Student Exchange Inbound Host Family Handbook

Inbound Host Family Handbook

Introduction

Dear Host Family,

Welcome to the world of cross-cultural exchange! You are about to embark on a fascinating trip. Soon you will be welcoming a new addition to your family - a teenager from another country. You have many happy moments and new experiences to look forward to in the upcoming months. We would like to begin by thanking you for hosting and for choosing to be a part of the Student Exchange family. Your Student Exchange provider takes seriously the care and supervision of exchange students on our programs. Our aim is to ensure we meet and exceed all legal and regulatory requirements and provide a safe and healthy experience for students in our care.

Your Student Exchange provider unequivocally commits that it will foster the dignity, selfesteem and integrity of its students. Listed in this handbook, you will be able to find information about the legislation and the relevant authorities responsible for child protection in Australia and in New Zealand. It is expected that staff, local coordinators and host families, will endorse the principles of child protection as a fundamental responsibility and fulfil their legal obligations.

Each host family is very special, unique in its make-up and daily routine. As a host family, your beliefs, habits and customs - which you may take for granted - will be a fascinating part of the educational experience for your new “son” or “daughter”. Interestingly, you will begin to re-look at your lifestyle and home, through their eyes. As your family and your exchange student begin to know one another many questions will arise. You will find many similarities, along with several differences. Through sharing our different cultures your family and your host student will become lifelong friends.

Through your hosting experiences you will discover much about another cultures, about the world around you and about yourselves. The next few months will be exciting and new. Each of you will also be facing some challenges along the way. This handbook is designed to help you answer some of the questions that will arise. Issues such as culture shock, homesickness and language barriers may be new to you and your family. The hosting experience is unique to each family, so this handbook serves as only a guide. Yet, by following your common sense, reading through this handbook and asking for support from our staff and your local coordinator, you will gain valuable knowledge and confidence as a host family.

Thank you for hosting, and all the best for the program ahead!

Culturally safe environments

Student Exchange Australia New Zealand is committed to supporting students to express their cultural rights. Whether from Australia or overseas, Student Exchange Australia New Zealand supports students to express their culture and enjoy their cultural rights while respecting and enjoying their host community’s culture. We promote the empowerment, participation and rights of children.

Student Exchange Australia New Zealand is committed to helping exchange students learn about Indigenous culture and history. We act on this commitment by ensuring that our staff, volunteers, students and host families participate in inductions or orientations which contain content that is inclusive and sensitive to Indigenous culture and history. We commit to the cultural safety of our Indigenous people and work together with our participants and overseas partners to confront and eliminate racism.

By undertaking the above, we aim to promote cultural rights and safety of Indigenous children so that their unique identities and experience are respected and valued. We value all our participants and host families and, as per our Mission, we provide opportunities to enhance their future potential.

Moreover, Student Exchange Australia New Zealand works to facilitate that our participants, their families, host families and our staff and volunteers are representative of the diverse nature of the societies in which we operate. We promote equity and respect diversity and strive to ensure that our policies and procedures do not exclude anyone who is otherwise eligible to participate on our programs.

First Nations Map

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Student Exchange Provider

Your Student Exchange provider is an Australian not-for-profit company registered as a secondary exchange organisation with Departments of Education in Australia and the Ministry of Education in New Zealand. Long-established relationships with our international partners ensure the highest standards of care and support to participants. We maintain a national network of volunteer local coordinators who work in support of students and families during the exchange experience.

Our Mission

To offer the unique experience of living and studying in another culture and to enable young people to develop the skills and awareness that will enhance their future potential. Experience is everything.

Our Programs & Staff

The student exchange experience is one which complements the formal education process in important and exciting ways. Students can choose between programs of varying length to 16 destinations. We work with educational authorities and schools to augment the learning opportunities available to young people. We offer a range of scholarships and discounts.

Many of our staff have either been exchange students themselves, have lived overseas, speak other languages, or have travelled extensively. They understand the challenges faced by students, families and volunteers. This experience assures you of the very highest levels of service and support.

Our Commitment

We will guarantee your country of choice

We will provide you with friendly and helpful advice at every stage of the process

We will support students, families and volunteers throughout the experience

We will deal promptly and fairly with issues and concerns

We will be open and equitable in all our dealings

We will respect your privacy and confidentiality

Who is involved?

The Host Family

Each family has its own unique structure, character and routine. However, all families do have something in common - they are all volunteers. Bringing an international visitor into your family means adding an entirely new element into your daily life. Unless you have hosted before, your family will be faced with a brand-new experience where you will need to invent rules and ways of relating to one another. You will find your comfort zone, but it may take some time - all relationships take a while to develop. There are no set rules for hosting an exchange student, so it is up to you and your family to feel your way until you find what works best for you. The two major expectations are that your family is willing to: Open your home & share your lives with a young person from another country provide your exchange student with care and support

Share your lives and welcoming a visitor into your home, you must be completely open. You and your family need to share your views and expectations with the new family member. This may be difficult at first, since so many of us are not used being open and sharing our lives. By doing so, your exchange student will begin to feel comfortable and at home and will then understand and learn to adapt

Each host family has defined responsibilities that were agreed to when you committed to host. These responsibilities are as follows:

• Provide a Host Family Application to your Student Exchange provider with accurate information about your family. This information is sent to the overseas organisation to be given to your student and his/her natural family.

• Provide the student with 2-3 meals per day. Students can be expected to purchase their own school lunches if this is your family’s practice, but students appreciate being included if you regularly pack lunches for other family members.

• Provide the student with a bed of their own.

• Students may share a bedroom with a host brother or sister, providing that the host sibling is of the same sex and reasonably close in age.

As this is an academic program the student must be provided with a quiet place to study. This can be in the student’s bedroom or in any other room in the house where studying and homework may be accomplished.

We expect that host families will treat their exchange student as a member of the family and not as a guest. Your student should be subject to the same house rules, chores, discipline, praise and affection as are other family members. By treating your exchange student as an equal they will become a part of your family.

Your Student Exchange provider adheres to all statutory guidelines and requirements in Australia and New Zealand regarding child protection. These requirements help guard against unsuitable people becoming host families. Further detail is available in the “Child Protection” section of this handbook.

You will be reading about our policies and guidelines. Host families should be aware of the rules relating to their student’s program and visa. Host families should keep in touch with their local coordinator as issues and questions arise and, complete regular online evaluation reports to allow us to monitor your student’s progress.

The Student

Participants of the exchange program are screened candidates who have been accepted on this program because of their commitment and desire to: Enrol in an Australian or New Zealand secondary school for the duration of their exchange Live with an Australian or New Zealand family and learn about the lifestyle and culture

Students understand that when applying to the program, that they may be placed with a host family anywhere in their host country. While many of these students are from large cities, their host families generally live in suburban or rural settings. This new lifestyle will be a significant change for them.

As with most teenagers, exchange students are going through several changes.

They have also been separated from their support network of natural family, close friends and community. Exchange students embrace facing challenges and should be commended for their courage. Living in a foreign country and speaking a different language will be full-time work for your student.

Most students will come from a non-English speaking country and, a major goal for them, will be to improve their English language skills. Students should be encouraged to always speak English.

Many host families will choose to host a student because a member of their family is learning the student’s native language. Remember that the student is here to learn English, not to teach their language to others. However, in the spirit of a family activity, as mutually arranged and agreed upon, a small amount of time, could be set aside to concentrate on the foreign language. This activity can help to foster closeness between family members but should not be seen by the student as the reason that your family is hosting them.

Local Coordinator

Local coordinators are involved with Student Exchange programs as local representatives in your community. Your Student Exchange provider has a network of local coordinators and, they all have in common, a desire to meet and work with young people from other countries.

Your local coordinator is available to provide support and answer any questions that may arise. Local coordinators liaise with your Student Exchange provider’s office and act as a mediator when conflicts arise. Families should always feel comfortable calling on their local coordinator.

The responsibilities of local coordinators are:

• Promoting Student Exchange programs within the local community

• Recruiting host families

• Conducting a home interview with prospective host families

• Helping to place host families with exchange students

• Making school arrangements

• Meeting the student upon, or shortly after, arrival

• Providing an arrival orientation to the student, if student didn’t attend a group orientation with our staff

• Providing monthly contact with the student usually by phone

• Completing evaluation reports about each student several times a year

• Being available to the host family for help and advice

• Being available to the student for help and advice

• Mediating host family conferences if called upon to do so

• Being available for emergency assistance

The role of a local coordinator is both challenging and rewarding. Local coordinators can get to know students from around the globe as well as becoming more familiar with their own community and neighbours.

Local coordinators are volunteers, who receive a small stipend for out-of-pocket expenses associated with their role. This is not a paid position. Most of all, local coordinators take on this job because of their commitment to cross-cultural awareness and a love for the students.

Student Exchange Provider Staff Members

Staff work towards ensuring the best possible quality exchange experience that we can provide. We work to develop and maintain relationships with our overseas offices and partner organisations, revise and update applicant requirements and establish program growth and future goals.

Our staff recruit, hire and train new local coordinators and provide support throughout the program. From our Australian and New Zealand offices, we oversee any major supervision problem, keep in contact with our overseas partner organisations and do our best to ensure that our local coordinators, students, host families and high schools, are receiving the support they need.

The Program

The Hosting Experience

A hosting experience is an opportunity for both the exchange student and host family to learn firsthand about the world around them. This cross-cultural learning experience begins when students from around the world become new family members, not guests, in homes like yours. By sharing daily lives and personal experiences, both student and host family will participate in a unique educational process that teaches lessons that will last a lifetime.

For this experience to be successful, it is required that all parties involved have an open mind, a willingness to compromise and most of all, lots of patience. Having a stranger live in your home, as well as being an opportunity to begin to understand a new culture, is a big change. Both the host family and the student have a lot of giving to do. You can eliminate much of the inevitable frustrations by being as prepared as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Exchange Program recruit students?

Your Student Exchange provider works with overseas partners that promote the program and recruit potential applicants.

What is the application procedure?

Students apply to one of our overseas partners by submitting a complete application (including school and medical reports) and participating in an interview. The overseas partner passes along only those applications that they believe meet your Student Exchange provider’s criteria. Our Admission staff review these applications again. Only students whose applications demonstrate that they have the required level of English, expected performance in school, parental support and, the necessary motivation and adaptability to succeed on an academic exchange program, are accepted.

How do the students get their visas to come to Australia or New Zealand?

Once a student is placed with a host family and is enrolled at their host high school, the necessary documentation is generated and issued by your Student Exchange provider and relevant educational authorities. The student uses this documentation to obtain a student exchange visa from their nearest Australian or New Zealand diplomatic post. While the student exchange visa may be valid for slightly longer than the program period, your obligation as a host family is in place only until the program end date.

Who pays for the program?

In most cases, students’ natural families pay a fee for the program, though some do come on individual scholarships. Your Student Exchange provider charges overseas partners a program fee for every participant and, the overseas partners, set the final program price, to cover the additional services that their office provides. These services vary from organisation to organisation and may include flight arrangements, pre-departure orientations, language courses and additional insurance such as baggage and liability. Your Student Exchange provider is a not-for-profit organisation. Your Student Exchange provider does not have any control of the total price that the student has paid for the program.

All exchange students are provided with information about their host family prior to departure, a student orientation before and after arrival, high school enrolment, local supervision and overseas student health cover. There may also be the opportunity for students to participate in a trip organised by your Student Exchange provider and a Tour Company. Trips are optional, and the student must meet all costs if s/he chooses to participate.

Host families are not paid, so where does the money go?

Regulations governing student exchanges prohibit us from providing any form of financial compensation or reimbursement to host families. Program prices for students are set on this basis. Your Student Exchange provider is a not-for-profit organisation which means there are no shareholders to whom profits can be distributed. We are ‘fee for service’ which means that program fees are used to cover the costs of providing the program in Australia/New Zealand and overseas.

Pre-Arrival

The Host Family Perspective

Families decide to host an exchange student at different times during the year. While many host families find themselves with months to think about their hosting experience, some families volunteer to host just a couple of weeks prior to the student’s arrival.

There are several steps that you can take to prepare for your hosting experience:

• Learn as much as possible about your student’s homeland:

• Find your student’s country and town on a map

• Search the internet for information about the country

• Be aware of any major world news stories for this region

• Speak to people who have travelled to that country or have relatives there

• Visit a local ethnic club to gain more insight

• Dine at a restaurant that serves food from your student’s nation

• Rent a movie that takes place in your student’s country

• Watch for educational or news programming on television

Write to your student immediately to let them know how much you are looking forward to their arrival:

• Send information & web links about your town and community

• Include photographs of nearby sights

• Describe the local weather and give ideas on what to pack (encourage them to keep their packing to a minimum to ensure that they don’t have too many problems taking it all back!)

• Post a local newspaper or postcards

Familiarise yourself with their language:

• Learn the correct pronunciation of your student’s name

• Purchase or borrow a small bilingual dictionary

• Learn a few words in your student’s language (hello, thank you & good night)

• Prepare a “Welcome Kit” to give to your student upon arrival:

• Provide a small map of the local area with interesting places marked

• Create a welcome letter from the whole family

• Provide an exercise book or scrapbook for your student to record their thoughts and experiences in the host community

• Prepare a small address book with addresses, phone numbers and emergency numbers

• Have a set of house keys made

• Include a local treat – maybe a souvenir koala or kiwi.

Become informed about the hosting experience:

• Make sure you view the host family orientation video provided by your Student Exchange provider prior the arrival of your student

• Stay in touch with your local coordinator and ask any questions that arise

Contact with student:

• Social Media plays a big part in contacting your student and their family

• You can use Skype, WhatsApp, Messenger or Facebook, to name some, and these will be at no monetary cost so long as you have the internet

• Be mindful of the time difference between countries

• It is possible your student’s English may not be very fluent and allowances should be made. They are excited and really trying

• Be aware that your social media contact could include non-English speakers (natural parents for example). Speak clearly and slowly

Your student’s space:

• Before s/he arrives take the time to make up the bed

• Clear out some drawers and make room in the wardrobe

• Consider providing an alarm clock for your student

• A nice idea is to frame a photograph of your student and his/her natural family (from the student’s application) and add to your own display of family photographs as a welcoming gesture

Your Student’s Perspective

Like the host family experience, a student may find out who their host family is either months ahead of time or closer to their departure. Either way the student has known for some time that they will be coming and has mentally prepared as much as possible.

Once a student is placed with a family, they will receive materials and participate in a predeparture orientation in their host country. Students will usually first receive notification of a host family placement through their home country exchange organisation. This notification is in the form of a “placement information sheet” sent by us to the overseas partner organisation. The “placement information sheet” will detail basic information about your family, the host school and, the local coordinator.

Your student will also have access to your family application form and family photos prior their arrival.

Each partner organisation provides the students with a pre-departure orientation and information about what to expect. The content and timing will vary, but in general these orientations attempt to set realistic expectations, answer any last-minute questions, ease natural parents’ concerns, discuss Australian or New Zealand culture, and help the students understand the rules and policies of the exchange program.

All students are required to participate in an arrival orientation. The main arrival orientations, usually for long program students, are held in Sydney and, at major centre in New Zealand. Those group orientations are conducted by our staff. Students not able to attend a group orientation with our staff, will have to attend a face-toface orientation with their local coordinator once in their local communities.

Arrival

Arrival Day

This is the day both you and your student have been waiting for - their arrival to your community. We imagine that you will be excited and perhaps also a little apprehensive. Your student may be feeling overwhelmed, so we have put together some suggestions on how to handle your first day together and information on what to expect.

Your local coordinator

While local coordinators do their best to be present at the airport on arrival day, this is not possible for everyone. Some local coordinators work full-time and are not able to get the time away from work. Other local coordinators may have more than one student arriving and are not able to greet each one. Host families will need to meet their student at the airport upon arrival, whether or not the local coordinator will be present. If your local coordinator is not able to be there with you, they will come over to meet the student soon after their arrival.

Going to the airport

Student Exchange students arrive at the nearest airport to the host family. Although students will purchase flights to your closest possible airport, tickets to small airports may significantly increase the cost of the airfare as well as create very long stopovers for students who are travelling alone. Host families, particularly those in rural areas, may be asked to drive up to a few hours to pick-up their student and, both your Student Exchange provider and the student, greatly appreciate this effort. While you will know your student’s arrival date in advance, the flight details themselves may not be available until just several days prior to your student’s arrival. Your Student Exchange provider will provide host families and local coordinators with flight details as soon as they are received from the overseas partner organisations. Unfortunately, this can be last minute and, we apologise in advance, for any inconvenience it may cause. It is always a good idea to call the airline to confirm an on-time flight arrival before you head off to the airport.

The first contact

Many host families prepare a large sign or bring balloons or flowers to welcome their student. This will help the student to identify you. This moment may be one of excitement, nervousness, awkwardness, happiness and/or relief. Your student may greet you with a big hug and kiss or, a handshake and nervous “hello”. Be sure to smile and let them know how happy you are that they have finally arrived. Take your cues from your student and do whatever feels right.

A quiet moment

There has been so much anticipation as to how the first meeting will go it is often a good idea to find a quiet place to sit down and talk for a few minutes. Ask your student how the flight was and how they are feeling. Remember that your student may be keyed up with excitement or nervousness or maybe, very tired from their journey and still suffering from jet lag. Observe their behaviour and do not try to fit everything in at once - you will have plenty of time later to catch up. Although your student has studied English for years, this is probably their first time speaking non- stop in a foreign language. Speak slowly and clearly (not loudly) and expect to repeat much of what you say again over the first few weeks.

Discuss what everyone wants to be called: do you prefer your student to call you by your first names or would you like them to call you “Mum” and “Dad”? Does your student have a nickname? Agree upon what is comfortable for everyone, bearing in mind that you can always make changes later. This is not the time to discuss household rules or schedules; your student will only be overwhelmed and will only need to be reminded again later.

Reaching home

Briefly show your student around the house and point out only the routines that they need to know right away (for example, how the shower works, use of the bathroom, location of the light switches and where to put their belongings). Allow your student plenty of time to unpack, take a nap and unwind. Your student would probably like to contact their natural family to let them know that they have arrived safely.

Post Arrival

At the beginning

Many host families make the mistake of planning too much too soon. Your focus should be to do as much as you can to help your student feel like a family member, not a guest. Be flexible. Your student may tire quickly or may be filled with energy.

Packing the first week with activities and parties may give the student an unrealistic expectation of what life in your family and community will be like for them. This does not mean that you should not celebrate their arrival but. try to use moderation in your planning and keep your student informed as to what is happening.

Here are some additional tips for the first days:

• Make sure that your student has enough space to unpack, try to get a sense of things that you can do to make them more comfortable.

• Discuss with your student where they plan to keep important documents, such as passports, airline tickets and insurance information. These should be stored in a safe place but also in a location that is easily accessible in case of an emergency.

• Give the student a complete tour of the house, pointing out where things are kept such as clean towels, food, glasses, cutlery and crockery.

• Explain where to throw out rubbish and what to do with food waste. Point out the location of light switches and laundry facilities. Show how to operate the television, dishwasher, washing machine, garage door and how to lock the doors.

• Take a walking tour of the neighbourhood and drive them around the town. Orient your student to the location of your house in relation to the downtown, shopping areas, grocery store and high school. Show them where you work and where to catch public transport, if this is available in your area.

Settling In

During the first few days after your student arrives, they will probably feel like, and be treated as, a guest. Over time your exchange student will begin to become a member of your family. However, it is not like bringing an infant home from the hospital, where you will teach everything from the beginning. Your host son/daughter is a teenager who has been used to the way things are done in their own home and now needs to be taught what it is like in your family. Each student adapts to their new life at their own speed - some students fit in right away, while others take a bit longer.

Throughout the program

During your hosting adventure you will learn and experience many new things. As with any teenager, problems may arise, and it is important to remember that cultural differences will emerge. Your local coordinator and your Student Exchange provider staff are here to support you and to provide any advice needed throughout the program. It is important to try to work most issues through, as a family, but always keep your local coordinator informed of a potential problem or an ongoing issue.

Cultural Differences

Exchange programs exist because the world is made up of so many different cultures. Whether such differences are subtle or blatantly obvious, they need to be viewed as only differences and not as right versus wrong. Hosting a teenager from a foreign culture means not only hosting a teenager but also hosting their foreign culture! Your exchange son or daughter is a product of their own natural family as well as the ways of the country where they grew up. If you are having a problem or there is some misunderstanding, take a moment first to consider if the source of the problem may be a cultural difference.

Here are some examples of cultural differences that you may experience:

• The host daughter from Japan who spends much of her time in the bedroom studying with the door closed may not be anti-social. Japanese students put in long hours studying and are expected to take schoolwork very seriously.

• The boy from Brazil who takes instructions presented by his host father more seriously than when his host mother is asking him to do something may not be disrespectful. He may be used to getting information and directions from the “man of the house”.

• The German host son who spends much of his time “arguing” at the dinner table may not be hostile. His family and friends may value analytical discussions and heated debates.

Remember that your student may also be viewing some of your behaviour as strange or different. By asking questions and gaining a better understanding of what life at home is like for him or her you, will not only avoid potential problems but will also learn something new about the world around you. What makes this experience so special is the differences - don’t miss the opportunity to learn about your student’s culture and customs. Exchange students are proud to speak about their country and expect new friends to want to learn about their homeland.

Culture Shock

Travelling to a foreign culture as a tourist is a completely different experience than living in a foreign culture for an extended period of time. A short trip to North or South America, Europe or Asia is filled with excitement and fascinating experiences - and then you return home. Most exchange experiences begin similarly, as if it were a short holiday. At first, everything is a new adventure.

But soon, follows a period of exhaustion from facing a new country with a different language, culture, community, family, school, friends, diet and climate. Coping with all of this, requires a high level of concentration to function day-to-day. It is very common for exchange students to experience what is known as “culture shock” - feelings of frustration and anxiety due to unfamiliar surroundings and customs.

Culture shock affects each student in a unique way. Occasional sadness, a desire to speak with people from home and frustrations with language barriers are common responses. More severe cases of culture shock may lead to a student withdrawing, sleeping excessively, losing their appetite or overeating and becoming extremely depressed or negative. Showing extra support and sympathy during this time can help the student a great deal. Encourage them to remember that this is a typical reaction and that they will get through it. Help your student find ways to stay busy and plan future activities and trips. Your local coordinator can be a resource for you and your student at this time – feel free to call them if you are experiencing or are aware of any problems.

When Problems Arise

It will be surprising if you go through the entire program period with no problems. We hope that the issues will be minor and resolve quickly. Your first approach should be to speak with the student about what is going on, keeping in mind the following questions:

• What do we think the problem is?

• What is the student’s understanding of the problem?

• Has there been a family discussion about the problem?

• Have we explained what the rules are? Have they been understood?

• Do we treat our student the same way we treat other teenagers?

• Have we noticed signs of jealousy among family members?

• What activities do we do with our student?

• Are we communicating our feelings effectively?

• What is our student doing to adjust to our family routine?

• Have we allowed our student some personal time to be alone?

• In what ways does the student participate in our family life?

• Does our student spend more time alone than with the family?

• What has the student done to make friends outside of the family?

• How well is s/he adjusting to new school routines?

• How much is s/he trying to improve his or her English?

• How frequently has the student and natural family, maintained contact?

• How has the student shared their own culture with us?

• Do we feel our student is exhibiting indicators of culture shock?

Asking for help

If you are unable to solve the problem or feel that the problem is serious, you need to turn to your local coordinator for help. Your local coordinator can help in a variety of ways; by listening and giving advice, by talking with your student, by talking with your family or by mediating a family meeting. By going to your local coordinator, you should not feel as if you have failed. It is often difficult to clearly analyse a situation when you are deeply involved. Your local coordinator and staff from your Student Exchange provider are here to provide support, help clarify problems, consider alternatives, and then select the best solution.

Confronting Sexual Abuse

Your Student Exchange provider has included the following section in the handbook provided to your exchange student:

Sexual abuse is a very rare occurrence on these programs. However, you are a long way from home in a strange country and culture. We want you to know how to recognise sexual abuse and to openly share some ideas about what to do if it happens to you.

It can be hard to understand different host family and cultural behaviours. Sharing affection between family and friends is one of the nicest things in the world. However, it is possible that someone may show you a type of affection that makes you feel uncomfortable. If you feel uncomfortable about the attention you’re receiving, whether it be physical hugs, cuddles, touching, or kissing, or stares, comments, invitations, or other things …it’s OK to tell that person to stop

You do not have to tolerate this behaviour. Tell your coordinator or staff what you are feeling. It is never too late to let someone know.

What is sexual abuse?

Sexual abuse includes different kinds of activities such as:

• having someone look at you or make comments that make you feel uncomfortable

• being made to kiss someone

• being touched on private parts of your body

• being made to have unwanted sex or sexual acts

• being made to look at pornographic videos or magazines

• any other behaviour that makes you uncomfortable and continue after you’ve said “no”.

Your body belongs to you. You decide who can touch you - you have the right to decide how, when, where and by whom you are touched. Trust your feelings. You should take your feelings seriously. Listen to your intuition and follow your best judgment. You decide whether to share or keep secrets about yourself. It is never wrong to tell a trusted adult if you are feeling uncomfortable about what is happening.

Talk about things and ask for help. You decide when and with whom to talk about any sexual misconduct that you may have experienced. There is always an adult in our office who can help you. You may also choose to talk with a teacher, local coordinator, or school counsellor.

It's not your fault. The abuser is the one responsible.

Sometimes, the person doing the sexual assault (the abuser) may seem to be trying hard to make friends with you. They might confide in you about personal problems, or they might encourage you to break the rules. They might appear to be jealous of your other friendships and try to stop those friendships. They do this because they want you to rely on them, rather than on your friends or family. They try to isolate you. The abuser might give you lots of presents (gifts) and offer you tenderness and may pretend to love you. They may not recognise that you don’t want the gifts or love that they offer. They may threaten to tell your parents or our staff that you have done something “wrong” – even when you have not done anything wrong. They may do one or all these things to try and get opportunities to be with you, to touch your body without permission or to look at you in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable.

If this happens to you – or something similar that makes you feel unhappy or scared, please talk to a trusted adult friend or call us for help. Talking to someone who cares about you can really help. It's ok to feel nervous about telling someone about the abuse.

For example, you might feel:

• Embarrassed

• Guilty that you're telling a secret

• Scared of not being believed or of being blamed

• Afraid of getting someone into trouble

• Worried about making the situation worse.

But there are good things about telling someone, like:

• Relief at finally getting the problem out

• Feeling less alone

• Getting someone else's advice and ideas

• Your safety

You have the right to say no. It’s always OK to say NO.

Countering bullying

Your Student Exchange provider has included the following section in the handbook provided to your exchange student.

Bullying can occur at any age and across cultures, gender and socioeconomic groups. It has the potential to seriously affect the wellbeing of an individual.

As an exchange student it is important that you can recognise behaviour that may be defined as bullying, know what to do if you experience bullying and ensure that your behaviour would never constitute bullying.

Your Student Exchange provider considers that bullying is inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour and that students found to have either committed or condoned such behaviour on exchange may be dismissed from the program.

What is bullying?

Bullying can be defined as intentional, repeated behaviour by an individual or group of individuals that causes distress, hurt or undue pressure.

Examples of bullying include:

Verbal abuse Physical abuse

Name calling Hitting

Teasing Spitting

Threats Tripping

Swearing Kicking

Inappropriate laughing Pushing

If you are suffering bullying?

Social or psychological abuse

Ignoring

Alienating

Spreading rumours

Dirty looks

Malicious SMS & emails

If you believe you are suffering bullying, there are a number of important steps that you should take.

• Tell the person that their behaviour is unacceptable and ask they please stop. Often telling someone directly can quickly resolve an issue.

• If the behaviour continues, report the behaviour to your teacher and/or local coordinator.

• Remember to keep the complaint confidential as this will avoid gossip.

• If you make a complaint about bullying, it will be taken very seriously and will be dealt with in a confidential manner. You will not be victimised or treated unfairly for making a complaint.

• School

School Enrolment

Your Student Exchange provider will ensure your student has been accepted in school prior to their arrival. The school will determine which school year/grade level your student will be placed in based on their language proficiency, age and grade level at home. We ask that host parents contact the school just prior to their student’s arrival to organise an appointment for the student to be introduced to the school representatives to formalise enrolment.

Subject Selection

This is best done after your student arrives. The student’s language ability, academic history and areas of interest should be considered in selecting appropriate subjects. Students, regardless of whether they will return to study in their home country or not, are required to participate fully in classes. Students must comply with all school policies related to exchange students and must maintain a “C” grade average (or equivalent) as specified by your Student Exchange provider program rules.

School Expenses

All exchange organisations accept students into Australia or New Zealand on a reciprocal basis. This means, for example, that for every student coming in on exchange, there should be a student going overseas to study. All inbound students have their government school tuition paid for by the government. This money is raised primarily through taxes. The government pays school tuition fees for exchange students enrolled at a government high school through this reciprocal arrangement. Schools highly value exchange students for the international benefits that they bring to their community. However, the government must ensure that these programs do not become a burden on the taxpayer. This is the reason that reciprocity exists.

Most schools will charge all their students (from home and abroad) a ‘school fee’ or ‘service charge’ (this could be called something different at your school such as subject levies, etc). This fee should not exceed AU$500 / NZ$600 per term (including uniform if required) and in most cases will be much less than this. This is not a tuition fee, instead it is used to fund additional services that the school may provide such as subject levies, excursions, etc.

Any school expenses incurred by exchange students are their own (and their natural parent’s) responsibility. In addition to the above school fees, students need to purchase and pay for a school uniform and all equipment (textbooks, stationery, etc.) required by the school. If students choose to enrol in subjects with a subject fee, this is their responsibility to pay. Host parents and local coordinators are not responsible for any of these payments. The exchange student and their natural parents must pay these fees. We encourage host families not to pay any school fees (and request reimbursement later) but pass the school invoice to the student / natural parents.

Transportation

Host families are responsible for ensuring that the student has transportation to and from school. The means of transportation may be walking, riding a bike, taking a school bus, public bus or carpool. Explain the transportation arrangements to your student very carefully and consider accompanying them on the first day or making a “trial run” before school begins.

Activities

Your local school may have sporting or cultural groups that your student can join. Help them to investigate ways of becoming involved in school or community activities - this can lessen their homesickness and shorten their adjustment period, in addition to being a great way for them to make new friends.

School Lunches

School lunches are a topic that should be discussed. Your student should be prepared to pay for lunch at school during the week. If bringing lunch from home is part of your family routine, the student would appreciate being included. If the student chooses to buy lunch at school, your family is not responsible for the cost.

School Reports

Students should contact their host schools, several weeks prior their departure, about their school reports. This is particularly important for students departing in November as Australian and New Zealand schools close over the summer break and do not reopen until the end of January.

Students must either collect their school reports before departure or, ensure that the host school has their contact details to post or email reports.

Students from some countries are required to have their host school reports legalised before returning home. Students need to contact their nearest home country Consulate or Embassy to enquire about the procedure. It is the student’s responsibility to do this. Failure to do so may affect their eligibility to enrol in school once they return home.

A-Z of Hosting

Chores

Your exchange student should assume the same household responsibilities, as you would expect of your own son or daughter. Routine jobs, like making the bed, doing their washing, taking out the garbage and recycling, meal preparation and washing the dishes are part of a student’s everyday life. Although some of the students come from parts of the world where it is typical to have household help, they have all been told that, in Australia and New Zealand, everyone in the family helps out with the chores. They may still need occasional reminders about their responsibilities.

Please, be also aware, that because students may not have had these responsibilities before, they may need instructions on how they should be carried out.

Students can also be assigned additional jobs like gardening, washing the car or cleaning specific rooms of the house. Host families should assign the same amount of household responsibilities to the exchange student as they would to their own son or daughter. Always keep in mind that students are expecting to pull their weight, but they should not be treated as home help or an au pair.

Curfews

Acceptable curfews vary depending upon social customs in your area. Your family should decide what your weekday and weekend curfews are and make this very clear to your student. If your family does not have teenagers and is unfamiliar with what are generally accepted standards, you might ask a family with teenagers or your local coordinator for guidance.

Dating

Host families all have different rules and expectations regarding dating, that their children must follow. You, as host parents, should set your rules and expectations with your student to prevent any misunderstandings or problems later.

Exchange students who become seriously involved with a boyfriend or girlfriend have a different experience than those who do not involve themselves in a romantic relationship. Students with serious boyfriends or girlfriends may find that their time is filled with more emotional ups and downs than usual. Your Student Exchange provider will support the decision taken by host parents in this regard. Students are encouraged not to date, so they can focus on the broader experience of an exchange program.

Discipline / Problem Resolution

The Exchange Program has established the following process to assist students and host families with any adjustment issues.

Step 1

Round-table Discussion:

The goal of the round-table discussion is to make sure that the student and host family can address issues they feel need to be resolved, in an open discussion, where the local coordinator is present to support a constructive discussion. This discussion is aimed at making sure that problems are addressed early, in order to secure the success of the student/host family relationship, through specific actions to be taken by all parties.

Step 2

Positive Action Plan:

The goal of the Positive Action Plan is to secure the success of the student’s program, and to define the specific actions that need to be taken by the student, host family, and local coordinator, by a defined date.

Step 3

Final Warning:

Rules are made to ensure students' safety and successful completion of the program. We take responsibility to help the student to successfully complete the program seriously and, therefore, have a set process for handling situations where students break the rules. This is the final step to correct behaviour that will otherwise lead to the dismissal of the student from the program.

Step 4

Dismissal:

Your local coordinator will work together with staff from your Student Exchange provider and, your family, to establish the disciplinary steps to take with a student. In order for the disciplinary process to work, open communication must be maintained between you and your local coordinator regarding any concerns or issues you have.

Departure – Returning Home

The overseas partner organisation is responsible for arranging the student’s international and domestic flight. Students are required to arrive with a return flight. This flight may, or may not have, a return date booked, and, in some cases, a return date has been booked but it is not the date that the student intends to depart on.

The natural parents or the overseas partner will lock the return flight as soon as possible after arrival, as flights do tend to book up quickly. The student, as the ticket holder, and the overseas partner organisation can modify flights. The student may ask for your assistance in doing this. If you have any problems, call your local coordinator or the Student Exchange Provider office for advice.

Unfortunately, in most cases, your Student Exchange provider is not able to change the dates on behalf of the student. Students, natural parents or overseas partners need to book this return flight for the day the program will end, or shortly before the program end date. If students wish to stay in their host country after the program end date or, return home significantly before the program end date, they must be released from the program.

Your obligation as hosts ceases on the program end date. If the student’s flight date is after the program end date, your Student Exchange provider will discuss with you the new departure date and what the arrangements will be. The student might need to make their own arrangements for accommodation which may, or may not, include your family.

Driving

Students are not permitted to drive any motorised vehicle while on the program, even if they hold a valid licence in their home country, or valid international driver’s licence. If driving is required as part of the official school curriculum, an exception to this may be requested. Students are not allowed to obtain an Australian or New Zealand driver’s licence while on the exchange program.

Emergencies

It is hard to define exactly what an emergency is. In many circumstances, a problem’s resolution can wait until the start of business office hours at your Student Exchange provider or a convenient time for your local coordinator and you.

However, in the event of a genuine emergency, it is important to notify the appropriate people immediately. The host family should first call the local coordinator who will, in turn, call your Student Exchange Provider’s office or emergency line. If you are unable to reach the local coordinator, families should call the Student Exchange office (landline or emergency line) directly. Please use discretion if calling outside of office hours.

An emergency situation may include the following:

• If your student has been the victim of a crime

• If your student has been arrested

• Uncertainty about your student’s immediate safety

• Death or medical emergency

Your Student Exchange Provider assumes responsibility for notifying our overseas organisation who will contact the student’s natural parents.

The “Permission for Emergency Treatment” form, signed by the student’s natural parents and included in his/her application, enables the host family or designated representatives of your Student Exchange provider to make emergency medical decisions on your student’s behalf. Host families receive a copy of this form and should have it with them in the event of emergency treatment or if admission to a hospital is required.

Your Student Exchange Provider’s emergency contact number are on the last page of this Handbook. This phone is manned on a roster basis by staff from our office. This may mean that the Student Exchange provider staff member you speak to, when calling the emergency line, is not familiar with the background to your situation. However, staff do have remote access to files after hours.

The staff member who is carrying the emergency phone may be required to travel temporarily out of mobile reception or may need to leave the phone unattended for a short period. If your call is not answered immediately, please leave a message and a contact number and the staff member will return your call at the first available opportunity.

Evaluation Reports

Evaluation reports are requested of host families, students and local coordinators, several times during the student’s program. Your cooperation in completing your family reports, logging-in into your own personalised online platform, is greatly appreciated.

Reports are automated and, as soon a report is available for completion, you will receive an automated email asking you to log-in into your own personalised online platform to complete this one.

Reports should be quick to complete and essentially ask for your overall experience and how you feel your student is doing. You are invited to report any issues (solved or not solved) and state any positive aspects.

Your reports are confidential and will not be shared with anyone outside our office. Only your Student Exchange provider office staff will have access to your reports. We encourage your honest feedback as it allows us to make amendments and additions to our programs where possible.

Family Rules

While it is expected that students must follow all host family rules, it is your responsibility to communicate clearly what these rules include. Prior to the student’s arrival, it is a good idea to take the time to sit down with family members and prepare a list of rules. Putting the rules in writing will help the student, allowing him/her to review them as questions arise. Some house rules are unspoken or rarely talked about but, your exchange student should not be expected to know about these, so be sure to include them with the rest of the rules.

Some suggested topics to cover are:

• Pets - feeding and walking them

• Laundry - where dirty laundry is kept, how laundry is done

• Bathroom etiquette

• Keeping doors locked or unlocked

• How your family expresses appreciation and thanks

• How your family expresses disagreement

• What is “up for grabs” to eat

• what it means in your family to be on time

• Things that are off-limits

• What is shared by the family

• Where and when a student can entertain friends

• What a closed door means

• Mealtimes - when and what help is expected

• Chores - who does what

• Taking out the garbage and how and what to recycle

• Bedtime and curfew

• Television viewing rules

• Dating

It is important to keep lines of communication open. Don’t be discouraged if things do not get off to a smooth start, everything can be worked out through discussion. Small aggravations that get ignored can turn into a bigger problem later. “Nip it in the bud!” Speak honestly with your student (and encourage him/her to do the same) about what concerns you and arrange a time to discuss and evaluate how things are going along the way. Perhaps you could have a family dinner once a month where everyone has their say.

Family Visits

Exchange students often find a visit from their natural parents, while on exchange, to be an unsettling experience. However, we also recognise that some parents want to meet their child’s host family and see where their son or daughter lived and went to school while on exchange.

You should feel comfortable setting the dates for a visit around a time that is convenient for your family and the student’s school schedule. However, host families are not required to host their student’s natural family.

Student Exchange strongly encourages natural parents to wait until the end of the student’s program to visit. Some natural parents choose to release their son or daughter on, or close to the program end date, to allow personal travel within Australia or New Zealand. See ‘PROGRAM RELEASE’ for more details.

Hazardous Activities

A student’s participation in activities considered to be hazardous or perilous is subject to the approval of your family, the natural family and your Student Exchange provider. Students will be asked to submit an “hazardous activities release form”.

Activities considered to be hazardous or perilous include but are not limited to:

Judo Hang-gliding Wave running Mountaineering

Hunting Ice-hockey Horse-riding White-water rafting

Caving Karate Scuba diving Bungee jumping

Skiing or snowboarding outside maintained trails or slopes of ski resorts

Rock climbing / abseiling (this activity can be undertaken in a 'rock-climbing gym' or part of your school curriculum if you have formal and professional supervision)

Skydiving / parachuting

Flying in light aircraft (this includes being a passenger)

A student’s participation in these or other hazardous or perilous activities without first obtaining permission through the release procedure may result in a disciplinary procedure be put in place (see section about “discipline/ problem resolution”).

Students and host families should always check with the local coordinator, or the Student Exchange Provider’s staff, if there is a question about whether or not a specific activity is hazardous.

The insurance coverage provided for the student will usually not cover injuries sustained while participating in hazardous or perilous activities or sports, so students should investigate if their supplementary insurance (if they have any) will cover their participation. If not, we strongly recommend that students take out additional insurance that does cover these activities once their participation has been approved.

Hazardous Activities Release Forms are available from your local coordinator or the office.

Insurance / Health Provider

Prior their arrival, students are provided with their insurance certificate and cover summary. Host families will also receive copy of those documents.

If you or your student, are unsure how the medical cover works, please contact the insurance provider or our office.

AUSTRALIA

Your student, regardless he/she is on a long or short program, will be provided with health cover whilst on exchange in Australia.

Some students will be covered by our Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) provider and, others, by our corporate policy with AIG. Your student’s insurance provider (OSHC or AIG) will be according to the type of visa he/she will be holding.

OSHC is a basic health insurance and does not cover items such as dental, physiotherapy or optical expenses. Students are advised that they will need supplementary insurance if they anticipate needing these services. Pre-existing conditions are not covered by OSHC. Of the treatments covered, if a medical treatment occurs in a public hospital and the student is enrolled as a public patient, OSHC will usually cover all appropriate expenses as outlined on the insurance provider website. If medical treatment does not occur in a hospital, OSHC will usually cover 85% of the Medical Benefits Schedule (MBS) cost of the service.

Detailed information about what is and isn’t covered by our OSHC provider can be accessed on the insurance provider website.

AIG is our corporate policy. Details of the coverage is contained in the Schedule of Benefits provided to all students and the policy is available in full, from the downloads section of our websites. All students are provided with a Certificate of Currency and with an AIG Emergency Assistance card.

NEW ZEALAND

All visitors to New Zealand are covered by support provided by the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC). If a student is injured during his/her stay in New Zealand, the ACC may be able to assist with the cost of treatment and support while the student is in New Zealand. However, the student may not sue for personal injury.

ACC covers treatment and rehabilitation costs while the student is in New Zealand; it is not a replacement for travel insurance and does not cover illness, disrupted travel plans or emergency return travel.

In addition to the above cover, your exchange student will be covered through AIG. All our students on exchange in New Zealand are included in our corporate policy with AIG. Details of the coverage is contained in the Schedule of Benefits provided to all students and the policy is available in full, from the downloads section of our websites. All students are provided with a Certificate of Currency and with an AIG Emergency Assistance card.

Exchange students will have supplementary insurance provided by their home country organisation. If the student seeks medical treatment in Australia or New Zealand, they may decide to use their supplementary insurance and not AIG or OSHC.

Students are normally required to pay for medical treatment ‘upfront’ (at the time of treatment), then claim reimbursement. The student will need to keep all receipts and other relevant paperwork, to lodge claims.

Internet

Most students will wish to keep in contact via email with friends and family in their home country. This can be a valuable support network for students, especially early in the program.

Families with internet access at home, should talk openly with the student about what restrictions will be placed on this access. Discuss the following issues with the student:

Will the student be required to contribute financially to the internet access charges?

If so, agree if this will be a set amount each month or if it will be dependent on usage. If dependent on usage, try to give the student a practical example of how much this will cost.

What time limits are applicable to use of the internet?

Do not allow the student to spend an excessive amount of time on the internet at the beginning of their stay if you will not allow this to continue throughout the program. If many members of the family use the internet regularly, consider drawing up a timetable for use.

Are there restrictions to the types of materials that can be accessed from the Internet?

Teenagers can often be curious about material that families are not comfortable having downloaded onto their computers. Different cultures have different attitudes to adult material. An early (and perhaps slightly challenging) discussion can prevent major embarrassment later.

Students should be encouraged to maintain regular but not excessive contact with their natural family. You may also like to email the student’s family if they speak English. However, the student should not be permitted to spend so much time on the internet as to preclude their active participation in your family’s activities. Setting boundaries early is vital. Students should limit the use of social media to purely contact home to help to avoid homesickness.

Language

Although all exchange students have studied English for a number of years, generally they have had limited opportunities for conversational practice. A newly arrived student will find listening and communicating in English continuously to be exhausting. In addition, your exchange student’s language skills will be at their worst during the first few weeks, due to stress and the pressure to communicate only in a foreign language. They may seem quiet or disinterested at times, but this may be more a case of fatigue or frustration that comes with not being able to express ideas and feelings as easily as in their native language.

Try to include activities where speaking is not necessary, such as playing sports, listening to music or, working on an art project. Always encourage your student to express themself so that s/he gains confidence and practice. Avoid speaking on your student’s behalf but do correct pronunciation and grammar. Remember to speak clearly and slowly (not loudly)

and expect to repeat yourself. When in doubt if your student understood something that was said ask them to repeat it and, ask questions that cannot be answered with just a “yes” or “no”.

Legal Status

Exchange Program participants are subject to the national and local laws of their host country. Host families are not legal guardians. However, as stated previously, families are empowered to make medical decisions in the event of an emergency.

Life-changing Decisions

Students are strongly discouraged from making life-changing decisions while on exchange. These include, but are not limited to:

• Marrying, or committing to marry

• Becoming or causing a pregnancy

• Getting a tattoo

• Body piercing (except ear piercing)

• Becoming an Australian or New Zealand citizen

Students are placed under enough stress coping with a new culture, and possibly a new language. There will be plenty of opportunity for them to do these things later in life. Students who undertake any of the actions above, may expect disciplinary action to be taken against them.

Luggage

Students will invariably have too much luggage upon their return to their home country. Encourage your student to begin posting packages of belongings by sea mail before their departure. Airlines are becoming increasingly tough on baggage limits and many students have found themselves at the airport with a difficult decision to make – pay the excess baggage charge or, part with some treasured possessions. Making this decision early, should prevent additional distress at the airport.

There are many companies listed online that offer services to send excess belongings home. Alternatively, encourage your student to speak with the airline in advance about the possibility of sending items as unaccompanied baggage.

Meals

While host families are not expected to make special meals for their exchange students, it is important to find out if s/he has any allergies or aversions. Most teenagers are willing to try new foods but do not be surprised if your student does not like the same foods as you, at least at the beginning of the program.

Many foods are now globally known, with pizza and hamburgers found in countries around the world. What does remain different is dining times and styles. The typical

Australian or New Zealand dinner time is around 6:30pm (viewed by many cultures as early) and is often eaten in a hurry on the way to sports clubs or meetings.

Europeans and Brazilians, for example, tend to have a more formal evening meal that begins between 8:00pm to 10:00pm. Your student will adapt to your ways but, this may take some adjustment and you should be patient with him/her through this period.

School lunches are a topic that needs to be discussed. Your student should be prepared to pay for lunch at school (purchased from the school canteen) during the week. If bringing lunch from home is part of your family routine, the student would appreciate being included.

Medical Treatment

See the sections Emergencies & Insurance

Money

Students are expected to have access to a minimum of AU$325 / NZ$400 per month to cover personal expenses. Since the students are bringing their own spending money, host families are not expected to bear any financial burden beyond food and housing. While some students arrive with all their spending money, many will receive periodic allowances from home. Other students will arrive with a credit card or ATM card that enables them to withdraw funds electronically from an overseas account.

Find out from your student how they will receive their funds from overseas so that you can provide help in setting up a bank account if needed. If your student chooses to open a local bank account, he/she will appreciate your help with this matter. When visiting a branch to open a bank account, the student will need valid forms of ID such as their passport or any foreign credit card. The branch might also request proof of address such as your electricity bill.

Remember that these teens probably have minimal (if any) experience managing money and may also have trouble understanding the value of a new currency. Assistance in creating a financial plan for the duration of their stay and, helping to create a monthly budget, will be appreciated. Host families should not lend money to, or borrow money from, students. Students should also be made aware of bills, such as telephone or internet usage as soon as the amount is known, to allow them time to organise payment.

Have a clear discussion on what you expect the students to be responsible for regarding trips and evenings out. Try not to pay for anything at the beginning of their program that you do not intend to continue paying for throughout the student’s stay. Many families follow a guideline of paying the same expenses for their exchange student as they would do for their own son or daughter but, each host family needs to establish what will work best for them.

Overnight with Friends

Plans to stay overnight at a friend’s house are often made by students on the spur of the moment. This makes it impractical to notify your local coordinator or our office every time the student will be away from home overnight with friends.

What is important is that you, the host family, give permission for the student to stay with the friend and that you approve of these arrangements. The student should provide you with their friend’s contact details and must be supervised by a suitable adult at night. You should set boundaries for the student as you would for your own teenage son or daughter.

Passport & Ticket

Encourage your student in the days after arrival to store his/her passport, and a printed copy of the return air ticket, in a safe place. Make sure that you are aware of this safe place in case the student forgets.

The student should only require the passport to open a bank account or enrol in school. Please encourage your student to make a copy of their passport ID page.

Personal Belongings

Your student will be expected to respect your personal belongings and your privacy. Host families are also expected to respect student’s privacy by not reading the student’s journal or going through personal belongings.

Releases

Many families arrange for their student to travel with, or to friends or to family, to see some more of the host country during the exchange. If an adult member of your immediate family will accompany the student, no release is necessary. However, we do ask that you inform your local coordinator or our office of a contact number and the duration of the trip, in case the student needs to be contacted in an emergency.

Some students choose to leave the program temporarily; return to their home country early; leave the exchange program early but remain in the host country; or remain in the host country to travel at the end of their program.

Our Release Forms facilitate all these choices. You, as a host family, might be asked (along with the natural parents, the student and, our office) to sign the temporary release form giving, for example, permission to your student to be away from your home during the school holidays.

I will return to the program

Temporary Program Release

must be signed before I am allowed to:

Travel with anyone other than my host family or school

Travel with my host family or school for longer than 14 days

An overnight stay in my host community under adult supervision with a family or school friend, with the permission of at least one host parent is OK

I will not return to the program

Program End Release

must be signed before I am allowed to leave the exchange program

During the period of the Temporary Program Release, Program Rules still apply, insurance and visa remain valid. Temporary Program Release may not be granted if the period of release is during the school term.

Once a "Program End Release" is in effect, my insurance is cancelled along with all other services from my exchange organisation, including host family accomodation and school enrolment. My exchange organisation might need to advise the relevant immigration and education authorities that I have left the exchange program. My visa may be cancelled or the status changed at the discretion of the immigration authority.

Your Student Exchange provider forwards the program release form to the student’s home country organisation to be sent to the natural parents.

Students wishing to remain in the host country, once the program has ended to, for example, travel around the host country with their natural parents might need to apply for a new visa (contacting the Immigration Authorities) and extend their insurance cover. Your Student Exchange provider will not assist the student with extension of the stay (visa) and medical cover.

Religion

Although some exchange students are very active and devout, most do not practise their religion regularly. In Australia and New Zealand, religion can play an important role in the spiritual and social life of many host families. Student Exchange students are initially expected to attend services with their host families in order to appreciate the family’s experience but are, by no means, required to participate on a regular basis if they do not want to.

It is important to let your student know that the churches often fill a social role and that they may want to try out the youth group to make friends and to gain a feeling of the community. Families and students need to come to an agreement as to what kind of participation works for both parties, while respecting each other’s freedom of choice. If your student wishes to attend services of a different faith, try to help them connect with a member of that religious organisation who will assist with introductions and/or transportation.

Routines

So much of any family’s day-to-day routines is just assumed by few family members. Be sure to take the time to explain the family routine to your student. This will help him/her fit in. Talk about when everyone wakes up, time in the bathroom, who is in charge of breakfast, making beds and changing sheets, transport to and from school and other activities. You can make things much easier for your family and your student if you tell them about your routines from the start and, not presume, that the student will automatically ‘know’ your lifestyle.

Siblings

Both the exchange student and his/her host brothers or sisters greatly look forward to having a special relationship with one another. However, like all friendships, it may need some time to grow. This relationship is not always a guaranteed success - your own children may develop some feelings of jealousy at the extra attention your student is receiving, the exchange student may outshine the host sibling in their similar sport or, they are not what the other expected. If trouble arises, it is very important that host parents show equal consideration for both sides of the argument. Help your child imagine how they would be in a similar situation and point out that they do not need to be best friends but do need to respect each other as family members.

Smoking

Smoking and vaping (cigarettes or e-cigarettes) whilst on the program is prohibited. Tobacco use, including e-cigarettes, among adolescents can be very common in few European countries. Even though your student might be a smoker back home, he/she is prohibited to smoke whilst on the exchange program.

Telephone

Students are responsible for the cost of all personal telephone calls they make. Do some research before your student arrives to find out the cost of calling their home country, if required, and when is the most affordable time to call.

Due to social media, the majority will not make international calls at all. However, if the student does make calls, it is at their and their natural parents’ cost. If an international call goes on your telephone account, show the student the cost of that call and make sure they understand they are required to pay it. This is spoken about at their arrival orientation session.

Students should be encouraged to limit their contact with home to a reasonable limit per week or month. A healthy balance of contact needs to be found. We have great media platforms, and the student should not be using these all night to contact home. Your Student Exchange provider knows from experience that too much contact with home can delay the student’s adjustment to your family and lifestyle.

Transportation

Host families are expected to help the student with transportation to and from school. This does not mean that the student needs to be driven every day but, that they should be shown the various modes of transportation that are available - whether it is walking, riding a bike, taking a bus or becoming part of a carpool. Explain transportation arrangements in detail and, if possible, escort them to the bus stop or walk with them the first few days. You may want to draw or provide your student with a map that can be kept in their wallet or school bag.

Most exchange students will want, and should be encouraged to involve themselves in, after-school or community activities. We also ask that you assist your student, in organising transportation to these activities. You are of course not required to ‘taxi’ the student around all the time but, you may be able to investigate car-pooling arrangements with other parents if there is not suitable public transport in your area.

As most exchange students are not placed in large cities, your student will rely on transportation provided by members of your family and in some situations, their friends. Students need to be warned that regulations often mean young drivers have restricted licences. They should always know if their driver is permitted, by law, to drive. All students, whether in Australia or New Zealand, are prohibited from driving any motorised vehicle while on exchange, even if they hold a driver’s licence in their home country.

Students should be warned (and reminded) not get into a vehicle if they know or suspect that the driver has been drinking alcohol or, if they feel unsafe (driver not being responsible).

Host families can set boundaries regarding the issue of students being a passenger with a ‘Learner’ or ‘Provisional’ or ‘Restricted’ plate. You may set rules for your student that you would set for your own teenage children and, your exchange student, must respect your decision.

Depending on the distances involved and local road conditions, you may encourage your student to purchase a second-hand bicycle and helmet.

Visas

Students usually enter Australia or New Zealand under a visitor visa or student visa. Some short program students (with a stay up to 3 months) might not need any visa papers from your Student Exchange provider, as they will be able to enter the host country on a visitor visa. Visitor visas are usually easy to apply for and quick to be issued.

Others must obtain a student visa to enter Australia or New Zealand and, will be provided with visa documentation from our office. Students will lodge their visa application at the Australian or New Zealand diplomatic mission in their home country, well before departure from their home country.

Your Student Exchange provider is registered to operate exchange programs, by the Education Department in each Australian State and Territory and with the New Zealand Ministry of Education.

The visa documentation issued by our office, or the Local Authorities, will only specify the program period and, the diplomatic post where the student obtains their visa, determines the visa length. In many cases, the visa is issued for a slightly longer period than the program dates. A student cannot remain in the host country beyond the program end date, unless accompanied by a natural parent to take responsibility for the student. If staying beyond the program end date, the student and their natural parents are responsible for obtaining a new visa (if required) and will need to consult with the Immigration Authorities in Australia or New Zealand.

Student support network

The following chart shows how communication works within an exchange program.

The diagram shows how the total network operates to support students, natural families, and host families. Good communication via the support network is imperative for the success of an exchange experience.

When problems arise, no matter how small, it is very important for students to address them as soon as possible, either by discussing the issue with the host family directly, by communicating with the local coordinator or by contacting the host organisation. The coordinator’s role is to support both the student and the host family. The coordinators usually have a background of experience in student exchange and should be the first point of contact, for a student having difficulties.

The local coordinator can then act as a third party and assist with discussions between the student and host family and, suggest ways in which situations can be improved or issues can be resolved.

The host family or local coordinator will inform the hosting organisation of any concerns they may have and may in turn communicate with your student exchange organisation.

Policies

Child Protection

Your Student Exchange provider takes seriously the care and supervision of exchange students on our programs. Our aim is to ensure we meet and exceed all legal and regulatory requirements and provide a safe and healthy experience for students in our care.

Your Student Exchange provider unequivocally commits that it will foster the dignity, selfesteem, and integrity of its students. The provision of a safe and supportive environment is an essential element to ensure that each student entrusted to our care is to be affirmed in his or her dignity and worth as a person.

Staff, local coordinators and, host families, must endorse the principles of child protection and fulfil their legal obligations in reporting any child protection concerns.

Listed below, is the legislation and responsibility for child protection in Australia’s states and territories and, in New Zealand:

ACT

NSW

Working With Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Act 2011 (ACT)

The ACT Working with Vulnerable People Background Check requires that individuals engaging in regulated activities or services, including where these are provided to children, must be registered. A statutory Screening Unit within the Office of Regulatory Services, Justice and Community Safety Directorate is responsible for applications for registration.

3 years

Child Protection (Working With Children) Amendment (Statutory Review) Act 2018 (NSW)

Individuals are responsible for their own application for certification and are also legally required to update their contact details, including any name or address changes within three months. Employers must verify that their workers or volunteers who work with children have had a check or applied for one.

Employers operating within a child-related industry are required to register online with the NSW Office of the Children's Guardian (OCG) and are required to subsequently conduct online verification of new paid employees' clearance. Existing paid workers and all volunteers (new and current) also need to have their clearance validated online. Parent volunteers attending overnight children's camps are required to have a WWCC. NGOs are required to provide information relevant to an assessment of whether a person poses a risk to the safety of children in response to a request from the OCG.

5 years

NT Care and Protection of Children Act 2007 (NT)

QLD

Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Act 2000 (QLD)

SA Children's Protection Act 1993 (SA)

Individuals are required to apply for a WWCC, known as an 'Ochre Card' or Clearance Notice in the NT. It applies to employees and volunteers in child-related employment settings. 2 years

Individuals are required to apply for a WWCC, known as a 'Blue Card' in Queensland. Blue Cards allow individuals to engage in child- related occupations/volunteering. Organisations providing child-related services must also have policies and procedures in place to identify and minimise the risk of harm to children. These policies and procedures are monitored by the Public Safety Business Agency.

The South Australian system is an employer- driven system requiring employers and responsible authorities to obtain National Police Checks and conduct wider child-related employment screening for those engaging in child-related occupations/volunteering.

TAS

VIC

Registration to Work With Vulnerable People Act 2013 (Tas.)

Working With Children Act 2005 (Vic.)

WA Working With Children (Criminal Record Checking) Act 2004 (WA)

Individuals who work or volunteer in the childcare or other childrelated sectors are required to apply for a Working With Vulnerable People check. Registrations are valid for three years or as determined by the Registrar. 3 years

NZ Children’s Act 2014

Individuals are required to apply for a WWCC. The check allows individuals to engage in child-related occupations/volunteering and practical training. 5 years

Individuals are required to apply for a WWCC. The check allows individuals to engage in child-related occupations/volunteering. 3 years

Government safety checking regulations in New Zealand made under the Act require all paid employees and contractors who work with children for state-funded organisation to complete a Children’s Worker Safety Check. The regulations also apply to people doing unpaid work with children in New Zealand as part of an education or vocational training course (such as trainees or students). Businesses, unfunded non-government organisations, and voluntary organisations are not covered by the regulations, but are encouraged to adopt the New Zealand working with children standards voluntarily. 3 years

Program Rules

When your student applied to the exchange program, s/he and his/her natural parents signed an agreement, where they acknowledge the program rules and agree that the student will abide by them.

What happens if the program rules are not followed?

Your Student Exchange provider’s goal is to help your family and the student through the ups and downs. We all make mistakes now and then but it’s important that exchange students show maturity and a willingness to correct mistakes. Your local coordinator will work with the student to change any behaviour or actions that do not comply with the Student Exchange program guidelines.

It’s all about communication. Be open and honest with your student and your local coordinator. Show flexibility and a willingness to compromise when there are conflicts and uncomfortable situations. While it is the student’s responsibility to adapt to your family’s lifestyle, you chose to host in order to explore cultural differences –acknowledge these differences and learn about different methods of approaching problems and doing everyday things. When you take this approach, almost any situation can be resolved.

Of course, if a resolution cannot be found within a reasonable amount of time. Your Student Exchange provider has certain procedures to follow. A brief explanation of these procedures is included under ‘DISCIPLINE / PROBLEM RESOLUTION’ in the A-Z section of this handbook. We hope that these steps won’t be necessary but it’s good to know about them as you begin your experience. We’re here to support you throughout your hosting and will do all we can, to guide you in making it work!

Students must obey all the laws of the host government, including laws covering immigration, sexual relations, all State and Local government laws, as well as the rules set by the host school, the host family, the overseas host organisation and your Student Exchange provider.

While on the program, students must abide by these program rules. A student who does not comply with the program rules may have his or her participation in the program terminated and the student may be returned to their home country at natural parent/guardian’s expense.

1. While in the host country, students must obey all the laws of the host government, including laws covering immigration, sexual relations, all State and Local government laws, as well as the rules set by the host school, the host family, the overseas host organisation, and your student exchange provider.

2. School attendance is compulsory. Students must attend school and follow school policies regarding absence, homework, and exams. Students must demonstrate a determined effort at school and maintain “C” average or higher in all courses at the host school.

3. Students must not travel independently and must comply with all your student exchange provider and overseas host organisation release conditions and procedures.

4. Students must not drive or purchase any motorised vehicle (e.g., car, van, ute, truck, motorcycle, moped, scooter, tractor, quad bike) which requires a licence except when supervised by legally qualified instructors as part of the student’s school experience. USA: driving is permitted with an instructor of an official driver’s education course, and only during class hours; Australia: driving ‘quads’ can be allowed if provided by the host family and additional insurance is arranged and must only be driven on private premises, not on public roads.

5. Students must not smoke, vape or use any prohibited substance during the program period. Students who indicate that they do not smoke or vape on their application may not smoke or vape during the program period. Be aware that in some countries or states it is forbidden by law for students under a certain age to smoke or possess tobacco or vaping products. Possession, purchase or use of non-medically prescribed drugs is prohibited. Consumption of alcohol is prohibited. Exceptions regarding alcohol may be allowed ONLY in countries where local law allows it and ONLY when offered, and consumed, by and together with the host parents in the host home and never to excess.

6. Students must demonstrate a genuine commitment to assimilate with their host community and host family by following host family rules, participating in host family everyday life and by integrating into the host family community. Students must act respectfully and always keep their Host Family aware of their whereabouts. The use of phone and/or other social media to contact home should be limited to help to avoid homesickness.

7. Students may not participate in hazardous activities without prior written approval by natural parents/guardians, host family and your student exchange provider on the Hazardous Activities Release Form. Approval is required regardless of whether the hazardous activity is covered by insurance.

8. The following actions/behaviours are not permitted:

• Hitch-hiking

• Sexting, that is, the sending or sharing of sexually explicit digital images, videos, text messages or emails.

• Life-changing decisions: marriage; changing sex or gender identity; changing religion; changing nationality; tattoos; piercings.

• Shooting, possessing, or handling firearms or other weapons.

• Becoming pregnant or causing somebody else’s pregnancy.

• Students are not allowed to take official employment outside their host homes in the host country, except in Australia and New Zealand

9. Students may not publish or share any images or content on any social media platform including another person unless with the express permission of that person/s.

Any student breaking the above rules will be returned to their home country immediately at the natural parent’s expense.

Be aware that local laws (in the host country) may differ to laws in the home country and that violations of the above rules may have serious consequences and/or may result in the cancellation of a student’s participation in the program.

Natural parents/guardians are advised not to contact the overseas host organisation unless approved by the sending organisation. To ensure proper management and control of a student’s program, all contact from the natural parents should be with your Student Exchange provider

These rules must be read in conjunction with the Terms & Conditions of participation, Medical and General Authority, Travel Authority, Insurance Policy and IB Student handbook. As indicated above, your Student Exchange provider and the overseas host organisations reserve the right to terminate the participation in the program of any student whose conduct is considered by them to be seriously in breach of program rules or detrimental to or incompatible with the program and in that event, they may return that student home at the natural parent/guardian’s expense.

Social Networking Policy

Students will be held responsible for everything posted on and linked to their profile on social media and networking sites like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Twitter and others. This includes statements, comments, and photos.

Students must refrain from posting any content or images that indicate a violation of Australian or New Zealand laws, the laws of the student’s home country or your Student Exchange provider rules, as well as any content or images that are perceived as obscene, defamatory, threatening, harassing and hateful, or hurtful to the reputation of another person and family.

Further, students must refrain from any online activity that could compromise their safety or the safety and privacy of their host family. This includes communicating or meeting with strangers, posting any information that could be used to identify their or their host family’s identity or location such as full names, address, phone number, bank and credit card information, etc.

Students must be aware that downloading materials from the internet, (including films, TV shows and music) without appropriate payment to the copyright holder(s) is illegal in most countries. Any of these actions may result in disciplinary procedures such as warning or probation and may lead to dismissal from the program.

Points to consider about online personal safety:

• Ensure you have adequate privacy settings on your personal/private sites. Loss of your control of information/material can occur once published and it has the potential to remain in public forever. Additionally, the privacy policy of a social media site can easily change without your knowledge.

• Students are advised that, whilst on exchange, not to tag themselves in photos that we may publish on our social media platforms as this identifies the student and creates a link to their personal profile.

• Students must not disclose their surname, or actual whereabouts (other than the country they are in) on our social media platforms.

• Students are advised not to reveal data that could be used to impersonate or steal identity (date and place of birth, for example).

• Inappropriate or inaccurate comments which are damaging to a person’s reputation should be avoided, as they could result in a claim of libel.

• Postings, whether they are on a blog or public Facebook site, can be read by millions of people. Strike the right balance between informality and formality in tone.

• Student safety, privacy and enjoyment of the exchange experience comes first, so students are advised to be sensible and keep emotions, politics, racial, ethnic, sexual opinions, slurs, and comments out of posts.

Grievance Procedure

All exchange program participants, whether inbound or outbound, are provided with details of their Student Exchange support network, to help them to adjust and make the most of their exchange experience. However, should participants encounter an issue about which they have concerns, we advise that this grievance process be followed.

In the first instance, participants are required to approach their local coordinator to discuss any grievance they may have. Participants should make every effort to achieve an acceptable and equitable resolution at this level. However, if the issue remains unresolved participants may outline their concerns, in writing, to their hosting organisation for assistance in resolving the matter. If this approach also fails to resolve the issue, the participant should write directly to their home/sending organisation. The matter will then be dealt with in discussion between the sending and hosting organisation.

Both the student and their natural parent / guardian have signed that they are aware that participation in the Student Exchange program is contingent upon their agreement to uphold the standards of acceptable behaviour while abroad, as outlined above in the Program Rules. Contact the local coordinator with the aim of working through the issues locally.

If the issue is not resolved then contact your Student Exchange provider by phone or email, initially, to discuss the concern. If still unresolved then write to your Student Exchange provider, to bring the matter to the attention of the Program Manager or National Director. The Program Manager or National Director will respond, initially within 24 hours, and continue to liaise with the host family until the issue is resolved. If the host family is not satisfied with this process, or its resolution, the host family may choose to contact the Authorities:

Information for students to and from Australia

Contact the registration authorities in their Sates / Territories for assistance. In the next section of this handbook “Complaint handling policy” you will be able to find the contact details of the Authorities in Australia.

Information for students to and from New Zealand

Should a grievance note be resolved via your Student Exchange provider Grievance Procedure, students from or to New Zealand may contact the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA). Raising a complaint with NZQA will not adversely affect the immigration status of students. Students can download the Complaint Form at: https://www2.nzqa.govt.nz/about-us/contact-us/complaint/education-provider/ Email or scan the completed form, including scans of any supporting evidence, to schoolcode.enquiries@nzqa.govt.nz. For more information on the complaint process, students can contact NZQA in New Zealand on 0800 697 296.

Complaints Handling Policy

Should a party have a complaint about our product or service, that party is encouraged to contact us as per contact details on our website. We will respond to any concern communicated to us as follows:

• We commit that assessment of the complaint or appeal will take place within 10 working days and that we will finalise the outcome as soon as practicable;

• We assure that the party is given an opportunity to formally present his or her case at minimal or no cost and be accompanied and assisted by a support person at any relevant meetings;

• We assure that the assessment of the complaint or appeal will be conducted in a professional, fair and transparent manner.

• We commit to provide the party with a written statement of the outcome of the internal appeal, including detailed reasons for the outcome; and

• We maintain written records, including the complaint or appeal, and a statement of the outcome and reasons for the outcome.

• We advise the party that they may contact the relevant state/territory registration authority if the exchange student or parent/guardian is concerned about our conduct with the requirements under regulations; and

• We will ensure that our process described does not hinder a party from exercising his/her rights to other legal remedies.

• We consider all forms of child abuse which applies to complaints or concerns relating to child abuse made by or in relation to a child or student, staff, volunteers, home stay families and other persons that may affect students on the student exchange program

• We will report allegations, suspicions or disclosures to relevant authorities, whether or not the law requires reporting, and to co-operate with law enforcement.

• We will identify staff to respond to child safety concerns and complaints

• We will immediately respond to a complaint or concern relating to child abuse and inform the required authorities accordingly as per Standard 5.30 Resolution of problems informing all relevant parties including Police, Child Protection and the Commission for Children and Young People/Child Protection services.

• We pledge to protect and support any exchange student connected to the complaint or concern relating to child abuse, until the complaint or concern is resolved.

• Adhering to privacy and confirming that employment law obligations are met when responding to and reporting complaints and concerns

• All complaints will be documented in our QMS Action request file making sure that all actions are documented and secured retaining records of the complaint or concern including the response.

• All complaints are shared with Senior Management.

• We provide all parties with the contact details for the relevant registration authority (below – as per Australian National Guidelines and New Zealand Code of Practice). Note that these registration authorities may suspend or cancel the registration of the student exchange provider.

The state and territory registration authorities listed below have the responsibility for the registration or approval, and quality assurance, of schools and organisations providing secondary student exchange programs in the respective state or territory.

Australian Capital Territory

Education & Training Directorate, ACT Government

International Education Unit

51 Freemantle Drive, Stirling (PO Box 158), CANBERRA ACT 2601

Ph: (02) 6205 9176 Fax: (02) 6205 9239

W: www.det.act.gov.au

E: ieu@act.gov.au

New South Wales

NSW Registration Committee for International Secondary Student Exchange

DE International

Level 2, 1 Oxford Street (Locked Bag 53), DARLINGHURST NSW 2010

Ph: (02) 8293 6982

W: https://www.deinternational.nsw.edu.au/study-options/study-programs/secondarystudent-exchange

E: studentexchange@det.nsw.edu.au

Northern Territory

Department of Education (DOE)

International Services Unit

Level 14, 55 Mitchell Street (GPO Box 4821), DARWIN NT 0801

Ph: (08) 8901 4902 Fax: (08) 8999 5788

W: www.nt.gov.au/learning/primary-and-secondary-students/overseas-exchangeprograms-for-nt-students

E: internationalservices@nt.gov.au

Queensland Department of Education & Training (DET)

International Quality (Schools) Unit

Level 8, 30 Mary Street (LMB 527), BRISBANE QLD 4001

Ph: (07) 3513 6748

W: www.qld.gov.au/education/schools/information/programs/exchange/pages/long

E: cricosreg@qed.qld.gov.au

South Australia

Education Standards Board, School Registration Services

GPO Box 1811 ADELAIDE SA 5001

PH: 1800 882 413

W: https://esb.sa.gov.au/schools/student-exchange

E: esb.seo@sa.gov.au

Tasmania

Tasmanian Assessment, Standards & Certification (TASC)

Level 6, 39 Murray Street (GPO Box 333), HOBART TAS 7001

Ph: (03) 6165 6000

W: www.tasc.tas.gov.au

E: enquiries@tasc.tas.gov.au

Victoria

Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA)

School Projects Unit

Level 2, Lonsdale Street (GPO Box 2317), MELBOURNE VIC 3001

Ph: (03) 9032 1538

W: https://www2.vrqa.vic.gov.au/student-exchange

E: vrqa.student.exchange@edumail.vic.gov.au

Western Australia

Department of Education

c/o TAFE International Western Australia

140 Royal Street, EAST PERTH WA 6004

Locked Bag 16 OSBORNE PARK DC, WA

Ph: (08) 9218 2100 Fax: (08) 9218 2160

W: www.tafeinternational.wa.edu.au

E: secondaryexchange.eti@dtwd.wa.gov.au

New Zealand

Ministry of Education

Level 1, 33 Bowen Street, Wellington 6011, New Zealand

Ph: 64 4 463 8000 Fax: 64 4 463 8001

W:https://www.education.govt.nz/our-work/contact-us/

E: enquiries.national@education.govt.nz

Contact details / Emergencies

National Office Address: 1 Mona Vale Road - Mona Vale NSW 2103 PO Box 1420 - Mona Vale NSW 1660

Australia

Phone: +61 (0)2 9997 0700

Email: info@studentexchange.org.au

Website: www.studentexchange.org.au

New Zealand Address: Suite 2590 - PO Box 83000 Johnsonville Wellington 6440

New Zealand

Phone: 0800 440 079

Email: info@studentexchange.org.nz

Website: www.studentexchange.org.nz

Your student exchange provider has a 24-hour phone service to assist and support in the event of a genuine emergency. A genuine emergency is one where a major crisis has arisen, your health and wellbeing is at risk, or a family tragedy has occurred. The emergency after hours phone numbers are:

• 0412 959 851 (within Australia)

• 0800 451 963 (within New Zealand)

• +61 412 959 851 (from overseas)

The emergency mobile phone is rostered to staff on a weekly basis and is shared between staff working in different areas. This may mean that the staff member who you speak to may not be the one that you are familiar with talking to. However, staff have after-hours access to all our databases and student files to ensure that our capacity to assist after hours is not compromised.

If your call is not answered immediately, please leave a message, and contact number and your call will be returned, at the first available opportunity.

These details are also provided to your student in their handbook. Prior departure students will be also provided with their overseas host organisation emergency contact details. Host Parents are asked not contact the overseas partner organisation.

MORE INFORMATION

Student Exchange Australia New Zealand shares student content (images, video and words) on and offline. If required, small adjustments are made to ensure it is suitable for the media it is shared on, and that student privacy is protected. The utmost care is taken to keep all content as true to its original state as possible.

If you have any questions or require more information regarding sharing or submitting your exchange photos, videos or words, please contact us on:

Australia: info@studentexchange.org.nz

New Zealand: info@studentexchange.org.nz