Information for Homestay Providers
Becoming a homestay provider for international students is a rewarding experience that fosters lifelong connections and cultural exchange. By welcoming a student into your home, you play a vital role in their Australian journey, providing a safe and supportive environment while sharing your lifestyle and traditions.
Many of our homestay providers find that one of the most rewarding aspects of the program is the lifelong bonds and friendships that develop between their family and the international students they host. These connections often continue well beyond the student's time in Australia, creating lasting relationships across the globe.
What is Required?
As a homestay provider, you are responsible for:
- Providing a clean, secure and welcoming home with a private bedroom and study area. The bedroom should provide suitable storage for their clothes and personal belongings.
- Supplying three nutritious meals per day plus access to snacks.
- Ensuring that all occupants aged 18 or over have a current Blue Card.
- Attending homestay provider information sessions delivered by the school.
- Supporting your student's cultural experience and helping them adapt to Australian life.
Homestay Benefits
- You will receive a fortnightly payment of $738.00 to cover meals and homestay expenses.
- Enjoy the cultural enrichment that comes with hosting an international student.
- Access ongoing support from our International team.
Join Our Homestay Community
Caloundra State High School is currently seeking new Homestay Families to host our international students. If you are interested in becoming a part of this program, please contact our International Homestay Coordinator at international@caloundrashs.eq.edu.au .
Homestay recruitment process
- Complete the homestay application form and email it to the team at international@caloundrashs.eq.edu.au or phone the team on 04
- The team will contact you to arrange a home visit to ensure cleanliness, appropriate furnishings and facilities are in place.
- The team will provide you with a comprehensive homestay information pack to ensure your visiting student has a fulfilling homestay experience
For more information about being a homestay, refer to the Homestay Handbook and the FAQ page.
Information for International Students
Living with an Australian homestay family is a key part of your study experience in Australia. Your homestay family will welcome you into their home and provide a supportive environment where you can improve your English, experience Australian culture, and build meaningful relationships.
All homestay families are carefully selected by our International Homestay Coordinator, ensuring they provide a safe, comfortable, and welcoming home. Host families live close to the school or the beach, giving you the opportunity to enjoy the best of the Sunshine Coast lifestyle. Your homestay family could be big or small. It might be just one person or a large family with other children. We will try our best to match you with the right family for you – people that like the same things you do.
What to Expect in a Homestay
To make the most of your homestay experience, we encourage you to:
✅ Speak English at home to improve your language skills.
✅ Be open-minded and willing to try new experiences.
✅ Share information about your culture, family, and traditions.
✅ Make Australian friends and avoid speaking your native language exclusively.
✅ Offer to help with household chores as a family member would.
✅ Actively participate in family activities and outings.
✅ Join family dinners and engage in conversations at the table.
✅ Explore as much of the Sunshine Coast and Queensland as possible.
✅ Take responsibility for your belongings and personal space.
✅ Always be respectful and appreciative of your host family.
Your Safety & Wellbeing
The safety and well-being of our international students is our top priority. All homestay families are screened, and their homes are inspected to ensure they provide a safe, comfortable, and welcoming environment. Each family also undergoes a police and criminal history check before being approved as a host.
By embracing your homestay experience, you will develop lifelong connections, gain independence, and fully immerse yourself in Australian culture.