What Is Homestay?
Homestay is a very popular accommodation option available to overseas
students in Perth. It is a way of providing good quality, safe accommodation.
Homestay providers may be families, couples, single people or single mothers
with children. All are selected to provide good quality facilities and are matched
with students depending on the levels of service offered or requested.
Homestay provides:
- Accommodation, breakfast and dinner 7 days per week
- Room only
- Room only, share kitchen
Homestay Providers often offer a student a room in their home as a way of supplementing
household income whilst enjoying the benefits of experiencing the insight into
different cultures that such provision might offer. Many people choose to operate
their Homestay provision on a more formalized business arrangement, however
accepting a student from overseas does mean that the family should make the
student feel welcome and part of the greater household.
Host families will speak English, as this will help International Students
improve their English. They will also try to help students with their day-to-day
problems such as transport, banking and shopping. The homestay environment should
be a place where students can live, relax and study in comfort and security.
Perth Student Accommodation does not enter into a contract with either the
student or the homestay family but simply acts as the facilitator for homestay
placement. Perth Student Accommodation takes all care when matching Host Families
and Students but accepts no responsibility for problems arising (other than
college counseling) once both the Host Family and the Student have accepted
a placement.
A Whole New World
Students should be aware that every home is different, and that the Homestay
Family/Provider might not provide all the comforts of the home to which you
are accustomed. Host Families will help students when they first arrive by establishing
an open line of communication and by having an open mind to cultural differences
and practices, which may at first seem strange to both the Host Family and the
Student.
Students are advised that they could be confronted with values and customs
which are different to their own and that they have to come to terms with these
differences whilst missing the support of their family and friends. Many issues
can be overcome providing students maintain open communication with their host
family.
So, what types of things can a student entering homestay expect?
Most importantly:
- You are coming to Australia and Australia is a multicultural country.
- The majority of Australian families have children and pets.
- Australian families live in the suburbs, which means that family members
must use transport to get to work and places of study each day. It is most unusual
for any Australian to walk to work or the place where they are studying.
Additional points:
LOCATION/TRANSPORT
Most of the Homestay providers have been chosen because they do not live too
far away from the College's. However, not every student can be lucky enough
to live in a home that is very close to the campus. In many cases, public transport
is the only option. The bus and train service is popular with students in Perth
and it is not uncommon to have to take public transport from the Homestay family's
home to class every day.
PETS
Some Homestay families have pets. Most dogs are kept in the yard area and cats
tend to be kept outdoors as well. Only students who are allergic to animals,
frightened of them, or who have religious objections should make that clear
on the Homestay request form so they are not placed in a home with animals.
OTHER BOARDERS
Some Homestay families have children, other students or people who live with
them. If the student requesting Homestay would prefer not to have other boarders
in the same home, or feel they would be distracted with children in the house,
they are asked to make that clear on the Homestay request form. Many Host Families
offer to take more than one student into their homes, which may provide some
level of extra support to the student. If this is an arrangement that you feel
will not suit you, please let us know on your request form.
SECURITY
When the Homestay Officer for Perth Student Accommodation searches for homes,
the safety and comfort level in each place is taken into account and used to
match a host family with a student. Perth Student Accommodation insists that
Police Clearance Certificates are available for all adults resident in the Host
Family.
You will be given a house key and must look after it. Also lock up upon leaving
the home, including closing and locking open windows in your room.
TYPICAL COSTS ( Guide only )
- Room only from A$120 per week
- Room, breakfast, dinner from A$210 per week
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