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How We Vet and Inspect Our Host Families at Global experience

Every host family in the Global experience network has been through a five-step vetting and approval process before any student is placed with them. No family joins our network through a shortcut, a referral alone, or an online form. We visit every home in person. We check every adult. We sit down and talk with every prospective host family before they are approved.

This article explains exactly what that process involves, what we look for at each stage, and what it means for you as a student.

Quick Answer

  • All host families must pass five steps: application and identity verification, Working With Children Check, in-person home inspection, personal interview, and orientation.
  • All adults in the household must hold a current Working With Children Check, regardless of the student's age.
  • Our team visits every home in person before approving it for placement.
  • Families whose WWCC is suspended are removed from our network immediately.
  • Once placed, your welfare is monitored throughout your stay. Welfare calls and check-ins happen during every placement.
  • If your school has a relationship with Global experience, your booking may need to come through your school. Check with us first.
A Global experience team member conducting an in-person home inspection for student homestay approval.

The Five Steps

Step 1: The Application and Identity Verification

Every prospective host family begins by submitting a detailed application. This includes the names and dates of birth of all adults living in the household, their relationship to each other, details about the property and the student bedroom, household rules, pets, dietary practices, and availability.

We verify the identities of all adults in the household as part of this step. The information collected here forms the foundation for every step that follows.

Step 2: Working With Children Check

All adults living in the household must hold a current Working With Children Check (WWCC), or the equivalent in their state or territory. This is not optional and applies regardless of whether the student being placed is under 18.

We verify each WWCC directly. Families with any adult whose WWCC is not current, not held, or is suspended are not approved. If a family is already in our network and an adult's WWCC is later suspended, that family is removed from our network immediately.

The WWCC requirement reflects a straightforward standard: any adult sharing a home with an international student must be cleared to work with and around vulnerable people. We hold every family to that standard without exception.

Step 3: The In-Person Home Inspection

A member of the Global experience team visits every prospective host home in person. We do not approve properties based on photographs or self-reported descriptions alone.

During the inspection, we assess:

  • The student bedroom: size, bed, storage, natural light, ventilation, cleanliness, and privacy (a door that closes and locks).
  • Bathroom access: dedicated or shared, cleanliness, and reasonable access times.
  • Common areas: living room, dining area, and kitchen access for the student.
  • Safety features: working smoke detectors on every level, clear fire exits, no visible hazards.
  • Overall home condition: Is this a home where a student will feel comfortable and cared for?

Properties that do not meet our standards are not approved, even if every other step has been completed satisfactorily. We reserve the right to re-inspect any home at any time.

Step 4: The Personal Interview

We meet with every prospective host family in person. The interview is not a formality. We are looking to understand:

  • Why the family wants to host an international student
  • How they handle conflict, dietary differences, and communication challenges
  • Whether their household dynamic is one that supports a student's study and wellbeing
  • Their English communication level and their openness to hosting students from different cultural backgrounds
  • Their flexibility around schedules, meal preferences, and student independence

Families who cannot demonstrate a genuine commitment to student welfare, or whose motivation for hosting gives us reason for concern, are not approved.

Step 5: Orientation and Ongoing Monitoring

Approved host families complete an orientation before their first student placement. The orientation covers their responsibilities as a host, Global experience's communication expectations, how to handle common issues that arise with students, and who to contact if something goes wrong.

Host family participation in our network is ongoing, not once-off. We conduct welfare calls with students and host families throughout every placement. Our multilingual team is available in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Bahasa Indonesia, Spanish, Portuguese and Tagalog so students can communicate welfare concerns in their own language if needed.

What This Means for You as a Student

By the time you move into your homestay, your host family has:

  • Had their identity confirmed
  • Had every adult in the household cleared with a current Working With Children Check
  • Had their home inspected in person by our team
  • Sat down with our team for a personal interview
  • Completed orientation on their responsibilities to you

This process does not guarantee that every homestay is perfect. Relationships between students and host families are human, and sometimes they require adjustment. But it does mean that no family in our network was approved without scrutiny, and that we remain available throughout your placement if any concern arises.

What Happens If Something Goes Wrong

If you have a concern about your host family at any point during your placement, contact your Global experience team member directly. We take every welfare concern seriously and respond promptly.

Depending on the nature of the concern, we may arrange a welfare visit, a mediation conversation with your host family, or a transfer to a new family. If the situation requires immediate action, we have the capacity to arrange alternative accommodation quickly. You will never be asked to stay somewhere that feels unsafe.

In any immediate emergency, call 000 first. Then contact us.

Frequently Asked Questions: Host Family Vetting at Global experience

How does Global experience vet host families in Australia?

Global experience vets host families through a five-step process: application and identity verification, Working With Children Check for all adults in the household, an in-person home inspection, a personal interview, and a host family orientation. A family must pass every step before any student is placed with them.

Do all adults in a homestay household get background checked?

Yes. All adults living in the household must hold a current Working With Children Check (or state equivalent), regardless of whether the student being placed is under 18 or not. This is non-negotiable and applies to every adult in the home.

Does Global experience visit the host family home before placing a student?

Yes. An in-person home inspection is a mandatory part of our vetting process. Our team visits every prospective host home to inspect the student bedroom, bathroom access, common areas, safety features, and overall home condition. No student is placed in a home that has not been inspected by our team in person.

How often are host families re-inspected by Global experience?

Host family homes may be re-inspected at any time during the host family's time in our network, not only at initial application. Welfare calls and check-ins happen throughout every student placement. If a concern is flagged by a student, their school, or an agent, we investigate promptly and re-inspect if needed.

What disqualifies a family from becoming a homestay host with Global experience?

Families are disqualified if any adult in the household has a suspended Working With Children Check. Families whose property does not meet our inspection standards, or who do not demonstrate a genuine commitment to student welfare in their personal interview, are also not approved. Once approved, a family whose WWCC is suspended is removed from our network immediately.

Choosing a Provider You Can Trust

The strength of any homestay network comes down to the rigour of its vetting process. At Global experience, our process has been refined over 27 years and more than 250,000 student placements. We believe transparency about how that process works is owed to every student who trusts us with their accommodation.

If your school has a relationship with Global experience, your booking may need to come through your school. Check with us first and we will confirm the right process for you.