Welcoming and Supportive Hosted Accommodation at AHN

Homestay is Safe, Supportive and Welcoming

Benefits of AHN Homestay | Homestay for Younger Students | Our Hosts | Working with Us | Learn More

The Australian Homestay Network (AHN) was founded in 2007 to improve the quality and availability of properly-managed hosted accommodation for international students in Australia. AHN helped the industry develop world-class operating standards that we now employ in every region, with every student placement. More than 80,000 students from 185 countries have been placed in safe, reliable and supportive homestays under these standards.

We partner with education providers to ensure a safe and reliable service for students. AHN homestay is an excellent solution when on-campus accommodation is full or as your main homestay partner provider. Our student pricing offers great value for money, with a range of meal packages and the option for students to extend their stay after their initial 4 week placement ends.

AHN is also able to accommodate short stays e.g. study tours – learn more here.

AHN’s standards, services and support have been independently endorsed by the National ELT Accreditation Scheme (NEAS) and commended through both the Australian Senate Inquiry into the Welfare of International Students (2009) and the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into International Student Accommodation (2011).

Benefits of AHN Homestay for Students

- Real Aussie experience with a welcoming host family.
- Safe, secure and friendly start prior to commencing their studies.
- Daily English practise and cultural immersion.
- Trusted local support network who will help students become part of the community.
- Homestay insurance.
- No long-term contracts or bond required.
- Value for money (range of packages including meal options).
- Peace of mind with fixed rates and no hidden fees.
- Range of payment options including internet banking, PayPal and AliPay to keep exchange rates low.
- Furniture, utilities and WiFi are included.
- AHN homestay includes host vetting, 24/7 support and insurance for students and hosts.
- Easy transition to long-term housing.
- Hosts can assist students to find appropriate future accommodation.

Extra Support for Students Under the Age of 18

All our homestays focus on student safety and support, but we place even greater emphasis on this for younger students.

AHN works with education providers to assist them in fulfilling duty of care obligations and complying with government regulations for younger students. Some partner with us to arrange accommodation for students with one of our dedicated host families, while other schools allow us to coordinate complete homestay and support packages. The education provider maintains responsibility for the student’s welfare and must ensure all arrangements meet the requirements of the National Code.

AHN is able to tailor services to meet your requirements and will liaise with your staff to find the most suitable host for each student.

Our Hosts

AHN has a nationwide community of trained and vetted hosts who welcome and support students studying in Australia.

Our thorough host application and selection process includes comprehensive screening to ensure every student is placed in a safe environment that will enhance their experience. We do not accept hosts who do not meet our strict selection criteria.

Each host must:

- Provide detailed information about their family and home
- Have valid Working with Children Checks (WWCC) and/or Police Checks, appropriate to the state in which the provider operates and the accommodation is situated
- Pass an interview and home inspection with one of our experienced staff
- Pass our comprehensive online training to ensure they are well informed and fully prepared for the requirements of hosting an international student
- Accept our key policies including our Host Agreement and Homestay Policy

Working with Us

Once you have been in touch with an AHN specialist and decided what services and programs suits your institution, we will send through an agreement for you to sign. A completed agreement indicates that both your organisation and AHN are committed to following important responsibilities and expectations of delivering the homestay partnership.

We can also create a custom landing page for students to apply for homestay while studying with you. Education providers usually include a link to this page on their website or in enrolment documentation so students can apply for homestay directly with AHN. In addition, custom landing pages can be arranged for host recruitment purposes and for agents.