For students living away from their families, the College has its own Homestay Accommodation Program, providing 24 hours a day, seven days a week support to students and homestay families, as required. The College have staff available, at all times, to assist international students.
Students who live with a homestay family are provided with three meals each day, have their own bedroom, including a bed and all bedding, a desk with appropriate lighting for study and Internet facilities. A bathroom is normally shared with other family members.
The College homestay families are carefully selected and all homes have been inspected and approved by the College. Homestay families, hosting a student under 18 years of age, must undergo Police checks by the Queensland Government and, once approved, the homestay receives a “Blue Card”. This process ensures that the environment for the international student is safe and appropriate and any risk of harm is minimised.
Our College homestay families enjoy having an international student living in their home. They provide a caring and nurturing environment, while sharing their Australian life and culture. International students have the opportunity to be immersed in the English language, improving their language skills on a daily basis.
Australian families do not normally employ household staff, although they may hire a person to occasionally visit and clean or to look after the garden. Usually every family member (including the international student) is expected to help with jobs in the home, for example, assisting other family members with cleaning, cooking, shopping and tidying.