Our Homestay

Our Homestay helps you to quickly feel like you belong

Transcript for video

Living with a homestay family when you study in a Victorian government school (2:00 secs)

When you're young and away from your own family, a homestay family in Victoria, Australia is a great way to feel that you belong.

Living with a homestay family is more than just a room to sleep. Our homestay families offer:

full board accommodation and meals with an Australian family living in the local school community
the safety, security and welcoming environment of a real family
a great way to improve your English language skills and experience Australia
help to adjust quickly to your new life.

Helping you settle in

Settling in, learning a new language and finishing your studies can be hard when you arrive in a new country. Having the support of another family and a connection to your local community can make all the difference to your education, health and wellbeing.

Our homestay families often have a child or children of their own who go to the same school as you. Your homestay family is also a very valuable link to your local community. This will help you make friends both in and outside of school. You'll feel like you really belong.

The safety and welcoming environment of a second family

Enabling you to have a safe, comfortable place to stay during your studies is just as important as the school you attend. Your homestay family takes their responsibilities very seriously, especially your safety. They'll be well aware of your needs as a new arrival in Australia.

Our families really want you to enjoy your homestay. So there are opportunities for family extra-curricular and social activities, but they'll also make sure that you are home at a reasonable hour and spending enough time doing study and homework.

Homestay selection and monitoring

Our schools select homestay families from their local school communities according to a clear set of criteria and the needs, preferences and expectations of individual students.

Schools interview new homestay providers to check how well they can look after an international student. This includes visiting the homestay and making sure that everyone in the household over 18 years of age has a Working With Children Check from the government.

A school representative regularly visits the homes of our homestay families to make sure the accommodation is comfortable and of a high standard for:

living and relaxing
doing homework
bringing friends over
sharing in family life.

You will also receive a homestay profile before you arrive so you can get to know your homestay family.

Variety of backgrounds and experiences

Our homestay families come from a variety of backgrounds and cultures. For example, there are: families with children your age, families with young children, single older people, and older couples whose children have grown up and left home

Accommodation

You can take your pick from heaps of great places to live or study whether you choose to live in Melbourne or in one of our student cities across Victoria, Australia.

Choose the best option for you and your family:

Find out more about these two homestay options >

If you are 15 years or older

You can live with one of our school-sourced homestay families

We highly recommend our homestay program because it gives you a unique Australian cultural and English language experience.

When you choose homestay, the Department will take responsibility for your welfare.

On behalf of the department, your school will carefully select your homestay family from the local school community. This will include:

conducting child-safe screening by regularly visiting the homestay and conducting Working with Children checks on all members of the homestay family who are over 18 years of age
the department ensuring your school meets rigorous government standards.

Victoria has many different types of families and communities.

"My host family are also such hospitable people with warm hearts and always willing to support me whichever pathway I choose to take in the future. I appreciate and cherish them a lot because without their help, I would not become the new version of myself now." - Hoai, international student 2021.

Or you can nominate your own homestay family

You can stay in Victoria with a close family friend or a relative who isn't on the list approved by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA). With this option, your parents nominate a homestay family and the department and your school takes responsibility for your welfare .

The family friend or relative you nominate must:

have a current Working with Children Check
provide suitable accommodation which meets our homestay criteria.

Your school will still conduct the same regular checks on the parent-nominated homestay as we do for our school-sourced homestays.

Please note: The parent/legal guardian or the nominated homestay provider needs to complete the Parent-Nominated Homestay Form (Word 109kb), prior to the student's placement in the parent-nominated homestay. Please return the form to the International Education Division when submitting your application for enrolment.

If you are under 15 years of age or have special needs

You can live with a parent or guardian

You can live with a parent or guardian who is also living in Victoria during your studies. With this option, your parent or guardian has responsibility for your welfare instead of the department or your school.

Or you can live with a Department of Home Affairs close relative

You can live with a relative approved by the Australian Department of Home Affairs (DHA) if they'll also be living in Victoria during your studies. With this option, your approved relative has responsibility for your welfare instead of the department.

DHA must approve the relative and be:

over 21 years of age
fit one of DHA's set of family relationships (for example, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, grandparent.

For more information, please speak to your education agent or see: DHA welfare arrangements for students under 18.

Our International Student Coordinators

We want you to have a true home away from home. Our international student coordinators make sure you're happy with your homestay family.

After you arrive, your international student coordinator will check how you're settling into your new student accommodation. They're responsible for the quality of all accommodation, except if you are living with a parent or guardian, or relative approved by the Australian Department of Home Affairs

Find answers to your questions around our homestay >

CRICOS Provider Name and Code: Department of Education, 00861K.

CRICOS Course Names and Codes: Primary (Prep to Year 6), 019047G; Secondary (7-12), 019048F; Victorian College of the Arts Secondary Course (7-12), 028651A.

Last Update: 20/12/2023 11:12 AM