Hosting & Community Support

The Cathedral School is delighted to welcome a number of international boarding students to our school. As they settle into life in Townsville, we invite our school community to extend a warm welcome and support them where possible.

Unlike other students, our international students arrive without family or friends nearby and often don’t know anyone in Townsville before they arrive. Everything is new and different including our way of life, language, weather, culture, food…! This is where our incredible school community can make a real difference, offering friendship, guidance, and enriching experiences.

If you have the time and willingness to support our international students, we would love to hear from you!

Holiday Homestay

The Cathedral School Boarding Dormitories close during the term breaks requiring Boarding students to return home, or arrange alternative accommodation. Holiday Homestay may be arranged for students during Easter & September school holidays if the student is not returning home. Holiday Homestay host families may be based locally in Townsville or with boarding families across the state, offering International Students a wide range of unique experiences.

The Cathedral School selects homestay families according to our Holiday Homestay Policy. In brief, such families must:
• have suitable space to accommodate the student
• have current Blue Cards (Suitability for Working with Children)
• undertake to provide supervision ‘equivalent to that of a reasonable parent’

A signed agreement between the student’s parent/guardian and homestay provider will be obtained before any homestay placement can proceed. Holiday Homestay families will be responsible for providing an appropriate home environment for the student, including a private room and quiet study area, and provide the student with a minimum of three meals a day.

The School retains responsibility for accommodation and welfare of international students, and will oversee homestay arrangements and conduct periodic checks, according to the homestay policy.

Holiday Homestay Application forms are below. Costs are detailed in the International Student Fee Schedule.

Holiday Homestay Application Forms

Ways You Can Help:

Homestay During School Holidays – When the boarding dorms close for the holidays, some students remain in Townsville. Could you open your home to a student for part or all of the break? Hosting simply means welcoming them as part of your family—providing a comfortable room and meals. In the past, students have cherished experiences like visiting rural properties or traveling with families to explore Australia.

To express your interest, please contact our Registrar: registrar@cathedral.qld.edu.au or call (07) 4722 2000.

Supervised Driving – Many of our international students are of age to hold a learner’s permit but struggle to accumulate their required 100 driving hours without family support. If you’re able to supervise a student for an hour of driving on the weekend, this would be a huge help.

Home Visits & Social Outings – A home-cooked meal, a weekend visit, or an invitation to a family gathering (like a birthday or barbecue) can mean the world to an international student. This is a great way for them to experience Australian family life, improve their English, and build confidence in a warm and friendly environment.

To express interest as a weekend Boarding Host, please contact boarding@cathedral.qld.edu.au

Please note that some activities require a valid Blue Card.

Helpful Links

How to apply for a Blue Card

Term Dates

I am doing very well at The Cathedral School, and am being well looked after. The school is great fun and the first six weeks have flown by. My host family is super nice and we have already done a lot together. I feel very much at home here in Australia. And I could easily get used to the sea in front of the house! There are very nice people at school and I’ve already made a group of friends. They are all great and fun. Townsville is fantastic because it has beautiful weather, a great beach, delicious restaurants, and much more.

Lilian W.
International Student from Switzerland

Boarders’ Travel Day

Boarders’ Travel Day occurs eight times yearly, on the day before and after each term. This day ensures that Boarding and International students arrive or depart on the same day, allowing time for transfer to or from their chosen accommodation.

Depending on flight availability, students travelling through Townsville Airport should book their flights in advance and schedule them for mid-morning on Boarders’ Travel Day. The school offers complimentary airport-to-campus transfers for students who send their travel itineraries in advance.

Early or late arrivals and departures are not permitted.

For international arrivals and departures, Brisbane Airport is recommended as the transfer destination in Australia. A direct flight from Brisbane to Townsville takes approximately two hours.

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