Private

Our Student Contact Officer can help you find private rental accommodation by advising you on where to look and some of the issues for students renting in Australia.

Home stay

For those who want to experience Australian life at home, Home stay is the best choice. It costs a little more than renting, but you will learn so much more. The money you pay simply covers the living costs, including all meals, bills, rent and so on. Most Home stay families are very experienced with International Students. Here are some tips to make home life more comfortable:

•  When you first move in, talk to your host parents about using the bathroom, laundry and kitchen, as well as the phone. Every family is different.
•  Talk to them about arrangements if you go out in the evening, especially if you want to stay out late or overnight.
• Make sure you keep your room clean and clean up after yourself around the house.
• Use a phone card to call overseas
• Try to communicate as much as you can with your host family, especially at meal times. And try to get involved with weekend activities with your host family.
• Be open-minded about different habits and customs. Talk to your hosts about these things.

Changing your Home stay family

Not all arrangements are perfect and it is no problem for us to change your host family if necessary, but please discuss this with our Student Contact Officer at least a couple of weeks in advance.

Home stay fees Refund

 If the student wishes to cancel the Home stay arrangement completely, 80% of the Home stay Fees paid will be refunded to the student.

 If a student wishes to change their accommodation, they must inform their Homestay family two weeks in advance. Otherwise 50% of those two weeks accommodation fees must be paid and the student will only receive 80% of the Homestay Fees that have been paid for the remaining weeks.

Younger Students

Younger (under 18) students coming to Australia must have appropriate accommodation, support and general welfare arrangements to be able to obtain a student VISA. A parent, legal guardian or nominated suitable relative or an education provider are responsible for arranging the welfare arrangements.

Procedure

• If parents or legal guardians of younger student choose to accompany the student or nominate a suitable relative, they must complete details of the guardian in the Enrolment Form.
• Relatives of younger students nominated by parents or legal guardian must also complete guardian declaration forms before they take responsibility for welfare arrangements.
• Apple Study Group is responsible for the approval of suitable accommodation and welfare arrangements in case s where a younger student is not accompanied by parents or legal guardians or not staying with a nominated suitable relative.
• Parents or legal guardians of younger students must advise the dates from which the welfare arrangement will start. At minimum, the welfare arrangement should cover COE duration plus seven days in order to satisfy DIAC provisions for adequate welfare arrangements.
• ASG advise DIAC in writing of the dates for which SSBT accepts responsibility and approval using a specified PRISMS pro forma letter
• ASG will also check the suitability of the student’s accommodation, support and general welfare arrangements.
• ASG is also responsible for notifying DIAC when a younger student changes his or her welfare arrangements, or when ASG no longer approves of the arrangements.