Host Agreement

The following agreement outlines the roles and responsibilities of AHN, the local AHN Supervisor and the Homestay host.  For the purpose of the Homestay placement, AHN and the AHN supervisor are acting as an agent on behalf of the student to locate a suitable Homestay environment.

Policy: 

AHN is committed to providing students and hosts with positive and safe Homestay experiences. AHN will work with supervisors, hosts and students to meet all stakeholder expectations.
 
By signing this agreement the host will abide by the terms and conditions detailed below and those that relate to the operation and use of the Australian Homestay Network system.
 
The AHN community recognises that hosts come from a variety of cultural backgrounds and composition. Cultural or religious background will not be the basis of any decision by AHN relating to the selection of hosts.
Students will be matched with families as per their personal requirements and no continuous supply of students to hosts will be guaranteed. 

AHN Homestay Insurance will cover all families registered with AHN whilst they are hosting AHN placed students. For household insurance coverage see Website for policy (http://www.homestaynetwork.org/public/AHN-insurance) 

Hosts must have written permission from their landlord to offer Homestay, if their home is rented accommodation.  All documents must be sighted and be current at the time of the interview with AHN supervisors. 

AHN and AHN supervisors reserve the right to move a student from a hosting situation at any time.  Where this occurs any payment in excess of the student’s stay will be reimbursed by the host to the appropriate area e.g. student, education provider or host.  

AHN or AHN affiliated staff, reserve the right to carry out regular inspections of premises to ensure that standards remain high and to industry expectations. 
Hosts agree to AHN providing their contact details to agents, students, and other host families when placing students and tour groups. The host also agrees to keep any student’s personal information confidential and private. 

Hosts are expected to:

  • Build relationships and support mechanisms for their students :
    • Develop positive relationships with students based on mutual trust and communication
    • Be aware of each student’s strengths and weaknesses, and acknowledge the uniqueness of each student
    • support and assist students to live comfortably within a foreign environment
    • respect the students’ right to privacy, understanding that privacy does not mean isolation
    • respect and accommodate appropriately the culture, customs, language and beliefs of their student, and acknowledge their significance within the household
    • assist, support and nurture where needed or requested 
    • provide all meals as detailed in the Homestay agreement
    • speak English that is of a high standard and can be comprehended by the student (judged at interview)
    • offer effective support with English language practice if required
    • assist the student being shown around the community
    • help with the basics of Australian culture
    • help the student learn the  basics such as buying transport tickets, where the local shops are, how to access banking, internet, mobile phone and personal safety tips
    • help with English and 'Aussie' words and phrases
    • offer help, guidance, support and encouragement regarding all facets of an international student adapting to life in Australia (this may require patience and empathy and a willingness to show the student more than once)
    • offer sincere interest in the cultural background of the student
  • Provide a Duty of Care towards the student
    • provide the student with a secure, private, clean and (warm in winter/ cool in summer) bedroom, good healthy food, laundry facilities and a supportive environment
    • ensure that the room offered to students is a designated room within the family living environment, is accessible by an internal staircase (if above ground level) and fully complies with the local council’s building regulations 
    • ensure that students do not share a room with other students or a member of the host’s family, unless specifically requested by AHN
  • Provide orientation and familiarisation 
    • provide an orientation within the family home (e.g. provide advice and safety instructions on the use of any pool area, household facilities and security)
    • politely detail applicable household rules and practices, which should match those detailed in the host Profile (e.g. what time dinner is served, telephone protocols, rules regarding smoking, alcohol, guests visiting, curfews, household tasks and bathroom conduct (AHN can assist with this if required))
    • be available at home when the student first arrives or arrange with a friend or family member to be at the home 
    • Assist the student with the following:
      • Opening of bank accounts and internet banking
      • Phone and internet accounts (where the student is purchasing their own)
      • Familiarisation with travel and public transport routes to and from the student’s place of study
      • Familiarisation with travel and public transport routes to and from areas of interest such as shopping centres, post office, leisure centres, city etc.
  • AHN Liaison
    • maintain frequent and regular contact with the AHN system through the use of the website communications, checklists and alerts, ensuring all communications are responded to and/or completed within the agreed time
    • liaise with the supervisor regarding any concerns or difficulties
    • notify the supervisor as soon as they become aware of any change of circumstances in the household that could impact negatively on the student

Hosts must agree to notify their AHN supervisor if: 

  • any aspect regarding living in your home has changed e.g. family/visitor/ other students staying over, change in living conditions, etc.
  • hosting more than two students at any one time
  • any dispute occurs between the student and the host
  • the student does not return to the Homestay without advising the host of whereabouts

Homestay Fees – the host must

  • not collect any weekly fees direct from the student unless agreed with their AHN supervisor
  • agree to include all specified services within the weekly fee
  • liaise with the AHN supervisor with regards to any fee discrepancies with the student 
  • assist AHN in reminding the student if the students fees are overdue
  • assist AHN with any other request regarding the welfare and best interests of the student

AHN Must

  • Be available to assist hosts and students in the event of an incident or emergency
  • Follow-up with the student for payment of any fees due
  • Pay hosts in a timely manner

NOTE – AHN is unable to pay the host until payment is received from the student for a specified period.

Security

Your student must be able to gain internal access to the home at all times.  At no time will it be agreed that your student is left outside your home unable to gain internal access. A key is to be provided to the student for your home if it is not under security. 

Bedroom, bathroom and toilet facilities must be lockable and the students privacy respected.

Students under 18

Hosts must agree to the following if hosting students under the age of 18

  • follow the rules for hosting under 18s as specified in the AHN Host training  (Chapter 2.5)
  • ensure that the student is never left at home overnight without an adult who has undergone a police check and working with children/blue card check
  • never allow the student to sleep out overnight at another residence without first gaining approval from the nominated guardian and notifying the supervisor
  • never allow the student to go on holidays without gaining permission from their supervisor and guardian
  • always notify the education provider if the student is absent from school
  • keep the supervisor and guardian informed regarding any issues concerning their student
  • ensure that if you host a student under eighteen from any Institution, that you will not have mixed genders in the home; i.e. if you are hosting a female underage student then you cannot host a male student from any other organisation – it must only be a female 

[Optional section – Where the institution is requesting the host to become the guardian, the following section is added subject to institution requirements of hosts in this area]  

Where the host is agreeing to undertake the role of guardian to the student under 18 years of age, the Homestay host must agree to the following:

  • Maintain regular contact with the student and liaise with the education provider and parents
  • Ensure that the student understands school and visa requirements and abides by them
  • Acts on behalf of the parents by attending parent/teacher interviews, subject selection meetings and other school meetings as deemed necessary by the Principal/education provider
  • Ensure that the student attends school/college etc regularly and punctually.  Students must attend a minimum of 80% of classes.  Failure to meet attendance requirements can lead to the cancellation of the student visa
  • Liaise with education provider concerning behaviour, conduct or any issues which may affect the student's progress
  • Notify the education provider in writing prior to any changes to the student's address or living arrangements, providing full details of the new proposed arrangements thereby complying with DIAC requirements
  • Inform the parents promptly in the event of any problems associated with the student’s welfare and discuss solutions with parents and act promptly on their advice
  • Contact the education provider to request leave for the student for medical and dental appointments (or any other appointments), specifying the dates and times of the absence
  • Contact the parents and education provider in case of the student being involved in an accident/serious illness or medical emergency
  • Assist the student to seek any necessary medical attention and ensure proper medical certification is obtained in case of absence 

I/We. understand that AHN is bringing the highest level of homestay support services to facilitate successful cultural exchanges and agree to the above conditions relating to the provision of Homestay arrangements as a host for Australian Homestay Network.

 

Homestay Host(s) Signature:

 

Date:

 

Supervisor’s Signature:

 

Date: