Data and information for a study of living away from home (LAFH) facilities for isolated students in Queensland were obtained from surveys of boarding schools and student hostels; a number of boarding schools and student hostels were visited and discussions were also held with isolated parents and student borders. While structural demographic changes in rural areas of Queensland have contributed to the underutilization of boarding facilities, the fact that so many isolated children live away from home indicates that these families have a strong commitment to education. In many cases, however, children must endure not only the problems of separation from their families, but also the physical discomfort of poor quality facilities and the emotional upheavals of regimentation. Improvements in living standards of children LAFH and better standards of pastoral care are urgently needed. There is a continuing need to service the educational requirements of these families, and LAFH facilities have an on-going vital role to play. If the depreciation of boarding facilities is allowed to continue, then parents will seek an alternative source of schooling close to home. Providing such schooling would then probably lie with the State government and would be very expensive indeed. (BRR)