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Australian Boarding Schools Association

Featuring Industry Insights through Interviews, Boarding Journeys, Highlights, How Boarding has changed over the years, what the future of Boarding looks like, Boarding Stories and so much more!

  1. Jul 10 ·  Video

    Will Mercer - Assistant Director of Boarding - Prince Alfred College, Adelaide

    The Visit Stuart returns to Prince Alfred College (PAC) in Adelaide — a school he last visited in 2019 when the boarding house had just opened. The episode combines a campus walkthrough with a sit-down interview with Will Mercer. Campus & Facilities The tour covers an impressive set of facilities: a 25-metre pool, multiple basketball courts, a gym, a brand-new golf simulator, rowing equipment, and a main oval reportedly rivalled only by Adelaide Oval. The boarding house itself is a five-storey, 150-bed building with 13 wings — more hostel than traditional boarding house — featuring kitchenettes, study rooms, ice baths, a coffee machine, and even a resident chicken coop. Will Mercer's Journey Will boarded at Churchie in Brisbane during high school, went on to a career in elite beach and indoor volleyball (including the world tour), had a brief stint at the Royal Military College, and eventually found his way into teaching in 2017. He returned to Churchie as an English teacher and housemaster before landing the Deputy Director role at PAC in 2022. Running the Boarding House Will overhauled PAC's academic support model — restructuring homework into two focused one-hour blocks around dinner, and introducing small-group tutoring through a program called A-Team, initially for Year 10s and later expanded to Years 11 and 12. He also introduced graduated technology restrictions (device lockboxes for younger students, more autonomy for older ones) and year-level transitions designed to build independence. Challenges Two main pressures: enrolment — rising costs are squeezing rural and farming families, with more scholarship applications coming in; and wellbeing — cohorts whose middle schooling was disrupted by COVID show gaps in resilience and social skills that require ongoing support. Life in Adelaide Will previously lived in Adelaide as a beach volleyball player, so the city wasn't unfamiliar. He and his family enjoy cycling, the beaches, and the hills — and were expecting their third child imminently at the time of filming.

  2. 11/27/2025

    Annalese Smith, Deputy Head of Boarding, Snowy Mountains Grammar School

    Join us this week as we chat with Deputy Head of Boarding from Snowy Mountains Grammar School, Annalese Smith.

  3. 11/14/2025

    Phil Noble, Director of Boarding, Prince Alfred College

    Join us this week as we chat with Director of Boarding from Prince Alfred College, Phil Noble.

  4. 10/10/2025

    Matt Thomas, Assistant Director of Boarding, Scotch College Adelaide

    Join us this week as we chat with Assistant Director of Boarding at Scotch College in Adelaide, Matt Thomas.

  5. 09/25/2025

    Dan Fox, Head of Boarding, Townsville Grammar School

    Join us this week as we chat with Head of Boarding at Townsville Grammar School, Dan Fox.

  6. 05/29/2025

    Simon Johnston, Assistant Head (Boarding), Dulwich International High School Suzhou

    Join us this week as we chat with Assistant Head (Boarding) from Dulwich International High School Suzhou, Simon Johnston.

  7. 04/28/2025

    Tom Giles, Head of Boarding, Wesley College

    Join us this week as we chat with Head of Boarding from Wesley College in Victoria, Tom Giles.

  8. 04/10/2025

    Tim Sedgwick, Assistant Director of Boarding, Saint Ignatius' College, Riverview

    Join us this week as we chat with Assistant Director of Boarding at Saint Ignatius' College, Riverview, Tim Sedgwick.

See All (144)

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Featuring Industry Insights through Interviews, Boarding Journeys, Highlights, How Boarding has changed over the years, what the future of Boarding looks like, Boarding Stories and so much more!

Information

  • Creator
    Australian Boarding Schools Association
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    144
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 On Duty
  • Show Website
    On Duty