Guardianship

Guardianship

Guardianship Structure

Homestay Australia P/L provides a Guardianship Service for International Students under the following guidelines.

Our service provides Parents with a single contact point for their child outside of school hours.

Parents can be assured that their child is well cared for while they study in Australia and that their child complies with their Student Visa requirements as specified by the Department of Immigration, Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA).

With all homestay accommodation provided to the Under 18 years student, a representative of Homestay Australia P/L has visited the premises, a "Work With Children Card" or Blue Card or Police Clearance has been issued for every member of the family over 18 years and the Host has the required Insurance cover for the student in their home.

Relationship between Homestay Australia P/L and Schools

All homestay Hosts to deal with Homestay Australia P/L directly with reference to any issue – no direct contact with schools is acceptable unless the school has made contact with the Host family first.
Homestay Australia P/L will invoice Schools on a monthly basis for the accommodation fees of students or the student directly.
All students attending a Secondary School must remain in Homestay accommodation. Students who become eighteen years must remain in Homestay to continue their studies.
Schools and Homestay Australia P/L to arrange Information nights for Hosts to meet with staff on a biannual basis and discuss issues pertaining to homestay and to the responsibilities of each party involved.

The Secondary Student’s responsibilities in homestay

Ensure the Host is aware of their health and well being
Ensure that they are contactable 24/7 by either their school, their Guardian or their Host
To be responsible for their personal hygiene
To be responsible for their own study pattern
To respect the personal space of other members of their home
To respect the privacy of other members of their home
To ensure that they become a part of family life and participate in the day to day activities of the family

Example :

By not mainly staying in their bedroom when they are home and including themselves in daily family chores.

Example :

Empty the dishwasher
Clearing up after meals
By leaving the bathroom as they have found it
By minimizing time in the bathroom as a consideration for other family members
By leaving the kitchen as they have found it
By being home at the designated meal time

Host responsibilities for housing a Secondary School Student.

In the homestay, the host is expected to provide the following service :

Three meals per day, breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven days per week; a single room; furnished and laundry facilities in the homestay. The homestay fee also covers charges for electricity & gas and water.

Day to day care of the students by :

Providing healthy meals
Doing their student's washing and ironing
Ensuring that a student has acceptable hygiene habits
Ensuring that a student is coping with living in a foreign country and that their mental well-being is being monitored.
Ensuring that their student is completing their homework on time.
Ensuring that their student is attending school on a required basis and has a clear understanding of the local transport systems.

Providing guidelines to their student regarding :

Acceptable times to be at home after school and at weekends
Amount of time on the internet for leisure purposes
Manners
Liaising with the student's Guardian on a weekly basis
Reporting to Homestay Australia P/L behaviour by students which is unsatisfactory
Reporting to Homestay Australia P/L behaviour by students which is unusual
Reporting to Homestay Australia P/L behaviour by students which is deemed as inappropriate contact

Example.

Smoking in the Home
Consumption of alcohol
Unacceptable times home after school and at weekends
Unacceptable amount of time on the internet for leisure purposes
Inappropriate display of manners or respect to other members of the home
Drug use
Invitation of friends to the home without permission of the homestay

Guardian's Responsibilities

Monitor the student's studies by monthly visits to the Homestay of the student and to provide a contact point for the school at all times.
To arrange for the student's leisure and travel activities during the holiday period if required
To arrange their Banking requirements upon arrival
To arrange purchases of large or costly items (computers)
To arrange purchase of School Books and School Uniforms
If required by the students parents, to control the student's finances, i.e..: weekly pocket money
To sign medical forms as required by the school.
To transfer their student in the event of illness, to a Medical Centre in order to receive treatment after being advised by the Host Parent.
To correspond with the parents of the student on a regular basis as to the welfare of their son or daughter in writing.
To ensure the student complies with any visa requirements as required by the Australian Government.
To notify the school and the parents of any grievance between the student and the homestay host.
To attend parent teacher meetings as required per term.
To change their student's homestay accommodation upon request (depending on the reasons provided)
To Liaise with the Host Family on a weekly basis.
Assisting the student with the arrangement of their telephone/mobile/internet connection

Role of the School for the International Student.

The School is responsible for the overall welfare of the student. They are required to :

give the department a signed statement confirming that appropriate arrangements have been made for the student’s accommodation, support and general welfare during their stay in Australia

notify the department in writing of any changes to the care arrangements. Additionally, students are required to obtain their education provider's approval to change these arrangements if they wish to do so after their arrival in Australia

Charges

Weekly Fee : $44.00

Homestay Australia P/L