Cost of boarding school hits $60k in SA in 2024: Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association appeals for increase funding

A rural Aussie family has been forced to make an impossible choice – spend more than $1m on school fees or leave the farm and dad behind. Full cost of boarding revealed.

South Australian boarding schools are charging up to 60k for Year 12. Pictures: Supplied / File

The cost to send a child to boarding school at some of South Australia’s prestigious colleges has hit $60,000 per year, making it unattainable for some isolated families.

Tuition and boarding fees for Year 12 students at Prince Alfred College increased by 5.8 per cent from $57,579 to $60,921 this year – making it SA’s most expensive boarding school.

It was closely followed by Pembroke School which charges $60,321 for combined tuition and boarding, up 6.24 per cent, and St Peter’s College which has fees of $59,790, up 5.9 per cent.

The Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association (ICPA) is calling for greater financial assistance for distance education, with current funding support increasing by CPI.

For the McInnis family, “boarding was never going to be an affordable option” for all five children, especially when drought affected their property near Hawker in 2019.

The McInnis family, Angus, Callie, Tayla, Sharon and Allen, help in the woolshed at Hawker. Picture: Supplied

Instead, the family found it more financially viable for mum Sharon “to have a second home and to relocate” while the youngest children attended Trinity College in Gawler.

“We know it’s not forever. We all miss dad and the farm, but we get back as much as we can and he’s down here whenever he has spare time as well,” Mrs McInnis said.

“But the cost of boarding school for five children over five years each is well over $1 million.

“With what we’re doing at least we have an asset at the end of it, which we can either rent or sell the house and hopefully be in front.”

The ICPA is advocating for a $4000 boost to the federal government’s Assistance for Isolated Children support, which was established to provide 55 per cent of the average boarding fee.

The allowance is increased with CPI each year and is $9960 this year.

ICPA SA president Belinda Hatcher, from Mt Elm station 45 minutes outside of Hawker, said even with funding help the cost of boarding was unattainable for some families.

“We’ve been doing it for nine years and we haven’t been on a holiday, or buy my clothes from Country Road, just so I know that we can afford to give our children the best opportunity because we have no other choice,” the mother of three said.

“I think people often think ‘your kids go to a top 10 school’ but they don’t stop to think of the emotional toll it has on a child and families.

“The reality is for those who live remotely, we have to make the choice of breaking the family up to send our kids to school, but I do think nine out of 10 kids come out of it with a greater deal of life skills than perhaps your everyday student.”

A view from the Hatcher property. Picture: Supplied

The Hatcher's car loaded up for boarding school. Picture: Supplied

The state education allowance, which increased by CPI this year to $5106 per student, helps parents with travel, boarding and other expenses associated with their child’s education.

And while Mrs Hatcher said the allowance had increased in recent years, the extra funds were chewed up quickly with the increased price of petrol and cost of living.

“Yes it’s increased, but if you think about someone driving from Oodnadatta to Adelaide and how much that costs a family, within four trips you’ve already spent that amount,” she said.