In a letter outlining what it describes as a "hypocritical and inequitable set of guidelines", the Queensland Isolated Children's Parents' Association has urged Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young to allow all boarding school students to return for the start of term three.
President Tammie Irons said there was growing frustration and anger from rural and remote boarding families at the guidelines being forced upon their students when it was apparent that day students were exempt from the same set of guidelines.
Risk management protocols for the re-opening of boarding schools and school-based residential colleges were released by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee in May, advising on ways to reduce the potential risk of COVID-19 transmission in schools.
As well as being interpreted differently by different education regions, they meant that not all boarding schools had the facilities to fully open their boarding sections back up.
That has brought education disconnection, segregation within families, highlighted a boarding-day scholar divide, and is costing extra in dollars and to already stretched mental resources.
The frustration boiled over at the weekend when state government limits on large public gatherings were ignored and an estimated 30,000 people gathered in Brisbane for the Black Lives Matters rally.
"Until that point, our people got that it was a health issue; they were on board with that," Ms Irons said. "But what happened on Saturday made them so angry."
LNP opposition leader Deb Frecklington described the mass gathering as irresponsible, saying the sacrifices made over the past few months could be for nothing.
"It's just heartbreaking for those that have shut their businesses or lost their jobs," she said.
The letter signed by Ms Irons outlined the hardships being experienced in a variety of boarding family scenarios.
For students who have had to stay home, she said there was isolation, not just in a physical sense, but educationally and socially, from peers and support networks, particularly as extra-curricular activities recommence.
"There is a disconnect educationally as they find themselves disadvantaged in comparison to their classmates, a strain on their mental wellbeing, and disengagement from their social network."
Some families have siblings in different circumstances even though they are at the same school.
One of the most incongruous divisions is when boarding students are able to interact with their cohort during school hours but after 3.30pm that equality and freedom ceases.
Ms Irons said it was an emotional rollercoaster.
"Day students are interacting daily on a much broader scale within the community and are now enjoying the easing of restrictions along with the rest of Queensland," she said.
She said boarding families were distressed with the apparent inconsistencies and the detrimental impact on their children's educational outcomes, as well as their social and emotional wellbeing.
On top of that was the uncertainty as to whether these measures would extend into term three.
"People are asking if they should take out a lease on a second home and give their children an option to attend as day scholars," she said. "It's an extra financial cost and families are getting very frustrated and emotional about the situation as it stands."
Ms Irons said boarding schools had worked tirelessly to implement measures to ensure their facilities were some of the safest in the country, and said that with those in place, all boarding children should be allowed to get back to face-to-face educational instruction.
"As term three approaches, families need to be making arrangements immediately to relieve the stress and emotional turmoil they are currently experiencing.
"With all schools now having an exit strategy in case of a confirmed case, we implore you to make a decision immediately around the return to boarding for our families in term three."
A Queensland Health spokesperson said the challenges facing boarding school families during this unprecedented time were understood.
The person said they appreciated ICPA putting its concerns forward as restrictions continued to ease.
"These matters continue to be worked through with education authorities and we look forward to responding in due course," the person said.