Friends School Hobart (FSH) Visit May 2026

However, FSH was keen to maintain its strong association with Quakers more broadly across Australia and this led to the formation of the QVC. QVC is composed of individual Friends representing each of the Australian Regional Meetings, Esther Hill, the school principal, and individual Friends who are also Board Members. FSH opened in 1887 and has progressively developed over time until it has become a significant contributor to educational opportunities for children from the start of Early Education to Year 12. Students are drawn not only from Hobart but also across Australia together with international students who seek the opportunity to study in Australia and to Board near the school in Walker House. There are two principal campuses that compose the school together with other sporting, health and accommodation facilities some of which are available for use by all local citizens.

My experience in reaching the school, located at the southern part of Tasmania, itself an island, and so an overnight ferry ride away from mainland Australia indicates that transport links are an important consideration. In my case, representing Canberra Regional Quakers, I was forced not only to use roads built round a mountain range but also of course somehow to bridge the extended sea crossing while minimising my carbon footprint to the greatest extent possible. Having ruled out the practical viability of sailing on a yacht from coastal NSW to Hobart and return I then, with the aid of local Friends; calculated the net carbon emissions of alternative modes of transport. Happily, for me, a recently established turbo prop airline service Canberra to Hobart direct has been established and I was able to use this to fly directly to Hobart. However, this did not remove the necessity in finding transport to FSH, from the airport, which is located two kilometres north of the central city of Hobart.

This proved my opportunity to learn about Tasmanian buses many of which are now fully electric and, at the time of my visit at least, were free to all at least in the metro area. For me it was also an interesting opportunity to meet and talk to people from a wide range of social and cultural backgrounds in the wider Hobart community.

The bus was packed with people riding in every available space and reflecting the diversity of the experiences of life. But all were friendly and ready to guide me to either Friends School or Friends Health and Fitness depending on which they knew. Some were locally born but some had moved recently to Tasmania seeking refuge from the heat of northern Australia or from overseas.

After some false starts I was able to arrive to a very friendly reception at the Argyle Motor Lodge, now owned and operated by FSH, and a means not only of accommodating visitors to the school but offering accommodation to the general public, which is increasingly in short supply in Hobart.

The following day commenced early with Meeting for Worship followed by a welcome from our Friend Esther Hill, School Principal and from Megan Eddington, Director of Teaching and Learning. Also, of course an opportunity for each of us to meet each other. That proved to be a gentle introduction for me at least who had not realised that FSH is now composed of over 1500 people (staff and students). The wellbeing of Staff and Students is evidently an important point of focus and Stephen Purse (Director of Wellbeing) talked to us about the focus of his new role in the school. Practices such as training on Compassionate Systems, attended already by a number of staff, and the use of Restorative Practices within the school further support this objective but also of course in many other ways.

Students have contributed strongly to the development of the current QVC School theme: “Listen in, Lean in, as the Way Opens”. Examples in the classroom of the “listen in” part of the theme encourages students to cultivate attentiveness, building moments of pause and reflection into lessons before discussion or debate. For example, helping students notice their own thinking asking themselves: what assumptions am I bringing, what voices have I not yet heard?

In the “leaning in” part of the theme tends to student courage and participation for example, engaging respectfully in difficult conversations or taking intellectual risks. As the way opens allows for inquiry-based learning and encouraging students to remain open to unexpected pathways and future opportunities.

My impression was that while the school maintains high academic standards it is not the primary centre of the school experience or what it offers to students. Rather, the staff and students focus is on support and development of the whole person. That focus has also been made explicit by staff and students in their selection of the school’s current theme. More broadly and across the wider Australian Community I felt that FSH has a wider than normal assumed concern. I have heard it said that every school has something special to offer. For me that special something is the focus on and respect for the other. The other person, or in general the other possibility that a life lived well might offer.

Through its long history FSH has operated a system of donations, bursaries and scholarships that allow application from students of all social backgrounds; who might also live in regional and rural situations as well as in the well-endowed urban centres of Australia.

What FSH offers I feel is an education that, while it is not unique, is quite special and deeply valued by all who work or study within the school community.

David Liversidge
Canberra Regional Quakers