Amanda Ferrari says all are welcome at the expo. Photo: Supplied.
Families weighing up boarding school options for their children will have the chance to compare dozens of schools without leaving the Riverina, with a major expo returning to Wagga later this month.
The 2026 Wagga Wagga Boarding Schools Expo is expected to draw families from across the Riverina, Monaro, South West Slopes, the Snowy Mountains and northern Victoria, with organisers describing it as one of the country’s biggest regional boarding school gatherings.
Held at Bolton Park Stadium on 29 and 30 May, the free event will bring together 40 schools from NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and the ACT, ranging from city campuses and regional colleges to agricultural schools offering specialist pathways.
A strong local presence is also expected, with schools including Mount Erin Boarding House in Wagga, St Francis de Sales in Leeton, Yanco Agricultural High School, Red Bend Catholic College in Forbes, Snowy Mountains Grammar School and Scots College Albury taking part.
St Francis de Sales in Leeton will be represented at the expo. Photo: Region.
The expo is organised by The Boarding School Collective, which says the event is aimed at a much broader audience than traditional farming families.
“Wagga is a unique city because it’s home to a major army base, a university, and industries that attract people from all over the country,” director Amanda Ferrari said.
“We see Defence Force families whose children turn to boarding because postings make a stable local schooling option difficult. We see families in agriculture and agribusiness, families new to the region, and families who’ve been on the land for generations, who are all navigating the same question: what’s the best secondary education pathway for my child?
“This expo is for all of them. It’s free, it’s open to everyone, and you don’t need to have made any decisions yet. Just come and have the conversation.”
The Boarding School Collective has been running expos since 2005, beginning with a Dubbo event that featured 15 schools and 60 families. The organisation says its events have since connected more than 17,000 students with boarding schools and supported 7500 families through the decision-making process.
Beyond meeting school representatives, families attending the Wagga event will receive gift bags and can enter the School of the Expo Award competition, with one family to receive a $10,000 Boarding School Gift.
Organisers also point families towards online resources covering scholarships, bursaries, government allowances and practical boarding advice, alongside a weekly podcast about boarding life and the challenges students can face adjusting to it.
The Wagga Wagga Boarding Schools Expo will run from 12:30 to 6 pm on Friday 29 May and 9:30 am to 2:30 pm on Saturday 30 May at Bolton Park Stadium. Entry is free.
