Secondary School and Boarding at Toorak College

A prestigious all-girls education near Melbourne

Toorak College is an independent school in Mount Eliza on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula, offering an all-girls Senior School and boarding for students in Years 7 to 12. Founded in 1874, the College combines more than 150 years of heritage with future-focused learning on an 11.5-hectare coastal campus overlooking Port Phillip Bay. International students benefit from small classes, integrated English support, personalised wellbeing and a close-knit residential community, all approximately one hour from central Melbourne.

Academic program and results

The Senior School curriculum is broad and flexible. Students can build pathways across English and English as an Additional Language, General Mathematics, Mathematical Methods and Specialist Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Psychology, Health and Human Development, Physical Education, Chinese, French, Japanese, History, Sociology, Politics, Legal Studies, Business Management, Accounting, Food Studies, Product Design and Technology, visual arts, media, drama, dance and music. Subject availability and combinations vary by year level and should be confirmed before application.

Project Shine connects four areas of development: Academic Growth, Personal Growth, Empower and Thrive. Signature programs include Agile Learning in Years 7 to 10, where students use design thinking, entrepreneurship and ethical perspectives to solve authentic challenges; Growth Mentoring in Years 7 and 8, which develops metacognition, organisation, goal setting and effective study habits; and Aspire in Years 11 and 12, which supports university planning, career exploration and the transition beyond school.

Recent academic results highlight the strength of this preparation: 22% of students achieved an ATAR of 95 or above, 37% achieved 90 or above and 72% achieved 80 or above. Mainstream classes average around 17 students, giving teachers the opportunity to know each learner, track progress and provide targeted support or extension. These results describe a graduating cohort and do not guarantee individual outcomes.

English support for international students

The on-campus English Language Centre helps international students enter Australian secondary education without being separated from everyday school life. Classes typically include approximately four to eight students. Learners can join selected mainstream subjects while continuing targeted vocabulary, academic-English and subject-language preparation, helping them build confidence, friendships and familiarity with the wider curriculum from the beginning.

Boarding at Joan Ansett Hall

Joan Ansett Hall is home to approximately 70 local, rural and international students in Years 7 to 12. Full-time, weekly and casual boarding options are available according to placement and family needs. Boarders receive dedicated residential supervision, chef-prepared meals, structured evening study, academic guidance, weekend activities, transport support for approved co-curricular commitments and access to school facilities seven days a week.

A typical weekday includes breakfast, a short walk to class, the full school day, sport or other activities, dinner, supervised preparation and time to connect with family. Age-appropriate routines support healthy study and sleep habits. Living in this diverse community helps students develop independence, organisation, cross-cultural understanding, confidence and lifelong friendships.

Sport, arts, leadership and wellbeing

Students can choose from more than 60 co-curricular opportunities, including over 27 sports and 20 music groups. Girls Sport Victoria competition and school activities can include athletics, basketball, cross-country, diving, equestrian, golf, hockey, netball, rowing, sailing, snowsports, soccer, softball, surf lifesaving, surfing, swimming, tennis, triathlon, volleyball and water polo.

Creative opportunities span choirs, orchestras, concert and jazz bands, dance, drama, theatre productions, musicals, visual-arts exhibitions and the Toorak Academy of Performing Arts. Clubs and enrichment may include art, books, chess, debating, diversity, sustainability, service and the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award.

Wellbeing is embedded through tutorials, pastoral care, psychologists, nurses, mentoring and the Flourishing reflection tool. Leadership pathways include the Student Representative Council, tutorial and buddy roles, House leadership, prefect positions, public speaking and captaincies across sport, music, drama and clubs.

Campus and location

Mount Eliza offers a calm coastal lifestyle surrounded by bushland, beaches and village amenities while remaining connected to Melbourne. The 11.5-hectare campus combines heritage buildings with contemporary academic, science, technology, arts, sport and boarding facilities. Students can enjoy the Mornington Peninsula's beaches, markets, hiking, galleries, wildlife and outdoor activities, with Mount Eliza and Frankston town centres nearby and central Melbourne approximately one hour away.

International entry and admissions

Applications are assessed individually using recent school reports, passport information, available English-language results and a video interview. Indicative English benchmarks are IELTS 4.0, TOEFL 29-31 or AEAS 45 for Year 7; IELTS 4.5, TOEFL 32-33 or AEAS 50 for Year 8; IELTS 5.0, TOEFL 34-59 or AEAS above 55 for Year 9; and IELTS 5.5, TOEFL 60-93 or AEAS 70 for Year 10. Applicants for other year levels, or students close to these benchmarks, should request an individual assessment. The English Language Centre may provide an appropriate supported pathway depending on the student's profile and available places.

Students under 18 require approved welfare arrangements. Boarding and international places can be limited, so families should plan ahead and confirm the preferred year level and boarding option early. Asia Pathway supports document preparation, English assessment, placement, enrolment and student-visa planning.

International fees in USD

Indicative annual tuition and compulsory Resource & Activity charges are approximately USD 34,236 for Year 7, USD 34,730 for Year 8, USD 38,222 for Year 9, USD 36,778 for Year 10, USD 37,111 for Year 11 and USD 37,051 for Year 12. Fees are normally billed in two instalments. Full-time boarding is approximately USD 29,854 per year, or USD 14,927 per instalment.

Additional compulsory costs may include an annual family capital-development levy of approximately USD 568, Overseas Student Health Cover, the required notebook computer, uniforms and stationery. Application and admission charges are approximately USD 107 and USD 711 respectively. Optional excursions, selected co-curricular activities, private music tuition and certain elective subjects may cost extra. These USD figures are estimates converted from the AUD fee schedule at approximately A$1 = US$0.71; currency movements and fee updates can change the final amount. Request a current written quotation from Asia Pathway before committing.

Sibling tuition discounts may be available when two or more children from the same family are enrolled at the same time. Contact Asia Pathway to check the applicable discount and conditions.

University and career pathways

Career counselling, course-selection guidance, university and TAFE planning, work experience, mentoring, industry immersion and cadetship preparation help students build a realistic and ambitious next step. Graduate destinations include the University of Melbourne, Monash University, the University of Sydney, Australian National University, RMIT, Deakin and Swinburne, alongside international institutions such as Oxford, Cambridge, New York University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Science and biomedicine, health, business and commerce, and design are among the commonly selected fields. These are historical graduate destinations and do not guarantee admission.

Scholarship opportunities

Scholarship pathways may recognise academic achievement, general excellence, arts and humanities, sport, science and technology, or senior-entry potential. Opportunities can include General and Academic Excellence Scholarships, the Christine Friday Arts and Humanities Scholarship, the Margaret Wallace Reid Scholarship for sport, the Swift Science and Technology Scholarship and the Alice Sloan Scholarship. Availability, eligible entry years, assessments and tuition remission can change. Contact Asia Pathway for current scholarship options, boarding availability and personalised application support.