Schapelle Corby will return to Australia 'a changed woman'

A family friend of Schapelle Corby has revealed she has "become very spiritual" since she left Australia, and will return to the Gold Coast a different person when she's deported from Indonesia next month.

Corby, from Queensland, was just 27 in 2005 when she was convicted of smuggling 4.2kg of marijuana in to Bali in her boogie board bag.

She was sentenced to 20 years in Kerobokan Prison, which was later reduced to 15 after a successful clemency request.

After serving nine years behind bars, she was released on parole in February 2014 and has been living in Kuta under strict court terms. Her parole will expire on May 27th, and she will be deported back to Australia.

The friend told the Gold Coast Bulletin the Corby's are planning a homecoming celebration for the 39-year-old, but it will be small and very low-key.

"She’s been through a hell of a lot and they just want to be left alone", the paper's source said.

"Whatever the family do will be very private and they just want to let the dust settle. It’s taken a lot out of her."

Relatives and old friends are also preparing to welcome home a different person to the carefree twenty-something tourist they farewelled 12 years ago.

The former beauty therapy student apparently "became very spiritual" to cope with her time in Bali's infamous 'Hotel K'.

"She’s not the same person she went in as", the friend added.

Yesterday, Corby's parole officer denied reports she was dating a local man and said her client just "wants to go home".