Parents and homestay families
Enrolling your son or daughter in a Victorian Government School gives them the most valuable gift any parent can give their child….opportunity.
Studying in a Victorian Government School offers international students an outstanding educational foundation and gives students the English language skills they need to gain employment anywhere in the world.
Victorian Government Schools have dedicated English language centres integrated within many Government Schools.
Victorian Government Schools are focused on positive outcomes for students. 92% of Victorian Government School international graduates who applied for a university place received an offer.*
Victorian Government Schools offer extremely competitive tuition fees including discounts for siblings and students whose parents are studying in a Victorian tertiary institute.
*Student who applied for the 2004 academic year
Where will my son or daughter live?
International students have 3 accommodation and welfare options:
Option 1: Live with a parent or relative
Living with a relative is the option to select if the student can live with their parents in Victoria or has a relative, such as an uncle or aunt they can live with.
Students who have enrolled as a dependent of a parent who is studying in Victoria must select this option.
- If the student is living with a relative they must meet Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) approval. DIAC approved relatives include: brother, sister, step-parent, step-brother, step-sister, grandparent, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, step-grandparent, step-aunt, step-uncle, step-niece and step-nephew.
- Primary school students must reside with a parent for the duration of their enrolment.
- Secondary students under 15 years of age must reside with a parent or DIAC approved relative.
- Dependent students must reside with a parent for the duration on their enrolment.
- Students who have enrolled as a dependent of a parent who is studying in Victoria must select this option.
- The Department does not charge an airport pickup fee nor arrange airport pickup
Option 2: Nominated homestay
A nominated homestay is the option to choose when the student knows a family in Victoria and their parents have arranged for them to stay with. This could be close family friends or distant relatives.
- Student must be aged over 15 years
- The person nominated by the student to provide accommodation will be required to undertake a police check and must meet homestay criteria
- DIAC are provided with confirmation the accommodation has been arranged
- Students are charged AU$220* homestay arrangement fee
- Students can be met at the airport if requested (AU$110*)
*Inclusive of GST – price subject to change
Option 3: Homestay
The Department and the student's school arrange homestay for the student with a local family. This can be with another family with their own children or with a single person. Students pay around $AU200 per week, this includes their accommodation and meals.
- Students must be aged over 15 year
- Students are picked up at the airport (AU$110*)
- Students are charged AU$220* homestay arrangement fee
- Accommodation is only arranged for the duration of the student's study
*Inclusive of GST – price subject to change
About to become a homestay family?
Fill out the Homestay Information Sheet (Available on request to the Student Services Team) to give the student coming to live with you a little bit more information about you, your home and your family. After all, if you were sending your child overseas to live with another family you’d want to know something about the family.
