There are many agencies in Australia that specialize in providing homestay services.

According to a report from Australia's Xinkuai.com, a local who has a vacant room and is hospitable and easy to get along with, intends to become a homestay to recruit students; help the children of domestic friends to find friendly and high-quality homestays in Australia. Family ads like this one appear online from time to time. Since Australia implemented the visa reform, studying abroad for younger students has begun to heat up. More and more young international students are going to Australia to study and further their studies. What has also increased is the demand for local host families, which has also brought many business opportunities.

It is understood that there are many agencies in Australia that specialize in providing homestay services. Some agencies launch different services according to the needs of different overseas study families. excellent?. The reporter learned from interviews that some local families hope to seize these business opportunities and join the ranks of homestay families, and at the same time have better exposure to different cultures.

However, the education department reminds that providing homestay services is not just about having an empty house to start boarding services. It also needs to comply with relevant government regulations and meet established standards.

Phenomenon

The popularity of homestays for younger students studying abroad is increasing

Xiao Zhang, a 15-year-old from Guangdong, just recently stayed in a homestay in the Epping district of northern Sydney. Live with a host family and prepare to attend grade 9 of a local middle school. Although he has just arrived, he is already ready to go back to China to spend Christmas with his parents in December this year. He said that according to relevant requirements, he must return to China once every six months for vacation with his parents. Xiao Zhang is very excited about the upcoming boarding life in his new home in Australia. Curiosity and longing.

Xiao Zhang is one of the many young international students who have recently gone to Australia or will go to Australia soon. Nowadays, more and more teenagers from Asian countries are sent by their families to New South Wales public schools to complete their studies and then further their studies. Recent admissions figures show there are now 3,386 international students studying in state schools, with numbers expected to rise significantly as the academic year ends in the northern hemisphere in the second half of the year.

According to the Report on the Development of Study Abroad in China (2014), the development of study abroad in China shows an obvious trend of "younger students". Chinese students account for a large proportion of international students in New South Wales public schools, and the number continues to grow. According to the reporter's understanding, Australia implemented visa reforms last year. After international students in grade 7 or above can obtain student visas, the largest increase in the number is Chinese students. Previously, Chinese students had to complete grade 9 before they could apply for a student visa to study in high school in Australia. . Taking New South Wales as an example, Chinese international students used to account for about 50% of the total number of international students in New South Wales, but this proportion has now increased to more than 60%.

At the same time, statistics from the New South Wales Department of Education show that due to the strong demand for public school degrees, as the number of young international students has continued to increase in the past four years, the demand for local host families has also increased. 4 times. In New South Wales, there were only 276 local families hosting boarding students in 2010, but this number increased to 1129 in 2014.

According to the requirements of New South Wales, overseas students under the age of 18 who enroll in local schools must have appropriate accommodation and welfare arrangements. International students from preschool to the fourth grade of elementary school must be accompanied by a parent at all times. International students in grades 5 to 8 of primary school must live with their parents or approved immediate family members, while international students in grades 9 to 12 can live with approved relatives or host families.

A rising tide lifts all boats. As more and more young international students choose to come to Australia to study and further their studies, the demand for homestay families will grow greatly.

Response

Homestay families launch VIP services to attract students

For young international students who have left home to study in Australia, it is difficult to adapt to a new country in a foreign country. Environment, learning a new language, facing cultural differences, completing academic studies, and integrating into the local community are not easy tasks. Homestay in Australia is a suitable choice. Having the support of a local family and connections to the local community will make life in Australia much easier when you first arrive.

And for international students under the age of 18, they must have appropriate accommodation and welfare arrangements in order to obtain a student visa.

More and more young international students are going to Australia, and the economic benefits it brings are also very considerable. In addition to providing a safe, comfortable, convenient and friendly accommodation environment, Australian homestay service providers have also launched different personalized services based on the characteristics of different groups to attract more students to choose to live here.

The reporter learned that some homestay providers have signed agreements to provide a series of on-site services for students studying in Australian colleges and universities, various high schools and vocational and technical education colleges (TAFE). In recent years, we have been innovating in service content and improving quality, in order to achieve a level of service that no one has and I have the best.

Some homestay providers divide the homestays they provide into two categories based on the characteristics of their customer base and customer requirements. One is standard accommodation services; others are VIP accommodation services. Homestay services are of course only available in some major cities in Australia. These homestay providers said that because more and more customers have demand for higher-quality homestay services; and some families in some big cities are also willing to spend extra time and energy to provide VIP services. In this case, these families are carefully selected by the homestay provider to become VIP homestay families.

Standard services refer to the material environment and care and support provided by standard homestay families on the market, such as rooms, basic living furniture, breakfast and dinner from Monday to Friday, laundry and bathing facilities, *** Enjoy family space and more. However, in addition to the services provided by standard homestays, VIP homestays will also provide some additional services according to the needs of students, such as private bathrooms, indoor air conditioning, local telephone services (included in the rent), special diet (such as Some are vegetarians or have other dietary needs), study guidance or other special help guidance (such as guidance on medical use), other services (such as help finding temporary jobs, guidance on driving license exams, or school transportation, etc.). Of course, this kind of VIP service also requires additional fees.

Some homestay providers will work hard to build their own brands, such as launching some charities to help some poor and backward areas in China, or providing unlimited free international long-distance calls and other services. Some organizations will provide 24/7 professional telephone support and property insurance.

Various homestay families have different backgrounds and cultures. Among the homestay families, there are families with children of the same age as the young international students staying there, as well as single elderly people, families with younger children, old couples, and children. Families who have grown up and left home, etc. In this regard, the host families provided by some homestay providers usually have one child and will go to the same school or within the same school district as the young international students.

Sound

Homestays are a popular choice

The education department reminds: there are barriers to entry

With the arrival of the craze for studying abroad at a young age, international students are facing As the demand for homestays grew, homestays gradually became an emerging industry. On some Chinese forums or in some advertisements, you can often see information about seeking accommodation for international students or finding suitable host families, and others asking how to become a host family, etc.

It is understood that in Australia, there are certain standards and entry thresholds for becoming a homestay family. The homestay family must meet established standards in terms of hardware and software. The owner of the homestay family must agree to be a host family under the age of 18. International students take on guardian/caregiver responsibilities, not just because there is a vacant room for rent.

About the responsibilities of host families in the study and life of underage international students, you can find out on the government’s education department website.

On the other hand, many schools in Australia will cooperate with multiple homestay providers to sign agreements, giving newly arrived young international students more secure choices. These schools will conduct interviews with new host families to check their ability to care for international students and then screen them. Some schools visit homestay families at least once a term and conduct annual reviews of all homestay families to ensure they meet high standards. DEC International, a subsidiary of the NSW Department of Education, has also signed agreements with a number of homestay providers that can provide a range of established services.

In NSW, homestay families must register with a homestay agency that has an agreement with the NSW Department of Education and Training and agree to allow all adults over the age of 18 living in the home to undergo working child inspections (Working Checks). With Children Check (WWCC), meet the requirements outlined in the Homestay Parent Instructions and agree to act as guardian/carer of students under the age of 18 as outlined in the Homestay Guardian/Carer Form.

According to the reporter’s understanding, the Working With Children Check standard is to better protect children and minors. The Australian government conducts relevant background checks on those who participate in early childhood education or engage in some work related to the education and care of children or minors (whether paid or voluntary work). Holding a Working with Children Check Certificate is also a prerequisite for engaging in any work with children or minors in Australia. This certificate includes a national criminal record check and past misconduct in the workplace.

The New South Wales Education Department stated that as more and more Chinese immigrate to Australia, some Chinese parents have some local relatives or friends in Australia and hope to let their children stay with these families. This is no problem. Parents of students in grades 9 to 12 can nominate their trusted relatives and friends to become their children’s host families and guardians. However, the New South Wales Education Department also reminds these parents that they should pay attention to two points: First, these nominated Chinese families in Australia must also meet the same host family requirements before they can host these young international students. Second, from the perspective of students’ language development, it is recommended that students should live in English-speaking families.

Complaints

Some people praise the boarding life and some comment on it

Homestay has always been a major way for many international students under the age of 18 to live and study after arriving in Australia. . For some international students, staying with a host family brings a sense of security and belonging. With the help of local families, they can become familiar with the local culture and lifestyle as soon as possible, and can also better improve their English. But this may not be the case for other international students. Everyone has different feelings about boarding life.

Even among relatives and friends, friction is unavoidable under the same roof, not to mention the interactions between people from two different countries, which involve interests, mutual responsibilities and obligations. Due to differences in cultural background, religion, living habits, etc., it is not uncommon for some conflicts to occur between international students and their host families.

Some international students report that some host family owners are strict in terms of food and beverages, and have many restrictions on other aspects of life, such as the use of the Internet, washing machines, bathrooms, etc., and bringing friends home to play together. These make boarding life unpleasant.

A Chinese international student studying at a university in Sydney said that the host family she lived in stipulated that no meal would be left after 15 minutes after dinner time. Sometimes she would be hungry when she got home late due to traffic problems. Belly. But sometimes the host prepares breakfast half an hour later than the prescribed time, but it doesn't matter. There are other rules about doing laundry once a week etc that are also unacceptable.

The owner of the homestay also had something to say.

One host said that some of the international students he had received were not conscious about some living habits, such as taking a bath for more than 45 minutes, running the washing machine once to wash several pairs of socks, opening and closing doors very loudly at night, and not turning off the lights smoothly when going out. Wait,

Role models

Chinese international students are commended

Do not forget to thank? On behalf of their parents?

From major homestay centers Judging from the situations reported and comparing the questions frequently asked by homestay hosts and international students, many of them are about each other's living habits. If some life matters are clearly stipulated at the beginning, discussed openly and honestly, and then mutually abide by them, a lot of unnecessary trouble will be avoided.

Similarly, many international students get along well with their host families and become good friends, and they still maintain good contact even after they leave. For the guardians of these host families who live under the same roof, some international students will affectionately call them "Dad" or "Mom". These "acting parents" are the guardians of international students in Australia and are responsible for a series of matters such as the students' safety, academic studies, daily life and food, and school communication.

At the 2013 NSW International Student of the Year Awards ceremony, an international student from China won the grand prize. At that time, New South Wales Deputy Governor Andrew Stoner presented awards to international students in recognition of their efforts and contributions to the cultural diversity of the New South Wales community. The Chinese international student participated with the couple from the host family where he lived. In his acceptance speech, he thanked his teachers and friends, as well as the host couple who provided him with a lot of help. He invited the couple to attend because he hoped to share this important and unforgettable moment with them. He regarded the couple as his close friends and elders whom he respected. The couple was as excited as if their child had won a grand prize.