girls boarding school perth

Welcome to Boarding at MLC

Located in the Centenary Building at the heart of our beautiful campus, the MLC Boarding House is a home away from home for girls in Years 6 to 12. We pride ourselves on creating a safe and supportive environment where our Boarders are free to live, learn and grow. With a maximum capacity of 90 people, each girl is truly known in our close-knit Boarding House. The unique bond they share throughout their Boarding adventure creates a sense of sisterhood and friendships that last a lifetime. Girls from across Australia and all corners of the globe come together in our Perth Boarding School, each a valuable part of our College and community.

Meet our MLC Boarding School Team

Our dedicated All Girls’ Boarding School leadership team—comprised of our Director of Boarding, Assistant Director of Boarding and Boarding Coordinator—are joined by Boarding House Assistants, Recreation Officers and Boarding Tutors to ensure our Boarders are seen, valued and heard.

Our Boarding School team have diverse experiences derived from local, regional and international backgrounds. They are selected for their passion, and each bring a wealth of knowledge, practice and skills to our Private Boarding House. During term time, our Boarding School team are available 24/7, with a minimum of two Boarding Assistants on duty overnight to ensure the smooth running of the Boarding House and that our girls’ needs are met.

Our Boarding School Spaces

Our Boarding House in Perth offers a warm, homely atmosphere designed to meet the needs of students at different stages and ages. It is divided into different wings to ensure each age group comfortable and cared for.

Our Boarding School Rooms

Rooms are consistent with Australia Boarding Schools room types, ranging from 2×6 bed dormitories to triple, twin and single rooms. Girls who share rooms are placed with another girl from the same year group. This ensures not only that bedtimes and study needs are met, but that they get to build those all-important connections.

Students from Years 7 to 10 typically share twin rooms, allowing them to develop interpersonal skills, value differences, build community and think and act with increased spatial awareness. We also have one three-bed dormitory and two larger six-bed dormitories for these younger years, enabling them to enjoy a more communal living experience.

Senior students in Years 11 and 12 rotate through our river-view rooms, where they have their own single spaces, offering privacy and a quiet environment for study and relaxation. These room arrangements provide the ideal balance between independence and connection.

Our Boarding School Facilities

All rooms in our Boarding School for girls have wireless connectivity, reverse-cycle air conditioning and individual study areas. Each wing also enjoys a shared common room with fully equipped kitchen facilities, comfortable lounge areas and further amenities. Our Boarding House also hosts a gym, laundry rooms and study areas. Boarders also have access to several school facilities after hours and on weekends. These facilities include the Library, IT Centre, Music Rooms, Gymnasium, Pool and Tennis Courts.

Our Boarding School Parent’s Retreat

Our Boarding House also includes a self-contained hotel-style room for our parents to enjoy when they visit Perth. Parents can request use of this accommodation to stay for a night or two during the school term, subject to availability. For further convenience, we welcome guests in the Parent Retreat to join their daughter in the Dining Hall for meals during their stay.

Our Boarding School Wellbeing Program

At MLC, the health and wellbeing of each girl is our top priority. Our Wellbeing Programs are thoughtfully designed to complement the Day School curriculum, addressing the unique social, emotional and academic needs of Boarding life. These programs empower students to build resilience, foster positive relationships, and thrive both personally and academically.

The Boarding team collaborates closely with the MLC Health Centre and Day School staff to support each girl’s health and specific medical needs. For routine appointments, such as visits to medical professionals, we offer transportation with a staff member who can accompany our girls.

Boarding Sisters

No one knows you better than your peers. That is why we created our Boarding Sisters Peer Support Leader program, which pairs our Year 7 Boarders with one or more of our older girls in the Boarding House. The role of the Boarding Sisters is for our older girls to enjoy a leadership role as a mentor, which will help in their independence and transition to post-schooling. The program also assists the newer members of our Boarding family to transition into their new life at the College and through their formative years in MLC Boarding by providing an added layer of support and friendship.

Supporting Academic Growth in our Boarding School

Our Boarding School employs an Academic Mentor whose role is to liaise with the teaching staff and ensure continuity of learning across zones. They are supported in their role by Tutors, who provide support to all Boarders and oversee prep (homework). Our Prep Program takes place in the Walter Shepherd Resource Centre each Sunday to Thursday evening. Prep is important for establishing rules and routines early. Additionally, insights and experiences from our Tutors and Academic Mentor benefits our Years 12s when applying for university and other pathways.

Our Boarding School Recreation Program

Recreation enriches the Perth Boarding Schools experience and plays a key role in fostering personal development, social connections and wellbeing. From fun, casual events to more structured outings, our Recreation Program is curated to provide a mix of engaging activities designed to offer our girls opportunities to explore their interests, develop new skills and enjoy time with their peers.

We are also active participants in Boarding School Western Australia recreation events. Whether it be a dinner swap, quiz night or pickleball, MLC are actively involved in joining with other Perth-based Boarding communities to host and attend events. Not only does this ensure girls meet with other Boarders to share their experiences, but it also broadens their social networks here in Perth.

A highlight of our Recreation Program is our Boarder’s Carnival Weekend at the beginning of each school years. This is the perfect chance to meet other Boarders and get to know any new Boarding sisters within our community. Over the course of the weekend, we host a range of fun activities including a Slip’n’Slide on the Great Court, Silent Disco and more.

Urban Boarding

We currently offer limited places for MLC Day students to join our community as Urban Boarders. Girls in Years 6 to 12 may apply to join us for a 21-night minimum. Due to our limited capacity, we must assess availability up to one term in advance for Urban Boarding. For Urban Boarding fees, please refer to our 2025 Fees and Charges.

Communication in the MLC Boarding School

We understand what a huge decision it is for parents to send their daughters to Boarding School in Perth. Our aim is to work together with parents to ensure we build a strong relationship that benefits the girls’ best interests. Our team are on a first name basis with all our Boarders’ guardians, with regular and open communication encouraged.

Visitors are always welcome in our Boarding House. Girls are allowed to check out with approved hosts, enabling them to spend time with their Day School friends and family in Perth. In keeping with our duty of care practices, the Boarding House uses an electronic leave management system, Reach, which allows parents to receive immediate and up-to-date information regarding their daughter’s whereabouts and planned activities. In sharing knowledge closely between parents, guardians, Day School and Boarding staff and girls, we can together support successful outcomes for our Boarders.

Before Joining our Perth Boarding School

Before your daughter’s exciting adventure at MLC begins, we want to get to know her and, in turn, we want her to get to know us. In Term 3, a Transition Day is held for all new Boarders and Day girls. In Term 4, incoming Boarders get the opportunity to spend a night in our Boarding House to orientate themselves and meet some of our community.

Each of our Boarders will also be able to complete a Boarding Ready Online Interactive program, where they meet each other and chat with our Director and Assistant Director of Boarding. They will also get the chance to interact with the rest of our team and meet their ‘Big Sister’ who has been in their shoes and will help with their transition to our Boarding School in Perth. At the commencement of the school year, new Boarders arrive ahead of our returnees, allowing some extra time to settle in.

To experience our dynamic all-girls’ boarding school in Perth, prospective Boarding students are also invited to take part in the MLC Girl for a Day program. This initiative allows girls to experience a normal school day at MLC. Afterwards, girls and their parents can join us for a meal and prospective Boarders can request to spend a night in the Boarding House, where they will be assigned a student ‘buddy’ and can take part in all aspects of Boarding life.

Join us in the Regions

We always look forward to connecting with our past, present and future Boarding families located in the regions. Attending regular Field Days is the perfect opportunity to meet members of our wonderful MLC team, get to know us a little bit better, and share how girls can learn and grow in our supportive and nurturing Perth Boarding School community. See the details for some of our upcoming trips below:

Event	Date	RSVP
Karratha Sundowner	1 August 2025	Click here
Karratha FeNaClNG Festival	2 & 3 August 2025	N/A

Contact MLC