Homestay Accommodation for International Students in Australia

1. How does the payment work?

There are two different types of payments:

1. School: if the College books accommodation with Global Experience, on behalf of the student ($240). Home Stay rates may vary from $240 per week to $260 depending on the educational institution
2. Agent/Direct: for standard Home Stay or if the student made the booking directly to Global Experience ($260)

Initially for 4 weeks unless specified differently (such as some special bookings, study tour groups, working experience, etc).

You will be paid for 4 weeks Home Stay, approximately within 14 days after the student's arrival.

You will be paid every four weeks after this if your student decides to stay with you. You are required to tell us if this is the case.

Kindly note the first payment incurs a 10% Administration Fee. If we need to pay further weeks for the same student, a $10 administration fee applies to each transaction.

If your student is a direct or an agent’s booking, after the end of four weeks initial booking, student will pay you directly, with no interaction with GE.

We (and most colleges) regard two weeks as cooling off period, to see whether both parties (you and student) are comfortable with each other.

Also, the schools do not pay us until the student has arrived. Once the student has arrived, you need to inform us so that we can invoice the school otherwise your payment could be delayed.

It is important for you to check with your student, preferably on the third week after his or her arrival, whether he or she is going to extend their stay in your home. Once you let us know, we will advise you on the next steps. There are a couple of different payment methods depending where the original booking came from, either from a College, Agent or Direct.

If your student came to Global Experience through a college booking, it is possible that we need to invoice the College and then pay you. We will inform you which the situation is with each individual booking.

So please call or email us about your situation on the 3rd week and every 4 week thereafter, as it will accelerate the processing of your payment.

A 10% administration fee applies for the first four weeks only (per guest). Back 

2. Does my weekly payment include Internet and telephone calls?

No it doesn’t. You are allowed to charge your student for Internet access $10 a week. Please make sure whatever internet plan you have, ensure no overage fees apply. Please note that other countries have free unlimited access and students often do not understand the Australian charges.

For telephone calls, you need to advise the student to use his or her own mobile to make calls and allow them to receive incoming calls. However, if the student wants to use the phone to make a local call, you may charge them 40 cent and ask the student to put the money in an honesty jar.

Only on the first day, it will be a good idea to buy your student a $5 phone card and tell him or her to use it to call home. Teach the student where to get the phone card thereafter so that he or she can save money when calling overseas. Back

3. What if the student is going on holiday?

You can charge the student half price which is normally $130 a week and have them stay on with you. Back

4. What if it doesn’t work between you and your student?

After the initial 4 weeks period, you need to give two weeks notice by calling us at the office to allow the student to secure alternative accommodation. Same thing applies if the student wishes to move out; he or she needs to give you two weeks notice so that you can find a replacement. Back

5. How many times a day do I need to provide meals?

Twice a day: breakfast and dinner for weekdays. Three times a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner for weekends (if the student is at home). Breakfast is generally self serve so please show your student how to do this. Back

6. Do I need to provide key to my student?

Yes, you do. Back

7. Do I need to teach the student how to get to the school?

Yes, you need to actually take the student by public transport to the school and back so they know where they are going. It is very important as the student is a total stranger to this country. Back

8. What do I have to do if I have a problem with my student?

Always make sure you communicate clearly with your guest, if their level of English is limited you can write the information down in plain English. Many times your guest won’t do something as you expect due to lack of understanding.

If after talking to your guest, you still feel there is no resolution, please feel free to give us a call at the office so that we can assist you in solving the challenge. Back

9. Please make sure you notify us if your details have changed such as:

• Family’s situation (i.e. son moves out, new pet/s, etc)
• Address
• Phone number
• Email address
• Bank details

*If you are going away (either for a short or long term breaks) and you are currently having a student, you must inform us. Under age students cannot live in a home alone without any supervision from the family and there must be a presence of the host mother in a home. Back

10. What happen if my room becomes available?

Please let us know by calling the office on 02 9264 4022 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Back

11. Do I need to pay tax for hosting students at my home?

The ATO has indicated that you can have up to 2-3 students at your home without paying tax. Please call the ATO on 13 28 61 if you wish to get further information. ATO legislation does change from time to time and we suggest you contact them to ensure the information is still current. Back

12. Do I need to take extra insurance policy to cover for my Home Stay students?

We suggest you check with your current provider. We have been told that some providers will allow you to have public liability up to $10 million and that is sufficient. Back

13. Do I need to have the smoke alarm installed at my home?

Yes, you do. Under the law, it is compulsory.

Please refer below:

"NSW Smoke Alarms - It's the law

From 1 May 2006, all NSW residents must have at least one working smoke alarm installed on each level of their home. This includes owner occupied, rental properties, relocatable homes or any other residential building where people sleep.

Smoke alarms are already mandatory for all new buildings and in some instances when buildings are being renovated. Smoke alarms are life-saving devices that provide benefits for occupants. They detect smoke well before any sleeping occupant would and provide critical seconds to implement actions to save life and property. Smoke alarms are designed to detect fire smoke and emit a loud and distinctive sound to alert occupants of potential danger." Back