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AHN Aussie Christmas Gift Guide It’s that time of year. Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You  is on high rotation, houses and supermarkets are being adorned with decorations, and people are gearing up for some much-needed time off. If you’re an international student celebrating Christmas in Australia or a homestay host with an extra guest in your home for the holidays,  we’ve got some top Aussie gifts and fun festive ideas to

What are the student visa requirements for Australia? by Constantine Paxinos, PAX Migration Australia Looking for accommodation in Australia? BOOK A HOMESTAY   Since the Australian Government released its Migration Strategy in December 2023, a series of changes have been introduced for international Student visa applicants who are seeking to study in Australia. Some of the changes, such as the introduction of the Genuine Student visa requirement, improve flexibility and make it easier to qualify for a

At the Australian Homestay Network (AHN), we know that people will take time off from work around Easter and Christmas/New Years to catch up with friends and family, go on a trip, or recharge. Most students will have a few days off from their studies too thanks to designated public holidays or the end of term/mid-semester break. If you’re a homestay host, it’s best to plan ahead so you can enjoy the celebrations without any

Halloween, celebrated every October 31, is a fun, spooky tradition enjoyed worldwide. As an AHN host, it’s a great opportunity to get to know international students and celebrate Halloween customs. Read our guide for tips on how you can get involved in the festivities with your students: Halloween History Halloween dates back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, marking the end of the harvest season. Today, it’s known for costumes, trick-or-treating, and festive decorations.

Hosting a homestay student with Australian Homestay Network (AHN) will be a rewarding and enriching experience for both you as a host family and the student arriving. Homestay hosting offers an opportunity to learn about different cultures and create meaningful connections and lasting memories. To ensure a smooth and successful homestay, it’s essential to adequately prepare for your student’s arrival. We will provide a guide below to help host families make the necessary preparations. Familiarise

by Raquel Valle, KBA Global Education & Migration You’ve ticked off your university enrollment and secured your Subclass 500 visa. Now, it’s time to arrange your accommodations. Homestays in Australia are fantastic because they provide more than just a place to stay – they offer an opportunity to truly experience Aussie life. Be sure to arrange your homestay with a professional hosted accommodation provider like the Australian Homestay Network. If you’re a bit nervous about

As homestay hosts, you understand the importance of creating a welcoming environment for our international students. Australia’s cultural diversity is one of its strengths, and hosting students during special occasions like Ramadan can be a a very unique experience. In this blog, we’ll explore the significance of Ramadan, provide tips for hosting students during this time, and detail how you can make their stay that little bit more memorable. Understanding Ramadan: Ramadan is a significant

Homestay offers a unique blend of cultural immersion, language development, and a supportive environment for students. It promotes personal growth, provides a safe living arrangement, and allows students to experience the local way of life. Join our #AHNFamilyAU now! It is an enriching experience that creates lasting memories and fosters lifelong connections with your host family. Johanna is studying at the University of Newcastle, and staying with AHN hosts. She shares the perks of homestay:

Australia has a diverse and vibrant international student population, generally ranking in the top five study abroad locations along with the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand. As one of the world’s most popular destinations for international students, it’s important you plan in advance to find a place to live in while you study in Australia. There are various accommodation options for international students with their own benefits and budgets. NOTE: Many

Hi guys, I just thought that I’d share my experience so far. I have two 19 year old Chinese boys. I am a 61 year old single male and I run a busy trade business.  I have two daughters, 35 and 31 years old and 3 grandkids in other cities.  I am a keen bushwalker and rock climber and motorcyclist. Hosting gave me a new challenge.  I have lived alone for a while in peace with

Sign up to host with AHN   As a host with Australian Homestay Network (AHN), you will receive requests to host students with varying dietary requirements. Common diets requested include halal, vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and coeliac. DOWNLOAD INFO SHEETS: Halal | Vegetarian and Vegan | Gluten Intolerant and Coeliac Below is a snapshot of some misconceptions about providing these meals, as well as tips on how to best cater for students who follow a special

By Tanya Wheatley. Hi, I’m a longtime teacher of English to international students and a homestay host. I have seen how homestay can be a huge boost to language learning. If you have that magic combination of an eager student and a host with a little extra time to give, then here are eight tips to help support your guest’s English. Of course, not all students are interested, and not all hosts have time, in

5 Reasons I Love Hosting Students. I moved to Melbourne a few years ago from the UK and was totally blown away by the kindness of everyone I met. People were so keen to help me discover all the wonderful places to go and all the amazing experiences to be had in this great city, state and country. Knowing what it is to be new, to be foreign and to be far from home fuels

2022 AHN Aussie Gift Guide Christmas is fast approaching and we bet you’re counting down the days until the end of 2022. It’s been a crazy year, right?! If you’re an international student studying in Australia and you want some unique mementos to take home OR you’re here to experience your first (or fifth) Aussie Christmas – have a gander at our 2022 Aussie Gift Guide. The list is also great for our Australian homestay

Homestay offers international students a “real-life” experience of living in Australia. It’s also a unique opportunity for students to share their culture with the locals they live with, known as homestay hosts. Whether you’re looking to sign up as a homestay host now, or you need more info about hosting international students, the Australian Homestay Network (AHN) is the place to start. Since 2008, AHN has placed more than 80,000 students in homestays across Australia.

Settling Into Homestay, A Hosts Advice. This is for the newer hosts, like myself, who are just starting to feel their way around hosting international students, while they are settling into homestay. Just be practical & patient and remember the first four weeks are the hardest, when students are feeling homesick, missing family friends and what they are used to. Unfortunately students can feel quite ruffled no matter how welcoming & supportive you are, just

We have hosted students from overseas for many years and during that time it has been an experience equivalent to a holiday. And one may wonder why…..well, you don’t leave your home, or go to an exotic land, So how come experiencing a holiday!!! Well let me explain. The holiday comes to you in the form of an overseas student. We often travel to other countries to experience the culture, the people, the food and

Spending time together learning about each other’s cultures is a big part of the homestay experience.  Whether you need to break the ice, or fill in your weekend, here are our 5 must-do activities for host families and their students. 1) Local Tours You’ll probably be used to showing each new student the usual hotspots but wouldn’t it be nice to discover something new, or let someone else do the talking for you? Whether it’s

Settling in and setting up…   Settling into a new country can be very daunting if you’ve never been before so we’ve put together a few tips: Take a selfie with your host when you arrive – it’ll help you remember their face in a crowd, in the first few days you’re here. Our hosts are here to help you settle into your new life. Don’t be afraid to ask for them help while you get

2019 AHN Aussie Gift Guide Whether you’re an international student studying in Australia or a dedicated homestay host, we bet you’re counting down the days until the end of 2019. If you’re looking for some Australian souvenirs to take home or you’re here to experience an Aussie Christmas – you need to take a look at our 2019 gift guide. Pick up a few items off this list and your mates will be calling you

Being an international student can be stressful. First there’s all the lectures, tutorials and studying you have to do. On top of that you’re probably getting used to living away from your family, finding your way around a new city and trying to make new friends. It’s a lot to deal with, but with the help of some handy apps you’ll be able to manage your life – and your lifestyle – with ease. 1.

12 Tips for dealing with Homesickness No matter how excited you are to be studying in a new country, it’s natural to feel a bit homesick sometimes. It’s a huge transition to be living away from home with the added pressures of studying in a foreign country. Just know that you are not alone. There are other international students around the world who are feeling the same way as you. Each person will deal with

AHN House Rules A solid foundation for a successful homestay and establishing an understanding between you and your guests Welcoming an international student into your home is a fantastic cultural exchange and experience for everyone involved. During the homestay it’s important that the guest feels comfortable in their new environment and you remain relaxed in your own home. AHN developed our House Rules to help aid this process. These guidelines are adaptable for each homestay

What are the requirements to get a study visa for Australia? by Constantine Paxinos, PAX Migration Australia Looking for accommodation in Australia? BOOK A HOMESTAY   Obtaining a student visa for Australia is a great opportunity to gain a qualification from one of Australia’s internationally competitive and highly esteemed education institutions, giving you an excellent start in your career upon completion of your studies. If you are a mature age student, you can further develop

Experiencing another culture is one of the best things about studying overseas. If you’ve decided to go to school or university in Australia you’ll notice the locals have a very unique way of speaking. Even though English is the official language, there’s a lot of Aussie lingo that can sometimes be confusing for international students and other visitors. We’ve translated some common words and phrases you’ll hear in Australia to make your time in Oz

You’ve got to make the most of your time in another country and when your “home away from home” is as big as Australia – there are plenty of amazing experiences to put on your bucket list. Here are our top picks of things to do while you’re studying in Australia. 1. Visit the Gold Coast beaches Mention Australia and people generally think about sun, surf and sand. The beaches on Queensland’s Gold Coast are

Australia is the third most popular destination for international students in the world. With stunning natural landscapes, amazing wildlife, buzzing cities and weather to suit visitors from across the globe – it’s no wonder record numbers of overseas students are studying in Australia. Whether you’re trying to choose where to study or you’ve already settled in after a semester or two, our destination guides are a great introduction to Australia’s major cities. ​

Homestay hosts have an important role in helping students new to Australia settle in and learn the local way of life. For many young people, it’s their first time being away from their home and their family. Getting to know the city and becoming part of the community goes a long way in making them feel comfortable in their surroundings. Here are some ideas to get your guests out and about if you’re a homestay

  Here at the Australian Homestay Network, we consider our hosts to be ambassadors for Australia. Host families play a big role in welcoming international students to a new country, settling in and learning about their new home. Helping them live like a local is part of the homestay experience. Recommending things to do and taking your guests on outings gives them a genuine understanding of what Aussie culture – and their city – is

5 Reasons to Study in Townsville #StudyQueensland Imagine being able to get a world-class education in a city that enjoys more than 300 days of sunshine each year and has the Great Barrier Reef on its doorstep. Welcome to Townsville! Melbourne and Sydney might be in the Top 10 of the QS Best Student Cities 2018, but we think international students looking for an authentic Aussie cultural experience need to consider Townsville when exploring study

5 Reasons to Study in Darwin #StudyNT Darwin might be the smallest Australian capital city in terms of population, but there are plenty of reasons why it’s a top destination for international students. A global focus on education A number of government and private high schools offer intensive English language units along with a range of elective subjects so students can progress to Charles Darwin University (CDU) or other higher education pathways in Australia. You

I came to Canberra, Australia in September 2011 to start my Foundations course at ANU College. I was 17, and had just finished year 10. My sister was already in her third year of university also in Canberra when I came to Canberra. Unfortunately, she was not over 21 and therefore couldn’t be my legal guardian. Due to that, I had to engage with a Homestay provider in order for me to commence studying in

Steven was living with a host who was entirely focused on being paid and unfortunately was not offering the kind of homestay that AHN is proud to offer international students. So, we arranged a few options for his new homestay family and he ended up with my daughter Courtenay, her husband Tim and their son Max. He has become such an integral part of our family and we all love him to bits. When Tim’s

I am very happy to live with the most beautiful and smart people in the world. During my homestay, my host parents always shared lots of different interesting things with me – like cooking together on Sunday mornings. This makes me feel like I’m part of the family and I can feel their concern and support for me – which in my opinion is the moost important thing for living abroad. It makes being away

I came to Australia to study 4 years ago, I was awarded a scholarship from the Ecuadorian government and got the offer letter from UQ to do my bachelor’s degree. However, I had to do the Foundation Year program since my English was not strong enough to perform well in the university community. It was my first time leaving my country and going to the other side of the worlds, facing a new culture and

Seven years ago, we accepted our first homestay student.  We originally decided to become homestay parents to put some additional funds into our mortgage, however we quickly discovered that like most things in life, the more you put in, the more you get back. Homestay has not only been a learning experience for our students, but definitely also a learning experience for us. We make a point of wanting to know how our students progress

We enjoyed our homestay hosting and had amazing connections with our students. We were their Australian Mum & Dad. They loved our safe, family life and enjoyed the personal attention they received. We involved our family and it was always a treat to experience the new culture.  We have welcomed our student’s friends, celebrated birthdays and Christmas. It was important to us that the students experience the Australian way of life.  It is a big

What an introduction to AHN we have had. We have been blessed to have Yuri as our homestay guest since August 2017. Yuri has become part of our extended family and it will be sad to her return home when her stay ends in June/July 2018. We have exchanged many stories and experiences and learnt about each other’s cultures. Yuri has joined in all family events (birthdays, Xmas and get togethers). Her parents travelled to

Our students have told us that they enjoy the more friendly, secure lifestyle of staying in homestay compared to small confined units that they would be in if they’d decided to stay in on campus accommodation or typical student accommodation. They have learnt is it much better to be open to new style of living in Australia and love visiting parks and gardens and gold coast while living in Brisbane and the milder weather we

We have laughed with them and talked with them at length enjoying conversations during and after dinner. We have celebrated birthdays. I am pleased that my cooking has been acceptable to people with very different diets to us and every student has commented about the good quality of food in our guest book. We have learnt much about the cultures of Vietnam, Russia, China and Hong Kong and keep a large map marking their home

I have a great relationship with all my homestays. I still keep in touch with them through Facebook, Instagram, WeChat and meals out with the students. Hosting is a great way to learn other cultures and learn about other country’s customs. The most rewarding thing about becoming a homestay host is getting respected and numerous fiends all over the world and they treat you like their second mum. I’ve had some memorable experiences as a

We have done homestay for 9 1/2 years and had some awesome experiences and shared amazing memories with our students. Our best experience is with a young lady called “Fish”.  She joined our family in February 2012 and stayed with us until November 2013 and again with us towards then end of 2014 for 4 months. We have always included our students in most of our family activities especially on weekends – going to the

Hey there!! I’m Eva, a 20-year-old girl from China, an international exchange student studying Business in Tourism and Event Management at SCU. I would like to share my homestay story about a lovely Australian family in Gold Coast. The most romantic thing of life is unknown. I have never imaged that I could meet such an amazing Australian family with love and warmth. In my host family, there is a mother, a father, two daughters

Leaving the familiar is always a difficult thing to do. One has to take a leap of faith and brave obstacles, to push away the sadness and flash a convincing smile, and to be open and ready to discover what is to unfold. I knew this and I prepared myself for the unfamiliar; but I guess one can never be absolutely ready for the adventure of studying in Australia. Independence was one of the key

  Hello，my name is Winnie and I am a first-year psychological science student at UNSW.  This is my second semester in UNSW and it is also my second semester living with my homestay hosts Robert and Rani.  They are very nice and kindhearted people and they really make me feel that I am living with my families and having a real home in Australia. Rani, my hostess, is a “master chef “! She loves cooking

​I live with an Australian family with a dad, mum, two children and a dog. I feel very welcome with my own private room on the second floor of their house and accepted as a member of their family.

My name is Monserrat Rico Jiménez, I am 19 years old Mexican girl and this is my experience since I arrived to Australia. I won’t lie to you. This has been the most crazier and exciting thing that I have ever lived. My very first time in Australia, without my family, without friends, and totally out from my comfort zone. It is inescapable creating huge images of what is your life going to be in

I am very happy to share my homestay experience. My name is Jenny. I am 22 year old, a UWA Chinese student in Perth, Western Australia, now I am studying my English bridging course because my English language is not good enough for studying at main campus.   About two months ago, I arrived my homestay house. It was a midnight, I was tired and felt sorry to disturb my hosts (Richard and Linda) sleeping, but

My homestay experience Hi, l am Helen, a 17 year old international student from China, l am a commerce student in Brisbane. At the end of September 2016 l came here to further my study and choose the commerce as my subject in University of Queensland. The reason why l come to Australia is before l choose my subject, l prefer Australia or US. And then my agency told me if l would like to

I’m Andy, an international student, from Taiwan. Before I came to Australia, I had not been to any western countries. I was wondering about my language skill, differences of life style and missing family. However, I have had a friendly host family since I left the airplane, more than two year. They are just like my Australian parents. I was leaning English in my first year in Australia. When I had questions about language, they

I am Weirou Yu, a 25 years old Chinese girl. I am an international student who currently studying the Master of Business at Griffith University Gold Coast campus. Before I went Australia, my agency ‘GloAce’ contact with the AHN homestay in Gold Coast to help to organize the homestay family for me. On 24 June 2015, I first arrived in Australia and start my life of homestay. I know exactly nothing about Australia except for

Hey everyone! I’m Sissi, an international student who has been staying in Western Australia for nearly one year. I would like to share my wonderful experience with AHN Homestay. Life is unpredictable, we never know what the future holds, who we will meet, what we will experience. Back in 2 November of 2016, that was my first day in Western Australia, my first time visit to this country. Then my fabulous journey started. I have

(Written by Jonne Bannink)  – I would like to share my wonderful experience with AHN Homestay – I am Jonne Bannink, a 22 year old Hotel and Event Management student from the Netherlands. In September 2015 I started following the Hotel and Event Management course at Tio University of Applied Sciences in Utrecht, The Netherlands. During the summer of 2016, I did my first internship. I always wanted to go to Australia, and via the

(Written by Debra from simpleabundance.blog) Our house is ridiculously quiet because both of our international students have travelled home for the holidays.  It takes a little getting used to living at a different pace. The girls that we host add so much vibrancy and energy to our home and it feels strange to have an empty house.  Sundae, our Cocker Spaniel went into grief mode the moment she saw the suitcases being packed.  Why Homestay?

(Written by Debra-www.simpleabundance.blog) How to become a homestay host for international students We became homestay hosts just over three years ago. It has been an exciting adventure and has really expanded our lives and has been a window into the lives of young women from around the world.  So far, we have hosted five young women in our home, two short stays and two who have stayed for quite a while and one young woman