Information for hosts

Welcome hosts

Our Homestay hosts welcome students into their home and encourage them to experience life as a member of the family. Hosts come in all shapes and sizes including families, couples and single people. No previous experience is required - just the ability to provide warm, friendly and welcoming environment.

Upcoming Study Tour group hosting opportunities

February & March 2025 arrivals

Group: Japanese and Chinese adult students 
Arrival: February & March 2025
Duration: 2 to 5 weeks
Room requirements:  Single bedroom
Host location: Hosts should live within 45 minutes by public transport from UOW Wollongong campus
Host payment: $350 per week


Interesting in finding out more about these opportunities? Submit an enquiry and one of our friendly Homestay team will get in touch.

Benefits of becoming a host

The benefits of becoming a Homestay host go beyond simply financial gain and include:

  • Unique cultural experience: Gain insight into another culture while sharing the Australian lifestyle with students.
  • Social and community connection: Meet students from around the globe and join a network of Homestay hosts across the Illawarra.
  • Lifelong friendships: Build lasting relationships with international students and fellow Homestay hosts.
  • Make an impact: help a young student adapt to life in Australia and enhance their language skills, making a meaningful difference in their journey.

Host requirements

If you have any questions, please refer to our FAQs for hosts.

Hosts come in all shapes and sizes and can include:

  • Couples and single people
  • Homes with or without children
  • People of all ages including older and middle aged hosts

We take the time to consider the needs of the student and host to find most suitable match. Our Homestay team will inspect each home prior to placing a student, and keep in regular contact during the host period.

A clean home with the appropriate furnishings suitable for a student. The student’s room must be safe, secure and private with suitable storage for clothes, and include a bed (including all bedding), desk, chair and adequate lighting for study purposes.

They will have access to shared spaces like the living room, kitchen and bathroom, with sufficient time allowed for showers.

Hosts should live very close to public transport and be within 30 minutes travel to UOW. Hosts who live outside of this area are restricted to hosting study tour students, who require daily delivery/pickup to and from the campus.

Students must be provided with breakfast and dinner each day, and lunch on the weekends. Prepare what you would normally make for the household, but it’s recommended to ask early on if your student has any specific likes or dislikes.

  • Breakfast can be self-service with cereals and toast.
  • Lunches are only required to be provided on the weekend, and can be a sandwich, salad or pasta.
  • Dinner each night is an opportunity to sit down with your student and catch up on each other’s days.
  • Snacks - we sometimes receive feedback that students are hungry but too shy to ask for more food, so we recommend having noodles and other inexpensive snacks available in the pantry.

All hosts must have internet access for study purposes and to aid communication with the student's family and friends at home.

All people in the home, who are over 18, will require a Working with Children Check.

Host rates

Fee type 2024 rates 2025 rates
Homestay Host Reimbursement Rate: Single $315 per week $350 per week
Homestay Host Reimbursement Rate: Twin
Study tour students only
$574 per week ($287 per student) $644 per week ($322 per student)

 

Fee type 2024 rates 2025 rates
Homestay Host Reimbursement Rate: Single $350 per week $399 per week
Homestay Host Reimbursement Rate: Twin
Study tour students only
$644 per week ($322 per student) $714 per week ($357 per student)
Fee type 2024 rates 2025 rates
Transfer to campus: single bedroom
(Study Tour students only)
$20 per day $30 per day
Transfer to campus: twin/triple share bedroom
(Study Tour students only)
$10 per day $15 per day
Packed lunch $10 per day $15 per day

 

Want to know more?

Submit an enquiry about becoming a host
Apply to become a host
Existing Account Login