Homestay Rules
Students should expect clear House Rules to be set down at their homestay.
The Homestay Host will discuss the house rules with the student during the initial stages of arrival.
Disputes over house rules are to be resolved by the Homestay Supervisor.
Students should inform Homestay Hosts of their whereabouts and be contactable at all times.
Extending/Vacating a Placement
If the student wish to extend or leave their placement, they must discuss this with their host at least two weeks prior to the end of their placement period.
If the student plans to extend their placement and does not discuss this with their host and give required notice, this may result in the student needing to be moved.
If the student plans to vacate their placement and does not discuss this with their host and give required notice, this may result in a loss of refund of homestay fees (please see the student refund policy for more information).
Failing to Comply with Homestay Rules
Students who repeatedly fail to comply with Homestay Rules may be removed from the Homestay.
The Student Services Officers and the Australian Homestay Network allocated supervisor will be contacted if a student fails to return at night to the Homestay.
Where intervention is required in exceptional circumstances, AHN reserves the right to remove the student from the Homestay.
Below is an example of some host rules
Welcome to our home!
One of the important reasons for Homestay is to assist International Students in learning about the Australian Culture and Lifestyle. The first four weeks are the most difficult, for anyone living in a new country so we hope that you will understand why we must have such rules.
We will explain all of the homestay rules to you, and what you need to do to make your stay a comfortable and successful one. All Homestay students in Australia are invited to be a part of the family and we all work together as a team.
Please read all this information carefully and ask us if you have any questions about your stay.
1. Bedroom
· Do not wear shoes on bedroom carpet.
· Keep your bedroom clean and tidy. (the vacuum cleaner is available to use once a week)
· All rubbish is to be emptied from rubbish bin each week. (please take outside to bin)
· Make your bed each morning before going to school.
· Do not spill any makeup or cosmetics on carpet. Please use in bathroom only. (no nail polish in bedroom bathroom or outside only)
· If you do spill something on the carpet, please tell us immediately.
· If there are any serious stains you will need to pay for it to be cleaned.
· No food or drink in the bedroom. Do not leave lights on in your bedroom. Turn off before going to sleep. There is a lamp in your room for study on your desk.
· Leave your door open sometimes to let the air circulate in your room.
2. Bathroom
· You will need to clean the shower, floor, toilet and basin after you have used them each day.
· Please ask for a spare cloth to wipe away the water and hair.
· Please always put your sanitary pads in the bin provided beside the toilet. Wrap in toilet paper first. Please make sure your take out to bin every couple of days. Do not flush down the toilet.
· 5 minute showers only. Australia is in a severe drought which means many of our farmers and families have serious problems because of the lack of water in our Country.
· It is now expected that all people living in Australia conserve water.
· We must all have only one 5 minute shower per day.
3. Lounge Room
· You are welcome to watch the TV in the Lounge Room of an evening, please be sure to turn it off when finished. Not too loud as to disturb others in the house.
4. Kitchen & Food
· Most homestay packages are breakfast and dinner Monday to Friday and 3 Meals on Weekends. (please check with us to confirm you meal package)
· Please return everything to the Refrigerator or Pantry when finished all meals.
· Clean all benches in Kitchen after cooking or preparing food. Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner.
· Most evening meals will be prepared for you, however if your host is not available you may prepare something for yourself. We will leave something for you to heat or cook.
· Please discuss what you can cook if we are out.
· Breakfast includes: Toast, Spreads, Coffee, Tea, Juice etc or Cereals and Milk. And of course a piece of fruit.
· Most working Australians do not cook in the morning as they are in a hurry to go to school or work.
· Dinner is usually a mix of meats, vegetables, pastas, rice etc. Australians eat very differently we hope you enjoy our meals. If you are still hungry you may help yourself to fruit or cereal.
5. Not home for Dinner
· If you are not going to be home for dinner. You must message or phone us by 4 p.m in the afternoon or tell us in the morning before going to school. This is very important to tell us this information.
6. Washing up Dishes.
· Most evenings Jan will cook your dinner, it is expected in Australia that all the family assist with the washing and cleaning up.
· You will be shown how to wash and dry up and it will be explained to you a couple of times.
· All students will help by rinsing their own dishes and Washing & drying up all the dishes we have used to cook with.
· All benches and table to be wiped down after each meal.
7. Laundry
· You may use the laundry basin to wash your underwear or hand wash your clothes.
· Your host will use the washing machine so if you need to wash clothes, please ask them to help you.
· You must hang your clothes on the washing line in the back yard once they are washed.
· DO NOT HANG WET CLOTHES IN BEDROOM OR CUPBOARDS, THEY MUST HANG ON LINE OUTSIDE OR ASK IF THERE IS AN INSIDE HANGER.
8. Home Phone and Phone Cards
· When you first arrive you will be shown how to purchase an International Phone Card. This card must be used to call your family. If you wish to use the home phone please ask first. The cost of all the local calls when using the phone is 30 cents.
9. Keys
· You will be provided with a set of keys for my home.
· If you lose your keys you will need to pay for new ones to be cut.
· Always take the keys with you so you are not locked out of the house.
10. English Only
Your first 4 weeks in Australia are very difficult and it is important to speak English as much as possible to assist you with fitting in. You must talk as much as you possibly can while staying in Homestay to ensure you are understood by Bus Drivers, Shop keepers who must be able to understand you so that you can live comfortably in Australia.
11. Breakages
· All breakages in the home must be paid for by you at the time of the breakage.
After Homestay
· It is common for students to want to move to a share house or unit with friends they have met after their 4 weeks homestay.
· Please discuss with your host what you are going to do. By the end of the 2nd week of homestay.
· If you wish to stay past your 4 weeks please discuss in the 2nd week of your homestay.
· All homestay students have a minimum 4 week contract.
· Your host understands that you may not wish to stay and they will not be upset if you wish to move out at the end of the 4 weeks, however if you are happy and would like to stay to improve your English you are more than welcome to stay with us, she will explain the payment system for the next 4 weeks.
· Please communicate as much as possible to assist you in your understanding of English and the Australian Way.
We hope that you enjoy your stay with us and that you learn about the Australian Way of Life our main aim is for you to feel comfortable as part of our family, but able to be independent and enjoy our beautiful country. We hope that you will want to keep in touch with us for years to come.