Homestay in Brisbane: a checked local family, and a whole College behind them
Your child lives with a Blue Card-checked Australian family, in their own room, with 24/7 support from the College.
- Blue Card (Working with Children) checked
- Home visited and approved by JPC staff
- 24/7 pastoral care and emergency line
- Supervised study after school
How JPC chooses and checks your child’s host family
You are never trusting a stranger. Every John Paul College host family is found, checked, trained and supported by our own homestay team – not by an outside agency. Here is exactly what happens before your child moves in.
A Blue Card for every adult
Every adult in the home must hold a Blue Card. This is Queensland’s Working with Children Check, run by the state government.
We visit the home first
College staff visit every home before a student is placed. We check the bedroom, the household and the travel time to school.
We keep checking
Homes are inspected again regularly while your child is living there, so they stay safe and suitable all year.
Families are trained
Host families are trained by our homestay team before they host, and supported by the same team every week afterwards.
A 24/7 line, all year
A dedicated team and a 24/7 pastoral care and emergency line mean help is always close, day or night.
One point of contact
You deal directly with the College, never a distant third-party agency. One team knows your child, and knows you.
John Paul College takes full responsibility for the welfare of international students under 18, in both homestay and boarding, under our CRICOS obligations (CRICOS 00500B). If a placement is not the right match, talk to the homestay team – students can be moved to a different family.
The JPC Quality
Most homestay programs stop at a bed and a meal. Every JPC host family is chosen, trained and supported by our own homestay team. And every JPC student has somewhere supervised to be between the last bell and dinner.
Extended Day Program
Homework support, wellbeing workshops and a community dinner every Tuesday and Thursday – a real support system, not just a place to sleep.
See how it worksThe JPC CARE Framework
Connect, Achieve, Respect, Empower – the four-part care plan behind every homestay placement JPC makes.
Explore the frameworkInside a JPC Homestay Family
Two minutes inside the Brisbane homes that host our students. We have placed students with local families since 1997. Our own homestay team chooses, trains and supports every one of them.
Watch video
Extended Day Program
Learning and support continue after class. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the Extended Day Program gives students supervised homework help, a wellbeing workshop, after-school activities like sport and music, and a community dinner with staff. It is included in Premium Homestay at no extra cost.
Extended Day Program begins
Students are collected from school.
Homework Support & Workshops
Supervised study, mentoring and wellbeing workshops.
Community Dinner
Students enjoy a healthy dinner together with staff.
Return Home
Door-to-door bus transport to homestay families.
The JPC CARE Framework
CARE stands for Connect, Achieve, Respect and Empower. It is the four-part plan our staff and host families follow for every student, so nobody is left to cope alone.
A checked local family. A 24/7 contact.
Someone who notices
when your child has a hard week.
Connect
Building meaningful relationships with students, host families, staff and the wider JPC community.
Achieve
Supporting academic growth through structured study, goal setting and personalised guidance.
Respect
Every student feels safe, respected and heard – whatever their culture, language or religion.
Empower
Developing confidence, independence and leadership skills to prepare students for future success.
of everything
we do
A Day in the Life
Premium Homestay StudentA structured day with the perfect balance of learning, support and family life.
See Full Daily Schedule
Morning at Home
Breakfast with the host family and prepare for school.
School
Engaging classes, activities and friendships.
Extended Day Program
Homework support, workshops and community dinner.
Evening with Family
Quality time, dinner and relaxation.
Rest & Recharge
Prepare for tomorrow and get a good night's sleep.
What is included in JPC Premium Homestay?
Homestay at John Paul College is $23,884 per year (AUD), covering 46 weeks of residence. There is one fee, and this is what it covers.
- Their own bedroom in a family home, with a desk to study at.
- Meals with the family – breakfast, and dinner together each evening.
- The Extended Day Program on Tuesdays and Thursdays, at no extra cost.
- Door-to-door transport home after the Extended Day Program.
- 24/7 pastoral care and an emergency line, all year.
- 46 weeks of residence, including most term breaks.
- Dietary and religious needs matched at placement – just tell us on the application.
- Family life – weekends, outings and everyday Australian home routines.
More Than a Place to Stay, a Place to Belong
They made me feel I was part of their family — they treated me like their own child. They taught me a lot of English and helped me through the language difficulties I faced.
– Kris Pyun, South Korea
Living away from home helped me learn to make my own decisions — and take responsibility for the results. My homestay family was unfailingly kind.
– Caesar Qiu, China
I still remember reading kindergarten books with my homestay father every night. My homestay families were unfailingly kind and always helped with my studies.
– Ken Kondo, Japan
It got me through a lot of language barriers — how to go to the bus stop, how to go to the city — that kind of support homestay provided.
– John Song, Hong KongHomestay questions parents ask
How does John Paul College check its homestay families?
Every adult in a John Paul College homestay must hold a Blue Card, which is Queensland’s Working with Children Check. Before a student is placed, College staff visit the home to check it is safe and suitable. Homes are inspected again regularly while a student is living there. Host families are chosen, trained and supported by the College’s own in-house homestay team, not by an outside agency.
How much does homestay at John Paul College cost?
Homestay at John Paul College is AUD $23,884 per year, covering 46 weeks of residence. This includes the student’s own room, meals with the host family, and the Extended Day Program with door-to-door transport home. Full details are on the College fee schedule.
Is homestay safe for a student under 18?
John Paul College takes full responsibility for the welfare of international students under 18 in homestay. A dedicated team and a 24/7 pastoral care and emergency line mean help is always available. Parents deal directly with the College rather than a third-party agency.
What happens after school each day in JPC homestay?
On Tuesdays and Thursdays students join the Extended Day Program on campus from 3:30pm. It includes supervised homework support and mentoring, a wellbeing workshop, and a community dinner with staff. A bus then takes students door-to-door back to their homestay family by about 6:30pm.
What if the homestay family is not the right match?
Students can be moved to a different homestay family. Contact the College homestay team and they will arrange a new placement. An accommodation relocation fee applies with prior approval.
Can a homestay family cater for special dietary or religious needs?
Yes. Tell the homestay team about dietary, medical or religious requirements on the accommodation application, and students are matched to a family who can meet them.
More questions about studying at JPC? Read the full FAQ • Ask our International team
Ready to Experience Premium Homestay?
Give your child a safe home, daily study support, and a family who looks out for them.
Live in Brisbane and interested in welcoming an international student? Become a JPC host family