
View profile
Saint Ignatius' College, Riverview
Sydney, New South Wales
- Research checked
A Catholic day and boarding school in the Jesuit tradition for boys in Years 5-12, on a 100 acre campus along the Lane Cove River in Sydney.
Boarding
Offered (type not named)
Boarding entry
The 2026 fee table lists boarding fees for Years 6 to 12 (Year 5 shows N/A).
School
Boys, day places
Curriculum
Not confirmed
Independent · Faith-based · Ages taught: Years 5-12
Annual boarding fee
A$69,070 per year
boarding (pattern not named). 2026. Tuition (published per year) plus boarding charge (published per year).
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Scotch College
Swanbourne, Western Australia
- Research checked
A boys' independent school in Swanbourne, Perth, teaching Pre-Kindergarten to Year 12, with boarding houses for boys in Years 7 to 12.
Boarding
Offered (type not named)
Boarding entry
Boarding for boys in Years 7 to 12.
School
Boys, day places
Curriculum
Not confirmed
Independent · Ages taught: Pre-Kindergarten to Year 12
Annual boarding fee
Fees not confirmed
View profile

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