Very little research has been conducted in Australia on how the transition to secondary school is perceived by young adolescents. Similarly there is a paucity of literature on the effects of relocation and the concept of homesickness. These issues were explored by comparing day students with boarders in a longitudinal study of 74 students in their first year of secondary and boarding school in a rural remote town in North Queensland. Findings indicated that most of the students perceived that they had adapted well, with emphases on peer interactions and school work. Positive...