Living with a homestay
SELC’s Accommodation Department visit and interview families in the Eastern Suburbs. We choose families who are friendly and are able to provide good quality accommodation.
There are many different kinds of families:
* parents with children or teenagers
* married couples with no children
* single parent family
* elderly couples
* single women
As Australia is a multi-cultural country, some homestay families may originally be from another country. Homestay families may live in a house or an apartment. Generally, most homestays are located no more than 30 minutes from SELC by public transport.
Some families take more than one student so you may be living in the same home as another student. We do not place two students of the same nationality in the same homestay, unless requested.
Homestay accommodation gives you a wonderful opportunity to learn and practise your English. Staying with an Australian family is also a great cultural experience as you interact daily with local people.
Please remember:
Homestay is NOT a hotel! Your homestay host is not a servant but rather a person who is offering you a bedroom and facilities in his/her home and wishes to find out more about you and your country.
Try to become part of the home by joining in the life of the host family and offering to help where possible. We ask that you behave like a member of the family, being helpful, considerate and pleasant at all times.
Homestay Rules
Your stay will be a most enjoyable experience if you follow the simple rules below.
1. Go home before the usual dinner time of your family. It is important to tell your host when you know that you will not be home for dinner.
2. Ask if you can help with dinner.
3. Ask permission to use the washing machine, phone, TV, etc.
4. Pay your homestay host for all phone calls or internet use directly. DO NOT use the phone for more than 5 minutes.
5. Please clean you own bedroom. Ask your host how to do this.
6. Wash your own clothes and do your own ironing.
7. Do not use the bathroom for more than 10-15 minutes.
8. Clean the bathroom after you use it.
9. Clean the kitchen after you use it.
10. Use your own toiletries (e.g. toothpaste, soap). Buy your own washing powder.
11. Ask permission before you invite friends to your home.
12. Try to speak as much English as possible.
13. Say “hello” and “good-bye” to your homestay host.
14. Your friends should not stay late at night.
15. Turn TV and lights off at night.
16. Lock the doors when leaving and when you come back home.
AN EXTRA RULE FOR STUDENTS UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE:
17. Your curfew is:
Aged 16 – Home by 9.00pm
Aged 17 – Home by 10.00pm
Please do not return home after this time unless you have permission from your homestay host. Always tell your homestay host where you are going at night and give a telephone contact number and address whenever possible.
What does Homestay include?
When you stay with a homestay arranged by SELC, you can expect:
* a private room with: a bed, a desk or a table, a chair, a lamp, storage space for personal belongings
* breakfast and dinner every day (half-board) OR use of kitchen facilities (room & facilities)
* a house key
* bed linen
* to practise your English with the family on a regular basis
* a safe environment
IMPORTANT NOTE: SELC homestay is available only while you are a student at SELC.
