MLC HOMESTAY RESPONSIBILITIES AND GUIDELINES
The following responsibilities and guidelines have been prepared to assist in your role as a Homestay Host –
1.
Provide a safe and welcoming family environment for your Homestay student to live in. Please clearly
explain household rules and brief your student fully on the use of household facilities.
2.
Take all necessary steps to ensure that the welfare and health of your Homestay student is protected
and relevant support is provided, as required. If a critical incident arises with your MLC student,
please contact the relevant authorities immediately followed by the school and guardian (if relevant).
3.
It is a requirement of the Homestay program that each adult person (18 years and over) who ordinarily
lives in the Homestay host’s household at any time provides evidence of a current Working with
Children Check (WWCC) and completes the MLC Child Safe Induction.
4.
Make an effort to interact and be proactive in communication in English with your Homestay student (if
she is an international student) and to assist the student with their English communication skills.
5.
Make all efforts to honour the commitment made to host a student for an agreed period of time. If
unforeseen circumstances prevent a Homestay host from fulfilling their hosting responsibilities it is the
obligation of the Homestay host to give the school as much advance notice as possible.
6.
Provide the school with all relevant up to date information regarding the details of your household and
its members, including any changes to the house (such as renovations), the number of
people/students staying in your home and details of frequent visitors. Please inform the College when
contact details change.
7.
If you intend to go on holidays or away overnight which means the student will be left without adult
supervision, please notify the guardian and Homestay Co-ordinator regarding your plans. MLC
Homestay students cannot be left overnight without adult supervision, which means an adult approved
by MLC who has completed the necessary clearance checks such as WWCC and Child Safety
Induction is required.
8.
Treat your Homestay student as though they are a member of the family/household, whilst giving due
regard to different cultural backgrounds. You should apply the same standards as you would to a
natural member of the family. Be suitably strict with your Homestay student when giving permission
for outings, taking in to consideration their age, maturity and reliability.
9.
MLC International students have overseas health cover which covers them for the entire length of
their Visa. The guardian will advise the student about the health card and how it works. Many
International students come from countries where if you are sick you go to the hospital and the
concept of the local GP is not familiar to them. In the event of any medical emergency please contact
the guardian and school after calling 000.
10.
Make a concerted effort to be aware of your Homestay student’s whereabouts at all times. We
encourage you as responsible hosts to set house rules by which the students should abide. The
Homestay Co-ordinator will meet with you, the student and guardian to support and explain the MLC
Homestay Responsibility Agreement.
11.
Provide a bedroom solely for your Homestay student, containing a comfortable bed with clean linen
and blankets, bedside table with reading lamp, desk with comfortable study chair and desk lamp,
MLC HOMESTAY RESPONSIBILITIES AND GUIDELINES
bookshelf, access to the internet, waste paper basket, appropriate storage space/wardrobe, laundry
basket, appropriate heating, cooling and ventilation and access to family areas in the home.
12.
Ensure the student’s bedroom is ready for their arrival, as they may be tired and hungry after their
travel. Please contact the parent/guardian and Homestay Co-ordinator when the student arrives and
please encourage the student to call their family regarding their safe arrival.
13.
Ensure students (Year 8-10) arrive at school by 8.20am for Roll Call each morning. Homestay hosts
must ensure that guardians have contacted the school if the student is absent from school. Please
phone or email the relevant School (JSS, MS, SS) by 9.15am on the day of absence with the
student’s name, home group/tutor groupl, anticipated length of absence and reason for absence. A
further call is required if the anticipated period of absence is extended, in which case a doctor’s
certificate is required. Please take the student to the doctor when necessary.
14.
Collection of the Homestay fee, which is paid fortnightly or monthly in advance by the student’s
parents. The arrangement must be confirmed with the student’s guardian/parents and Homestay Coordinator. It is advised to provide a receipt for all payments to the student and let the school know
immediately if the Homestay arrangements alter in any way or the financial obligations of the student
are not being met.
15.
Two weeks’ notice in writing is usual and must be given by the student to the Homestay Host and
Homestay Co-ordinator if the Homestay arrangements have changed with prior permission from the
School.
16.
Provide full board, consisting of breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven days a week (making available a
cut lunch for school days). To the best of your ability please be flexible in regard to food, taking into
consideration your student’s eating habits as well as their country of origin. Usually students make
their own breakfast. Please encourage your student to try and get up early enough to eat a healthy
breakfast before leaving for school. Foods offered should include cereals, bread, milk, juice, fruit and
eggs and encourage your student to discuss preferences on a regular basis. Arrangements for lunch
may vary from Homestay to Homestay. Sometimes students take leftovers from the previous night’s
dinner that can be eaten cold, sometimes a cut lunch consisting of sandwiches, fruit and a snack that
you or the student have prepared, or they may prefer to buy their lunch at the school canteen, at their
own expense.
17.
Snack food is something that also differs from Homestay to Homestay. Seasonal fruit should be
readily available to the student. Some Homestay hosts encourage students to help themselves to the
contents in the fridge and pantry but others expect students to buy their own snacks. This is where it
is important to explain the expectations. We encourage students not to store food in their room and
ask the host to show students where their snacks can be stored in the kitchen.
18.
Every opportunity for spontaneous conversation and engagement is valued by MLC. The student is
expected to join the family at the dinner table every evening for dinner. This is not only a wonderful
opportunity to practise English skills but also a great time to get to know each other. MLC does not
permit the students to eat their meals alone or in their room. Phones are not allowed to be brought to
the dinner table.
19.
Ensure your Homestay student has ready access to the house during the Homestay period, such as
their own house key and security codes.
MLC HOMESTAY RESPONSIBILITIES AND GUIDELINES
20.
If your Homestay student will be using public transport, you must orientate them fully and travel with
them at least twice to and from school. At your discretion pick up students after dark or make
alternative arrangements as the student’s safety is paramount.
21.
Ensure there are no more than three students staying with any one Homestay host at any given time.
22.
Do not expect your Homestay student to be available for child minding or babysitting.
23.
Ensure your home and contents are covered by all appropriate insurance when hosting Homestay
students. MLC does not assume any legal liability or responsibility for any damages or loss of income
incurred by the host family while they are hosting a student.
24.
Be available to meet with the Homestay Co-ordinator at home each Semester and attend school
information and training sessions as required.
25.
Many students will ask hosts their permission to stay at a friend’s house or stay with family friends,
you may even receive correspondence from parents giving authority or the student may advise you
the guardian has given permission. All MLC students must stay in school approved accommodation.
If you receive a request from your Homestay student to stay away overnight you must contact the
guardian immediately to advise them of the situation. The guardian will follow up with the student, the
school (being the Homestay co-ordinator) and parents. The decision to stay overnight will be made
depending on the circumstances. If a student fails to come home it is imperative you notify the
guardian and the Homestay Co-ordinator as soon as possible.
26.
To support with clear communication Homestay hosts have access to School information via the
schools intranet site myMLCfamily.net and the weekly newsletter, Connections. A password and user
name will be provided to you at the time of your student’s placement and you if agree to have
communication between you and the school in relation to your student. This will be registered in our
data base.
27.
Hosts can also choose to attend PTS Interviews however this is the official role of the guardian.
Access to student reports and school emails is available. Please confirm your preference when
contacted by the school.
28.
Students are permitted to travel home overseas for term break holidays during term break once the
appropriate clearance and holiday permission forms have been checked and approved by school. If
your student advises you they are intending to travel please contact the guardian and Homestay Coordinator. Holidays with friends and other students within Australia are not permitted without approval
from the school and guardian.
29.
When a student travels overseas or has an extended time away from your Homestay a holding fee
replaces the agreed full board.
Students in Homestay require your support, guidance and assistance to gain the full value and experience of
staying within a family Homestay environment. If you have any questions regarding the MLC Homestay
program please liaise directly with the Homestay Co-ordinator.