International Students (Home Stay Arrangements)

An international student under 18 years of age seeking enrolment at the College may be approved to reside with a person or persons other than a parent or nominated suitable relative.
Subject to the family meeting the conditions, the College may accept responsibility to approve the accommodation and welfare arrangements for the student in compliance with the provisions of the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act.
The home stay arrangements in this policy set out the requirements necessary for these arrangements to be approved. This policy applies to all parents and students enrolled as international students.

CRICOS means the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students.
ESOS means the Education Services Overseas Student Act 2000.
PRISMS means the Provider Registration International Student Management System.

The College will require the student to read and accept the Code of Conduct (Students) governing his or her behaviour whilst residing with a home stay family. Students are expected to observe both the Home Stay Student Regulations and Code of Conduct (Students).

The College will endorse on the home stay and enrolment forms the period for which the approval of accommodation and acceptance of welfare arrangements is valid.
The period in which the welfare arrangements are valid will be for the duration of the Confirmation of Enrolment (COE) plus a margin of at least seven days. These dates will be communicated to the Department using the Provider Registration and International Student Management system (PRISMS).
Neither the COE nor the welfare arrangements may extend beyond the period for which the College is registered under CRICOS.

The Finance Manager will represent the College in establishing the suitability of all home stay residences.
Where possible, families with students enrolled at the College will be approached to consider becoming providers of home stay accommodation.
The Finance Manager or their delegate will visit the residence before accepting a family under the arrangement and, once per semester thereafter, to establish that the standard of accommodation, support, and welfare is acceptable, having regard for the age and needs of the student. The College will satisfy itself on the following matters at least once a semester:
1. The location of the residence is within reasonable proximity for the campus the student will attend, either directly or by proximity to the College bus or public transport routes.
2. The accommodation is clean, safe, welcoming, and suitably private, having regard for the age and gender of the student.
3. Ablution facilities are separate, hygienic, and private.
4. Kitchen facilities are safe, hygienic, and adequately equipped.
5. The home stay family has sufficient spiritual, financial, and emotional means to meet the needs of an additional young person in the home, and that there are no apparent practical difficulties with hosting a student.
6. All persons over 18 years residing in the home will obtain and maintain a valid Working with Children Check and provide evidence of this to the College’s representative upon request.

Once the Finance Manager is satisfied that the family meets the criteria for acceptance, the family will be approved as a home stay family.
The family will sign a document in acceptance of their obligations under the arrangement (see Acceptance of Terms for Home Stay Families).
Should the College or its representative not approve a family under the arrangement, this will be communicated to the family. The College is not obliged to give reasons for its decision but may do so at its discretion.

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