Pre Departure Information - Student Agreement

(Terms & Conditions)

Dear Student

Please read the following information. If you have an questions or are unsure of any information please reply to info@homestay-australia.com

Remember, your Host is happy to help you adjust to the Australian culture. Learn from them how to stay Safe and Secure in Australia.

Thank you

Homestay Australia Pty Ltd

HOMESTAY

Homestay is a wonderful way to settle into Australia and learn new life skills which will benefit you for all your life. Homestay is someone’s home that they have offered to you for security and you must respect that and treat the family with respect, Homestay is not a hotel.

WHAT IS THE WEATHER ?

Check the weather where you are going to study. What is the weather there when you arrive ? Is it Cold ? Is it Hot ? Make sure you take the right clothes with you.

ARRIVAL

All Under 18 Years students must take an Airport Transfer, arranged by Homestay Australia, directly from the Airport to their Homestay.

If your parents are travelling with you they must arrange their own accommodation  and transfer from the Airport.

We recommend the following Hotels for your parents to reside in.

We suggest Taxi ($55AUD from the Airport to Melbourne central) is the average cost. Parents, once they have reached their hotel can call their Child's Homestay and arrange a time to meet with them later that day or the next day. 

Students over 18 years are not required to have arranged an Airport transfer. If you have booked a Driver, you need to contact the Driver if you are delayed. The Driver's number is written on your Homestay profile. The Driver will be waiting for your with a sign showing your name. Please, do not bring any food to Australia. If you do, you will be delayed at Customs and they will take the food from you.

FOOD

Food and Water will be different from your country food. There are many reasons why. Be prepared for a change in the food you normally eat.

Breakfast

Breakfast is self serve and is not prepared by your host and is not a cooked breakfast. Your host will show you how to make your breakfast from the foods available.

 A Typical Australian  breakfast is cereal, toast, tea or coffee, or milk or juice.

Lunch

If you have selected lunch on your Homestay application your host will show you how to make and what you can take to school.

A typical lunch in Australia  is sandwiches, fruit, drink, snack biscuits.

Dinner

Your host will cook a hot dinner for you.

Evening Meal time.

Your host will advise the time dinner will be prepared and eaten each night so please advise them of your timetable.

You must call you host if late for dinner or not coming home for dinner by the agreed time.

WATER

Your host family will advise how long you are allowed to take a shower.

Your family will advise how many times a week you can use the washing machine.

COOKING

Students can use a kettle, microwave, toaster rice cooker but no oven, cook top or any appliance with an open flame.

HEATING

No fan or bar heaters are allowed. A family may offer you an oil heater if cold and this must be turned off at night.

No electric blankets are allowed or will be provided 

HOST FAMILIES

Your Host has an Email Address. You can contact them directly before you arrive in Australia if you have any questions for them about their Home. You can ask them for their Skype Address if they have one or pictures of their home where you will be staying.

Host families live in suburbs not usually in the inner city so travel from Homestay to school is from 30 minutes to 1 hour. Australia has over 175 different nationalities and Hosts are assessed on suitability and not their nationality.

A Host with Homestay Australia is only allowed to accept a maximum of 3 male or female students at any one time. Only one gender of students is acceptable in any Homestay.

TRAVEL DIRECTIONS

Your Host will give you directions to your school via public transport.

Your Host will ensure that you understand which is the best way to travel to your school. They will assist you on your first day travelling to and from school.

PAYMENTS / TIMES

Homestay bookings vary. Usually the periods are Four weeks or Five weeks.

Homestay Australia will email you your next Invoice, two weeks after your arrival.

If you wish to extend your stay in Homestay, pay the Invoice. It will be for the same period you originally applied for.

If you do not wish to extend your stay in Homestay tell your Host as soon as you can. 

If you extend your stay in Homestay, you need to give two weeks when you decide to leave.

Homestay Australia does not require you to sign a Contract nor pay a Bond for your accommodation.

All questions of payment should be referred to info@homestay-australia.com

HOLIDAY PAYMENTS

If you plan to travel around Australia or go back to your country for more than 7 Days while you are in Homestay and you wish to keep your room, a fee of $255.00 per week is required to be paid. This payment is to be made to Homestay Australia. Homestay Australia will then pay your Host.

HOW TO MAKE PAYMENTS

When you receive your Invoice, the payment instructions are at the bottom of the Invoice.

If you are not sure how to pay your Invoice, take a copy of the invoice to your Bank and they will explain how you can pay the invoice either at the Bank or Online.

ACCOMMODATION

A Host will provide you with a single room (unless agreed prior to arrival for a twin shared room); Furnished with wardrobe hanging space, a chest of drawers, a desk and a single or double bed. Access to laundry facilities in the home. The Homestay fee also covers all costs for electricity, gas and water. 

LAUNDRY

All students are expected to iron their own clothes and do their own washing. If you are not sure how to do this ask your Host. If you have specific clothing requirements, i.e.: school uniforms etc. then you should keep your uniform in a clean and tidy condition. If you are under 18 years your Host does your washing for you as well as your ironing. If you are over 18 years, it is all your own responsibility.

TOILETRIES

You have your own toothpaste and shampoo.  

CLEANING

You keep your own room tidy. 

SMOKING

All Homestay Homes are non-smoking.

TELEPHONE  

You must have your own mobile phone.

INTERNET

All hosts are required to provide internet access. The Cost is $40.00 per month.

This is an additional charge to the Homestay weekly charge.

The internet connection is what is provided, not a computer.

Each student must have their own laptop.

The Internet use is for Email correspondence with family, friends and study purposes only. Downloading of Music and Movies, playing Internet Games or Chat rooms are considered excessive use of the internet and are not allowed when using the internet connection provided by the host.

BATHROOMS

Please ensure that your showers are no longer than 15 minutes.

FIRE SAFETY

Do not leave your Laptop on your Bed.

Do not use power boards greater than 2 sockets (10 amp per outlet)

Do not leave your desk lamp on all night.

Do not use a fan heater in your bedrooms. Use an oil heater which must not be covered  and used to dry clothes.

Turn off your monitor from the wall switch at the end of the day

You are only allowed to use the Toaster, Kettle and Microwave to make your breakfast and lunch. Never leave the kitchen while you are preparing your food.

INSURANCE

Hosts are required to have Public Liability Insurance and Contents Insurance Cover for their home and are required to advise their Insurer that they have an International student residing in their home. Homestay Australia does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for any damages or loss of income incurred by the Homestay Host or the Student residing in a Homestay.

FOR UNDER 18 YEAR STUDENTS

Students are to obey the curfew time set by their School. They must be home before dark x 7 days per week.

Under 18 year old students are not allowed to stay overnight away from their host family without written permission from their Welfare department.

Always ask your Host if you wish a friend to stay at your place.

Upon arrival under 18 year old students MUST go directly to their host family unless written interim approval from their University is received prior to arrival, this includes with their parents.
You must be contactable  24/7 by your School, your Host or your Parents. 

·                

Student’s responsibilities in Homestay 

    Ensure the Host is aware of your health and well being

·         Ensure that you are contactable  24/7 by either your school, your Host and your Parents. 

    If you wish to stay at a friend's home overnight  -  seek permission from your parents first. If your parents cannot speak English, your school needs to provide a translation for them.

    Without their permission you are not allowed to stay at a friend’s home. If you have received their permission, provide your Host with a copy of the proof or ask them to contact your school coordinator.  

    Ensure your Host also knows where you are and how you can be contacted in case of an emergency.)  

·        To be responsible for your own personal hygiene

·        To be responsible for your own study pattern

·        To respect the personal space of other members of their home

·        To respect the privacy of other members of the home

·        To ensure that you become a part of family life and participate in the day to day activities of the family.  Example : By not mainly staying  in

         your bedroom when you are home and including yourself in daily family chores. Example : Empty the dishwasher; clearing up after meals;  by

         leaving the bathroom as you 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 

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

Meals as requested (Three meals per day or Two meals per day ) seven days per week; a single room; furnished and laundry facilities in the Homestay. 

The Homestay fee also covers charges for electricity, gas, water and Internet access but not telephone calls.

Day to day care of by :

·         Providing healthy meals

·         Doing your washing and ironing

·         Ensuring that you have acceptable hygiene habits

·         Ensuring that you are coping with living in a foreign country.

·         Ensuring that you are completing your homework on time.

·         Ensuring that you are attending school on a required basis and has a clear understanding of     the local transport systems.

Your Host must also provide you with guidelines regarding :

·        Acceptable times to be at home after school and at weekends

·        Amount of time on the internet for leisure purposes

·        Manners

GENERAL HOUSE RULES

Good manners are the same as anywhere.

Women and men are equal.

Homestays are not Servants.

Knock on the door before you enter the bathroom, toilet and bedrooms.

Do not enter the bedrooms of other members of the Host Family nor other student‘s rooms. 

Always treat your Host family the way you would like to be treated.

Do not spend too long in the shower. When finished in the bathroom or another room always clean up after yourself.

If you are ever cold in your Homestay at night tell your Host. They will provide you with more blankets.

If you are going to be home late or late for dinner tell your host.

UNDERSTANDING

No liability will be accepted for any injury to any person. No liability will be accepted for any damage, loss, theft or disappearance of any property belonging to anyone. No liability will be accepted for any illegal or criminal activity by any persons. Responsibility must be taken by all parties for their own safety and the safety of their belongings. Total responsibility rests upon all parties to have appropriate Insurance for all aspects.

Homestay Australia Pty Ltd