Families

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 Why be a Homestay Host?

  • 1 Homestay Benefits
  • 2 Carer Responsibilities
  • Homestay Benefits

     Cultural Insights

    A homestay is a private home accepting overseas students to live as a part of the family, a homestay host can be an individual, couple or family.

    Being a homestay host provides great insights into other cultures and can be a very rewarding cultural exchange experience with a small financial remuneration. Life-long friendships are often established through the process. It is not a matter of simply renting out a room in your house.

    Students choose to pay for homestay accommodation during their study because it offers them the opportunity to be part of a good family environment. They like to be treated like members of the family.

    Read More
  • Carer Responsibilities

     Student Welfare

    All international students under the age of 18, who are not residing in Australia with a parent, or legal custodian, must have a carer. In most instances the homestay family will also be the carer of the student.

    For more details, please visit our Carer Responsibilities page.

    Read More
Homestay Placements

What is a Homestay?

A homestay is a private home accepting overseas students to live as a part of the family, a homestay host can be an individual, couple or family. Being a homestay host provides great insights into other cultures and can be a very rewarding cultural exchange experience with a small financial remuneration. Life-long friendships are often established through the process. It is not a matter of simply renting out a room in your house. Students choose to pay for homestay accommodation during their study because it offers them the opportunity to be part of a good family environment. They like to be treated like members of the family. For more details, please refer to Standard of Homestay Requirements. To register as a homestay host, please refer to Host Family Registration Procedures.
Carer

When is a Carer required?

All international students under the age of 18, who are not residing in Australia with a parent, or legal custodian, must have a carer. In most instances the homestay family will also be the carer of the student. For more details, please refer to Carer Responsibilities.

 Important Info!

Oz Homestay DEC Certificate

DEC Certificate

Oz Homestay is proud to be a fully certified Homestay Provider for NSW Government Schools and the NSW Department of Education. » View DEC Certificate as a PDF

 Latest News

  • 2020 Special Notice +

    Oz Homestay is continuing to provide support and training during the COVID-19 outbreak. ​We are working to ensure we can continue to deliver high-quality care and relevant information to our students and homestay families, our staff and partner institutions. As of 1st October 2020 we have adopted the following approaches: Read More
  • Host Availability and Emergency Contact Protocol +

    We are continuing to have record breaking numbers of students requiring homestay. Students are also coming to Australia younger and younger. Education institutions are also accepting students more often throughout the year. All of these reasons combined mean that we are constantly looking out for who has rooms available. Please Read More
  • The Dangers of Gossip +

    Homestay is in some ways a unique type of organisation, in that we are a business, but we are dealing with situations that involve the personal lives of both host families and students. Therefore, it is important that situations which may arise are dealt with in professional and discrete ways. Read More
  • Work Permission for High School Students +

    There seems to be an increasing concern from hosts, and also schools, that many students are working, often for 'cash jobs.' The students therefore are working illegally and could face the possibility of having their visas cancelled if caught by the Department of Home Affairs. This is part of an Read More
  • HOMESTAY HOST INSURANCE +

    It is the responsibility of all Oz Homestay approved homestay families, to ensure your home and contents are insured appropriately and that it covers damage caused by, or injuries to, students living in your home. All homestay families should check the details of your cover with your insurance company. Should Read More
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