Host Families

Frequently Asked Questions

Students

Frequently Asked
Questions.

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Families apply to host for many reasons.  Sometimes they want to expose their children to other cultures, sometimes their children have left home and they are missing the company of young people.  Sometimes their homes are just feeling a little empty. What all our Hosts have in common is a desire to help, share their knowledge and experience, and learn about different people and cultures.

When we receive an application from a family, we first check if they live in a suitable area. That means being close to public transport, shops and reasonably near the school or university. Then, we pay them a visit. We take a look around the house and student bedrooms, and we have a chat with the family to make sure they’re a good fit. We’re interested in why they want to host, their background, their interests, and their previous hosting experience.

The majority of our students attend UWA Claremont, UWA Nedlands and Curtin University in Bentley, however we do place students all over the Perth metro area. We prefer to keep students within 45 minutes by public transport of the school they are attending, but will consider homes a bit farther afield. Families within close proximity to schools are generally given first choice.

Students either walk, (the lucky ones), or need to rely on public transport.

It is hoped that a friend or member of the Host family is able to take the student, by public transport, to the school on or before their first day to orientate them. Please give your students clear instructions how to get to and from school.  This is the Transperth Journey Planner website. Make sure your student has your address phone number before they leave the home and please take note of their mobile phone number, even if International.

Talkabout Tours have been providing Homestay accommodation in Perth since 1999 and so have a great deal of experience and knowledge when it comes to hosting students and are readily available to answer any questions you may have. Our office hours are 9-5.00 weekdays, but we also have an after hours emergency number. If our phones are busy, and they often are, leave a message and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Alternatively, send us an email. If you are having problems with your student, we like to know as soon as possible to nip any potential difficulties in the bud. If you would like your student to leave your home early, please give them 2 weeks notice and let us know. If the problem is serious we will act swiftly to rectify.

Almost all students will will have had some English training but their proficiency will vary. Remember though, their goal is to improve these skills through homestay and having conversations with you. You will need to be patient, curious, kind and respectful, especially at first as you navigate new communication

As a Host you need to provide the student with their own furnished bedroom, access to laundry facilities and a quiet area to study. Homestay also needs to provide breakfasts (these can be on a “prepare yourself” basis) a substantial cooked dinner (meat and vegetables) and lunch (prepare yourself basis) on weekends. Weekday lunches are occasionally required but this is by prior arrangement and extra remuneration is provided. Hosts must be prepared to spend time talking to their students particularly over the dinner table, this is especially important to students learning English when they arrive. Remember though, their goal is to improve these skills through homestay and having conversations with you. You will need to be patient, curious, kind and respectful, especially at first as you navigate new communication.

• A private, furnished room with a window, a bed, wardrobe, drawers and bedside light
• A desk in the bedroom or a quiet area in the home for study
• Adequate heating and cooling
• Utilities (gas and electricity)
• Meals- A substantial dinner, breakfasts and lunch on weekends
• Communal sundries such as toilet paper and soap and basic items such as light bulbs.
• Linen and towels Laundry access
• Television access
• Internet access.  This is very important for students.  Student access is generally limited to emails and for study purposes – not streaming or downloading movies.
• A safe, friendly, caring environment

• Weekday lunches unless by prior or private arrangement
• Personal toiletries

Students are expected to respect the family they are staying with and abide by your house rules. It is a good idea to let them to let them know your meal times, security procedures, washing schedule etc. when they first arrive. Just as you are expected to treat students as part of the family, students are expected to act as a member of the family and keep their room tidy and help around the house just as any family member would. It is hoped that students will join in with family activities, have dinner with their Hosts and not lock themselves away in their rooms. This can’t be enforced, only encouraged. Students are expected to let you know if they won’t be home for dinner or will be staying out overnight. They are not allowed to bring friends home without your permission.

Remuneration depends on the age of the students and the meal options chosen.  Click here for current rates 

Talkabout collects all funds and pays into your nominated bank account weekly for the duration of your student’s stay.

Up to two Homestay students is non-assessable, non-declarable income, so is tax-free.

Homestay income is 20% assessable if you are a pensioner, so, if you earn $310 per week for hosting a student, only $62 if considered income.  Pensioners are permitted to earn $102 per week without affecting the pension, so, could host 2 students for most of the year and the pension would not be affected.

Here is the government website link for more information https://guides.dss.gov.au/social-security-guide/4/3/8/40

It is always a good idea to check with your accountant as individual circumstances can differ,

Students can ask for any length of time from 1 week to 3 years but usually it is just 4 or 5 weeks while they see how things go. They commonly ask to stay on after the requested time- this is by mutual consent. Either party can terminate the Homestay arrangement by giving 2 weeks notice at any time.

We often get large groups here on Study Tours, particularly January to March and June to September who are here anywhere from 1 to 8 weeks.

It is completely up to you if you would prefer long, short or medium term students.

Under 18 year old students attending High School will usually request much longer Hosting and cannot change Homestay without prior consent from Talkabout Tours.

Once you complete the application, interview, and background checks and are a certified host, we begin the process of matching you to the right guest. This can happen right away or could take months, depending on demand in your area and what students match with your lifestyle and preferences. We are busiest from June to September and January to March.

Every permanent member of the household who is over 18 years old will require a Police Clearance. If you wish to host under 18yrs students, every permanent member of the household over 18yrs will also require a Working with Children check. Talkabout Tours can help with both of these at highly discounted rates.

It is a  requirement that Hosts have appropriate public liability insurance to protect themselves and students and ideally coverage for students’ belongings. Students are liable for no more than $500 for accidental damage to your property or goods. Please check with your insurer. With many of the larger insurers, this is just a case of calling them and, in some cases there is a slight re-wording of your policy which is normally free of charge. Talkabout Tours can help with this.  There is newly available Host Family specific insurance policy covering accidental damage by students and includes a public liability component for about $200 per year if required. 

Please treat your students as you would expect a family overseas to treat your children. Students over 18 years old are adults and are able to come and go as they please but it is important you let them know that Perth is not necessarily safe and to take precautions when out at night. For under 18’s the Duty of Care is much greater and this will be explained to you should you wish to host younger students.

For a minor illness such as flu and cough, students should go to your local family doctor. Ideally you, a relative, friend or neighbor are able and available to take the student there. Students are responsible for all costs, although some may be claimed back through their health insurance.

For any serious illness, please take your student to the local hospital to get emergency care and immediately notify Talkabout who will notify the school/university, agent and/or parents. Health insurance may cover most of the costs.

Students may need to obtain a medical certificate to present to your university for any time off during the normal study term when visiting a doctor and/or hospital.