Experience life with a Canberra family
The ACT public schools’ Homestay program is a great way for international students over the age of 16 to settle into life in Australia while completing their secondary school study.
The ACT Education Directorate finds a suitable host family for students to live with while they are studying in Canberra.
Homestay is more than renting a room in a house, it’s about becoming part of a family and experiencing the Canberra way of life. Meaningful connections are made, leading to faster improvements in a student’s English language skills. This then translates to greater success at school.
Both students and their Homestay family are supported to ensure a smooth transition both at their new home and at school.
Benefits for both students and families
Our Homestay program offers many rewards. Students will find living with a local family helps them more easily get used to both language and cultural differences – something which is particularly important when they first arrive in Australia. Both hosts and students will develop a unique understanding of cultural diversity and develop long lasting relationships that endure long after the student has completed their study and returned home. Hosts will witness and play a pivotal role in seeing a young person’s confidence, agency and competency grow during their stay.
Ongoing support provided
Settling into a new home and school can be a challenge for any student. It also means changes for homestay families as they welcome a new person into their home. The Education Directorate’s International Education team provide ongoing support to both.
With extensive experience caring for students aged under 18, the team supports Homestay families in every aspect of hosting a student. This includes 24-hour access to student welfare support and regular information seminars as well as a transition session soon after arrival in Canberra attended by both the student and family.
Become a Homestay family
We warmly welcome new homestay hosts and provide opportunities for more experienced hosts to offer their advice and experiences, broadening the network of shared information and support available.
Canberra has a large multicultural community and our homestay families come from a variety of backgrounds and cultures. A host family can come in all forms and may include families with young children or teenagers, single people, or older couples whose children have grown up and left home.
Homestay families provides students with the security and comforts of a ‘second home’ and offer:
- full board, accommodation and meals with a local family
- a fully furnished bedroom with a desk for study
- the safety, security, and supportive environment of a local family
- the best way to improve English language skills
- assistance in adjusting quickly to a new lifestyle.
Homestay hosts receive a financial contribution, from the international student’s family, to assist with cost of living expenses.
Homestay selection and monitoring
The Education Directorate manages all aspects of an international students’ educational experience, delivering tailored programs in schools, ensuring the safety and welfare of students and coordinating the Homestay Program.
Homestay families are selected based on clear criteria, regularly reviewed and discussed with individuals in the follow-up of expressions of interest to host. All members of the household over 18 years of age must have, or obtain, a current ACT Government Working with Vulnerable People clearance.
(53kb)
(251kb)Contact Us
If you would like to know more and apply to be a Homestay family please contact the International Education team on email ieu@act.gov.au or by phone on 6205 9178.