Boarding Life

Room Swaps at Karrawood: More Than Just a Move

This week with Loreto Boarding House, known as Karrawood House, there’s been a lively buzz in the air, and the occasional thud of a suitcase being dragged across the floor, as our Boarders undertake their regular room change. This is a tradition we embrace at the end of each term (with the exception of our Year 12 students, who remain in their settled spaces for continuity during their final year).

While it might seem like a logistical exercise, our room swaps are so much more than a reshuffle. They’re an opportunity for growth, connection, and a gentle nudge out of the comfort zone. By regularly sharing rooms with different peers, the girls are encouraged to form new friendships, strengthen existing ones, and broaden their social circles.

With Karrawood’s diverse mix of Indigenous, international, and regional students, each room swap becomes a chance to learn about different cultures, backgrounds, and ways of life, building empathy and understanding that will serve our students far beyond their time here.

There are other benefits too. Each move is a great excuse for a deep clean and a fresh start. The girls are prompted to take a critical look at their belongings, decluttering what’s no longer needed and creating more peaceful, organised environments. It’s amazing what a tidy space can do for a busy mind.

Now, I won’t lie—coordinating these swaps can feel a bit like negotiating an international peace treaty (and yes, it definitely leans into the “strategic” part of my title!). Balancing friendship groups, sleep habits, and personalities takes some care. Naturally, some girls are more thrilled than others with their new arrangements, but this too is part of the learning. Living alongside someone you may not be “besties” with is a valuable life skill, and one that builds resilience, compromise, and a deeper appreciation for others. 

At the time of writing, the Term Two flurry of moving is almost over. Drawers re-filled, and arms emptied of clothes and keepsakes proudly displayed on their new shelves. The overall feeling? Excitement, motivation, and the fresh energy that comes with change.

Kudos to our girls for embracing this tradition with open hearts, and for continuing to lean into all the rich opportunities that boarding life brings.

Jane Grech

Senior Director of Boarding and Strategic Projects