Letters From Home

Amanda Ferrari
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Welcome to Letters from Home, a podcast dedicated to Australian boarding families. Hosted by Amanda Ferrari, the show explores all aspects of boarding life - from packing for the first time to life as a boarder & beyond. Amanda interviews graduates who share how boarding shaped their lives, with families about their journey to and through boarding school, speaks with schools about their unique programs, & hosts an annual "Nailing Homesickness" miniseries to help new boarders. Our podcast is essential listening for boarding families and staff, we welcome your feedback, reviews, & ratings.

  1. 49m ago

    She Wasn't Looking for a Rural Life... Until She Found Her Purpose

    What happens when a young woman from the Gold Coast discovers her purpose in the heart of rural Australia? In this episode of Letters from Home, Amanda Ferrari sits down with teacher, ICPA advocate and researcher Hannah Calcino, whose journey from city life to Winton has been shaped by one unwavering belief - that every child deserves equitable access to education, regardless of where they live. Together they discuss: Growing up on the Gold Coast before unexpectedly falling in love with rural Australia.Life as a governess and the lifelong relationships formed with one remote family.Supporting rural students through the transition to boarding school.Hannah's Masters research into the social and emotional experiences of rural boarders.Why belonging is one of the strongest predictors of a successful boarding transition.The extraordinary commitment of rural teachers and communities.The volunteer advocacy of ICPA Australia and why it continues to make such a difference for geographically isolated families. Useful Links • Queensland ICPA: https://qld.icpa.com.au/ • The Boarding School Collective Mount Isa Expo: https://boardingschoolco.com.au/events/ • The Boarding School Collective: https://boardingschoolco.com.au/

    She Wasn't Looking for a Rural Life... Until She Found Her Purpose

  2. Jul 28

    One Year That Changed Everything

    Kate Brow only spent one year boarding at school, but the lessons she learned during that experience continue to influence her life today. In this episode of Letters from Home, Kate shares how a unique boarding-style year helped build confidence, resilience and lifelong friendships before leading her on an unexpected journey from Geelong to life on a family farm in the Snowy Mountains. Kate also speaks candidly about the challenges she faced as a new mother in rural Australia, her involvement with the Gidget Foundation, and how finding connection through Motherland Village ultimately led her to become the program's manager. This is a conversation about belonging, friendship, motherhood, mental health and the power of community. In This Episode A unique Year 9 boarding experience that changed Kate's perspectiveBuilding resilience through challengeThe friendships that endure long after schoolFalling in love with life on the landMotherhood and isolation in rural AustraliaThe Gidget Foundation and supporting maternal mental healthHow Motherland Village is connecting rural mothers across AustraliaWhy connection matters more than everLinks Motherland Australia: Motherland Australia Motherland Village Program: Motherland Village Kate Brow Instagram: @k8brow The Gidget Foundation: Gidget Foundation Australia

    One Year That Changed Everything

  3. Jul 21

    When Choosing Isn't Easy: A Rural Principal Reflects on the Freedom to Choose

    Can a rural school principal believe deeply in country education while also choosing boarding school for his own children? This week, Amanda sits down with Brett Wilkie, principal of a small rural primary school in Western Australia, to explore one of the most complex conversations facing rural Australia. As both an educator and a parent, Brett shares the emotional reality of weighing up educational opportunities, community commitment and family sacrifice. Together they discuss teacher shortages, access to specialist services, the pressure many families feel to justify their choices and why boarding school should never be viewed as disloyalty to a rural community. This is not a conversation about public versus private education. It's a conversation about access, equity and the freedom for every family to choose the pathway that's right for their child. In this episode • Why two passionate rural educators are considering boarding school for their own children. • The emotional burden of choosing differently in a small community. • Teacher shortages and the realities facing regional schools. • Why access—not loyalty—is at the heart of many educational decisions. • How boarding school can help families remain living and contributing to rural Australia. Further Reading Read Amanda's article: Are Rural Families Allowed to Choose? - The Boarding School Collective (The original Mamamia article that sparked this conversation is linked at the end of Amanda's article.) Connect Follow The Boarding School Collective for resources, events and conversations supporting rural, regional and remote families considering boarding school.

    When Choosing Isn't Easy: A Rural Principal Reflects on the Freedom to Choose

  4. Jul 15

    The Country Girl Who Had a Crack

    Growing up in the small Queensland community of Condamine, Maddie Morgan always knew boarding school would be part of her story. What she didn't know was how profoundly those years would shape her future. Today Maddie is an agribusiness lawyer specialising in succession planning, estate planning and tax structuring. She works closely with farming families across Australia and is passionate about helping agricultural businesses navigate important transitions. She's also the co-founder of Women in Ag, a thriving network connecting, supporting and inspiring women throughout the agricultural sector. In this episode Amanda and Maddie discuss: • Growing up in a tiny rural community • The transition from a one-teacher primary school to boarding school • Independence, discipline and confidence • Lifelong friendships formed through boarding • University and career pathways • Agribusiness law and succession planning • Why country kids often return home • The story behind Women in Ag • Advice for young rural women building their futures Connect with Maddie Hamilton Locke (Agribusiness Team) Hamilton Locke Women in Ag Instagram @womeninag.au Follow Letters from Home Hosted by Amanda Ferrari and proudly produced by The Boarding School Collective, supporting rural, regional and remote families navigating boarding school and educational opportunities across Australia.

    The Country Girl Who Had a Crack

  5. Jul 7

    When Paradise Isn’t Enough

    We'reWatching You: A Coastal Family's Boarding School Journey When Katie and Dan Toney left careers in television journalism to run a holiday park in the tiny coastal community of Seal Rocks, boarding school wasn't part of the plan. In fact, it wasn't even on their radar. But as their children approached high school, long daily bus journeys, limited local options and a growing realisation that their children needed more than what was available locally forced them to ask some difficult questions. In this episode of Letters from Home, Katie shares how a series of conversations changed everything. From holidaymakers planting the first seeds of possibility to spending time west of the Great Dividing Range where boarding school was simply part of everyday life, Katie's story highlights the power of keeping an open mind and exploringopportunities you never imagined for your family. This conversation explores perceptions of boarding school, the realities of regional education, the emotional challenges of making big parenting decisions and the ripple effect one family can have on an entire community. In this episode we discuss: •          Why living on the coast doesn't always mean easy access to education •          The four-hour daily bus commute that prompted a rethink •          Challenging perceptions around who boarding school is for •          Finding the confidence to ask questions and explore options •          The role conversations play in changing family decisions •          Why boarding school allowed their family to stay living in the community they love •          Watching children find their people, opportunities and confidence

    When Paradise Isn’t Enough

  6. Jul 1

    "You Just Make It Work" - One Mum's Journey Through Loss, Boarding School and Bush Resilience

    You Just Make It Work - OneMum's Journey Through Loss, Boarding School and Bush Resilience What happens when the life you planned changesin an instant? For Sophie Elliott, the answer has been onestep at a time. Born and raised on a cattle station outsideWinton, Sophie grew up learning through the School of Distance Education beforeheading away to boarding school herself. Years later, she found herselfteaching her own children through distance education while living remotely withher young family. Then tragedy struck. When her daughter Peggy was just three yearsold and her son Kip only fifteen months, Sophie's partner died suddenly,leaving her to navigate life, motherhood and the future on her own. In this heartfelt conversation, Sophie reflectson rebuilding life in Winton, the challenges of educating children remotely,and the boarding school journey she is now experiencing as a parent. Together, Amanda and Sophie explore: •          Growingup on a remote cattle station and learning through School of the Air •          Therealities of being both mum and teacher in distance education •          Howrural education has changed over the past two decades •          Thegrief of sending children away to boarding school •          Whycommunity matters when life takes an unexpected turn •          Thefinancial realities of boarding school for rural families •          Whatcommunities lose when families are forced to relocate for education •    Whyconfidence, independence and opportunity matter just as much as academicsuccess   Sophie's reflections on the future of ruralcommunities are particularly powerful. She shares why financial support forboarding school can help families remain living and working in regionalAustralia, strengthening the towns and industries that depend on them. This is a conversation about resilience,motherhood, opportunity and the enduring belief that sometimes the hardestchoices are also the most worthwhile. If you've ever wondered whether boarding schoolis worth the sacrifice, Sophie's story offers a deeply personal perspectivefrom someone who has lived both sides of the journey. Listen now on Letters from Home.

    "You Just Make It Work" - One Mum's Journey Through Loss, Boarding School and Bush Resilience

  7. Jun 24

    What My Daughter Never Told Me About Boarding School Part 2

    In Part Two, Amanda and Annabel continue their conversation, exploring academic struggles, learning support, friendships, confidence and the lessons boarding school taught that continue to shape Annabel's life today. Now a paediatric occupational therapist and business owner, Annabel shares practical advice for parents and new boarders, along with insights into how children process change, uncertainty and big emotions. A must-listen for families preparing for boarding school or supporting a child through those early years. Follow Annabel:Instagram: @theotcollective_tamworth

    What My Daughter Never Told Me About Boarding School Part 2

  8. Jun 17

    What It Really Feels Like to Leave Home at 12 - The Boarding School Conversation We Never Had - An honest conversation with my daughter Annabel Ferrari.

    Over the years I've interviewed hundreds of parents, educators, boarding staff and former boarders. I've spent countless hours talking about homesickness, transition, resilience and what it means to send your child away from home. But today I'm sitting down with someone whose story I've never really explored. My daughter, Annabel. Now that sounds a bit ridiculous when you say it out loud. After all, Annabel is twenty-nine years old. She's a paediatric occupational therapist, she runs her own business, she's about to get married and we've shared a lifetime of conversations. And yet, as I prepared for this interview, I realised there are some conversations we've never actually had. We've never really talked about what boarding school felt like from her side. We've never talked about the uncertainty leading up to it. We've never talked about the fact that my mother was dying in the year before she left home. We've never talked about my last-minute decision to change schools. We've never talked about what she was feeling while I was so busy managing my own grief, my own fears and my own determination to somehow get everybody through. As parents, we often carry a version of these stories. We remember the drop-off. The tears. The phone calls. The holidays. The milestones. But what I've learned over the years is that our children often carry a completely different version of the same story. So today, we're going back. Back to twelve-year-old Annabel. A shy little country girl from Trangie who was excited to go to boarding school, terrified to leave home and about to face one of the biggest transitions of her life. And if you're a parent preparing to send a child away, if you're in the thick of it right now, or if you're like me and occasionally find yourself looking back wondering whether you got it right, I think you'll find something in this conversation. Because what unfolds over the next hour isn't just Annabel's story. It's the story of what happens when a mother and daughter sit down eighteen years later and compare memories. And some of what we discovered surprised both of us. This is Part One of my conversation with my daughter, Annabel.

    What It Really Feels Like to Leave Home at 12 - The Boarding School Conversation We Never Had - An honest conversation with my daughter Annabel Ferrari.
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About

Welcome to Letters from Home, a podcast dedicated to Australian boarding families. Hosted by Amanda Ferrari, the show explores all aspects of boarding life - from packing for the first time to life as a boarder & beyond. Amanda interviews graduates who share how boarding shaped their lives, with families about their journey to and through boarding school, speaks with schools about their unique programs, & hosts an annual "Nailing Homesickness" miniseries to help new boarders. Our podcast is essential listening for boarding families and staff, we welcome your feedback, reviews, & ratings.

Information

  • Creator
    Amanda Ferrari
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    129
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Amanda Ferrari
  • Show Website
    Letters From Home

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