Above: 2021 boarding captains and principal Ian Margetts from Mount St Bernard College, Herberton in the Diocese of Cairns 

On 17 September, the federal government announced the National Cabinet had agreed to the National Code for Boarding School Students.

The code provides state and territory governments with principles to develop COVID-safe travel arrangements to ensure boarding students and their families can navigate border restrictions and travel during school terms.

Particular consideration will be given to the complexities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander boarding students and the needs of their communities.

National Catholic Education executive director Jacinta Collins said this is long-awaited, good news for students and their families. 

"The code supports the importance of students’ ability to travel to and from their schools which will not only allow face to face learning to continue, it will enable students to return home as necessary.

"Catholic education across Australia looks forward to states and territories implementing the national code to assist in giving families the confidence to continue to access boarding school education for their children," she said.

Queensland Catholic Education Commission executive director Dr Lee-Anne Perry AM said the national code has given boarding schools some essential guiding principles to help the school communities plan for the movement of students to and from their homes.

"We have a number of boarding schools in Queensland attended by students from northern parts of New South Wales, the Northern Territory and even some from Victoria," Lee-Anne said.

"We were pleased to be consulted by Minister Bridget McKenzie in the formation of the code.

"The national code supports, and builds on, the work already undertaken in Queensland to simplify the arrangements for our interstate boarding students in these complex times," she said. 

Minister for Regionalisation, Regional Communications and Regional Education Senator Bridget McKenzie said the decision is a win for common-sense.

"The national code takes a clear, compassionate and practical approach to supporting the travel needs of boarding school students," she said in a release. 

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