Our host families must provide a comfortable living environment for the student in a single room (or shared room if available and requested) with wardrobe, desk and study lamp as a minimum standard.

Meals must be provided for breakfast and dinner 7 days per week and light lunches on Saturday and Sunday. It is advisable to have a supply of instant noodles on hand for students to make their own snacks between meals and fruit. It is recommended that rice be served with meals several times per week. Please indicate to the student what they can do and can’t in the kitchen.

We ask the student to assist in light duties, particularly assisting at meal times e.g. setting or clearing the table or drying up.

Remember the student is not a house-keeper and whilst they are not a hotel guest, a balance must be reached.  Communication is the best form of problem solving.

Laundry, again this is by communication. If you are doing the family wash, then it may be ok for you to wash the student’s clothes. Male students tend to like this, females may prefer to do their own. Please show them how to use the washing machine, where soap is etc.

Students Bedroom:  This is the private area for the student and families are requested to respect their possessions, privacy and the fact their room is their ‘security blanket’. Ask the student if they would like you to vacuum their room weekly and change the sheets. Students are also advised to assist by keeping their room tidy and clean at all times and not have any food in their rooms.

Telephone: This is to be an arrangement between you and the student. Students are to pay for all their international calls. This can be done by various methods, ring back price, phone cards (cheapest and most convenient) or install their own phone line and meet their own costs. We will advise students to buy their own phone card and Oz Homestay will assist students in purchasing these however if student arrives independently of Oz Homestay, it would be appreciated if families would allow the student to make a quick phone call to their families back home on day of arrival. Phone cards are obtainable from post office, newsagents and convenience stores. We do advise students to inform their family and friends not to ring after 10pm Sydney time.

We ask that homestay families inform Oz Homestay if they have students from other institutions or agencies in their home when accepting Oz Homestay reservations.  It is advisable that all students be of the same sex and of different nationailities.  Remember the students are here to study and improve their English.

We do not place more than three students with a family under any circumstances.

Oz Homestay will contact you regarding the availability of your accommodation.

Please inform Oz Homestay when a student vacates.

Students are to give 2 weeks notice of moving if not indicated otherwise by Oz Homestay unless they are moving because of unforeseen problems between family and student, in which case the student will be entitled to a refund of any unused homestay fees.

Please inform Oz Homestay if you will be away on vacation or business etc so that we do not place a student in your care.

Please inform Oz Homestay of any concerns regarding the student’s living or studying arrangements. We are in constant communication with their learning institutions and can provide a good flow of communication.

Our representative will meet the student at the airport and provide transportation to your home. We will endeavour to give you correct arrival details, subject to unforeseen circumstances.  However we will contact you by phone prior to our arrival if the arrival is delayed considerably.

We are also happy if homestay families would like to do the airport transfer themselves for their student.  We will provide you with the arrival information and sign. Please indicate this on your registration form.