Student Posts Archives - Australian Homestay Network

To My AHN Host Family…

November 12, 2025
Zoe
blog, Student Posts
0 Comments

Sheema and Troy, Prior to coming to my homestay, I was honestly a bit nervous. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to communicate well with my host family or if I would adjust to living with them. But…

AHN Aussie Christmas Gift Guide

AHN Aussie Christmas Gift Guide Christmas in Australia always brings its own special kind of magic: long sunny days, backyard BBQs, beach swims and that unmistakable feeling of holiday cheer. For international students, this season can be a completely new…

Adapting to Aussie Life: A Comprehensive Guide for International Students

by Raquel Valle, KBA Global Education & Migration You've ticked off your university enrollment and secured your Subclass 500 visa. Now, it’s time to arrange your accommodations. Homestays in Australia are fantastic because they provide more than just a place…

What are the Student Visa Requirements for Australia?

October 16, 2024
Erin Webb
blog, Student Posts
0 Comments

What are the student visa requirements for Australia? by Constantine Paxinos, PAX Migration Australia Looking for accommodation in Australia? BOOK A HOMESTAY Since the Australian Government released its Migration Strategy in December 2023, a series of changes have been…

Homestay Hosting During the Holidays

At the Australian Homestay Network (AHN), we know that people will take time off from work around Easter and Christmas/New Years to catch up with friends and family, go on a trip, or recharge. Most students will have a few…

Halloween 101

September 24, 2024
Zoe
blog, Host Posts, Student Posts
0 Comments

Halloween, celebrated every October 31, is a fun, spooky tradition enjoyed worldwide. As an AHN host, it's a great opportunity to get to know international students and celebrate Halloween customs. Read our guide for tips on how you can get…

The Perks of Homestay – A Student’s Perspective

Homestay offers a unique blend of cultural immersion, language development, and a supportive environment for students. It promotes personal growth, provides a safe living arrangement, and allows students to experience the local way of life. Join our #AHNFamilyAU now! It…

Accommodation Options for International Students in Australia

Australia has a diverse and vibrant international student population, generally ranking in the top five study abroad locations along with the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand. As one of the world’s most popular destinations for international…

5 Reasons I Love Hosting Students

January 4, 2023
Zoe
blog, Guest Blog, Host Posts, Student Posts
0 Comments

5 Reasons I Love Hosting Students. I moved to Melbourne a few years ago from the UK and was totally blown away by the kindness of everyone I met. People were so keen to help me discover all the wonderful…

2022 AHN Aussie Christmas Gift Guide

2022 AHN Aussie Gift Guide Christmas is fast approaching and we bet you’re counting down the days until the end of 2022. It’s been a crazy year, right?! If you’re an international student studying in Australia and you want some…

Settling Into Homestay, A Host’s Advice.

Settling Into Homestay, A Hosts Advice. This is for the newer hosts, like myself, who are just starting to feel their way around hosting international students, while they are settling into homestay. Just be practical & patient and remember the…

Arriving In Australia

January 29, 2020
Zoe
blog, Student Posts
0 Comments

Settling in and setting up... Settling into a new country can be very daunting if you’ve never been before so we’ve put together a few tips: Take a selfie with your host when you arrive - it'll help you…

2019 AHN Aussie Christmas Gift Guide

2019 AHN Aussie Gift Guide Whether you’re an international student studying in Australia or a dedicated homestay host, we bet you’re counting down the days until the end of 2019. If you’re looking for some Australian souvenirs to take home…

10 Useful Apps for International Students in Australia

September 5, 2019
dillon
blog, Student Posts
3 Comments

Being an international student can be stressful. First there’s all the lectures, tutorials and studying you have to do. On top of that you’re probably getting used to living away from your family, finding your way around a new city…

12 Tips for dealing with Homesickness

12 Tips for dealing with Homesickness No matter how excited you are to be studying in a new country, it's natural to feel a bit homesick sometimes. It’s a huge transition to be living away from home with the added…

AHN House Rules

AHN House Rules A solid foundation for a successful homestay and establishing an understanding between you and your guests Welcoming an international student into your home is a fantastic cultural exchange and experience for everyone involved. During the homestay it’s…

What are the Requirements to get a Study Visa for Australia?

What are the requirements to get a study visa for Australia? by Constantine Paxinos, PAX Migration Australia Looking for accommodation in Australia? BOOK A HOMESTAY Obtaining a student visa for Australia is a great opportunity to gain a qualification…

AHN’s Aussie Slang Dictionary

Experiencing another culture is one of the best things about studying overseas. If you’ve decided to go to school or university in Australia you’ll notice the locals have a very unique way of speaking. Even though English is the official…

10 Bucket List Experiences for International Students in Australia

You've got to make the most of your time in another country and when your "home away from home" is as big as Australia - there are plenty of amazing experiences to put on your bucket list. Here are our…

Discover Australia

Australia is the third most popular destination for international students in the world. With stunning natural landscapes, amazing wildlife, buzzing cities and weather to suit visitors from across the globe - it's no wonder record numbers of overseas students are…

5 Reasons to Study in Townsville

5 Reasons to Study in Townsville #StudyQueensland Imagine being able to get a world-class education in a city that enjoys more than 300 days of sunshine each year and has the Great Barrier Reef on its doorstep. Welcome to Townsville!…

5 Reasons to Study in Darwin #StudyNT

5 Reasons to Study in Darwin #StudyNT Darwin might be the smallest Australian capital city in terms of population, but there are plenty of reasons why it’s a top destination for international students. A global focus on education A number…

Blog: My great experience with my homestay family

I came to Canberra, Australia in September 2011 to start my Foundations course at ANU College. I was 17, and had just finished year 10. My sister was already in her third year of university also in Canberra when I…

Blog: My experience with AHN

I came to Australia to study 4 years ago, I was awarded a scholarship from the Ecuadorian government and got the offer letter from UQ to do my bachelor’s degree. However, I had to do the Foundation Year program since…

Blog: I will never forget Brad and Claire

I am very happy to live with the most beautiful and smart people in the world. During my homestay, my host parents always shared lots of different interesting things with me – like cooking together on Sunday mornings. This makes…

To embrace a lovely Australian family

Hey there!! I’m Eva, a 20-year-old girl from China, an international exchange student studying Business in Tourism and Event Management at SCU. I would like to share my homestay story about a lovely Australian family in Gold Coast. The most…

Blog: Moving on and Moving Strong: Flying into the Unfamiliar

Leaving the familiar is always a difficult thing to do. One has to take a leap of faith and brave obstacles, to push away the sadness and flash a convincing smile, and to be open and ready to discover what…

My Wonderful Homestay Journey

April 12, 2018
Zoe
blog, Student Posts
0 Comments

Hello，my name is Winnie and I am a first-year psychological science student at UNSW. This is my second semester in UNSW and it is also my second semester living with my homestay hosts Robert and Rani. They are very…

Homestay – What It’s Really Like

February 8, 2018
dillon
blog, Student Posts
0 Comments

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

My Experience Since Arriving In Australia

October 6, 2017
dillon
blog, Student Posts
0 Comments

My name is Monserrat Rico Jiménez, I am 19 years old Mexican girl and this is my experience since I arrived to Australia. I won’t lie to you. This has been the most crazier and exciting thing that I have…

Experiences In Homestay

September 26, 2017
dillon
blog, Student Posts
0 Comments

I am very happy to share my homestay experience. My name is Jenny. I am 22 year old, a UWA Chinese student in Perth, Western Australia, now I am studying my English bridging course because my English language is not…

My Time In Homestay

September 26, 2017
dillon
blog, Student Posts
0 Comments

My homestay experience Hi, l am Helen, a 17 year old international student from China, l am a commerce student in Brisbane. At the end of September 2016 l came here to further my study and choose the commerce as…

My Homestay Experience

September 26, 2017
dillon
blog, Student Posts
0 Comments

I’m Andy, an international student, from Taiwan. Before I came to Australia, I had not been to any western countries. I was wondering about my language skill, differences of life style and missing family. However, I have had a friendly…

My Time In Australia

September 26, 2017
dillon
blog, Student Posts
0 Comments

I am Weirou Yu, a 25 years old Chinese girl. I am an international student who currently studying the Master of Business at Griffith University Gold Coast campus. Before I went Australia, my agency ‘GloAce’ contact with the AHN homestay…

Life In Australia Is Wonderful Than I Expected

September 26, 2017
dillon
blog, Student Posts
0 Comments

Hey everyone! I’m Sissi, an international student who has been staying in Western Australia for nearly one year. I would like to share my wonderful experience with AHN Homestay. Life is unpredictable, we never know what the future holds, who…

My First Experience Hosting Overseas Students

Hosting overseas students for the first time was a truly touching experience. I was genuinely impressed by AHN’s thoughtful process—they took the time to interview me, inspect my home, and understand who I am, all to ensure a good match between host and student.

In March, AHN matched me with two lovely girls from Réunion Island, Miss Margot and Anaig, for a short-term stay. Having once been an international student myself in Perth during the 1990s, I could deeply empathize with their journey. I knew how precious they must be to their families back home, and I felt a strong sense of responsibility and care from the start.

When I picked them up at Russell Square, I was greeted with warm smiles and open hearts. From that moment, we formed a beautiful connection. The girls carried themselves so well—with grace, kindness, and maturity beyond their years. They were always grateful for every meal I prepared, whether it was Asian (both North and South) or Western cuisine…

Their appreciation made cooking a joy, and I found myself excited to create a variety of dishes for them.

Evenings became something I looked forward to—we would chat until late, often past 10 p.m., sharing stories, laughter, and thoughts about life, family, culture, and future dreams. My daughter and I welcomed their curiosity and openness, and they practiced English with us every day. As a language teacher, I could clearly see their progress in such a short time, which was incredibly rewarding.

I believe in showing kindness through action, especially through food. I treated them as if they were my own daughters—never compromising on the quality of meals. We took them to a youth group on Friday, visited Cottesloe Beach together, and my daughter brought them to a Korean café to try new desserts. These shared moments were small but meaningful.

Time flew by, but the emotional bond we created was timeless. Saying goodbye was much harder than I ever expected. I found myself in tears, touched by how much they had come to mean to me.

After their departure, I received two heartfelt thank-you emails from their parents. We still keep in touch through WhatsApp, continuing to share bits of our daily lives. I may not know when we’ll meet again, but in my heart, I feel like I now have two more daughters in the world. Watching them grow into wonderful young women from afar is a gift I’ll always treasure.

We had a special lunch with my host mother Tina and other student Kavai, Kana and Mami.

I’ve been her place for 3 months and I’ve moved to another place on this Tuesday.

As she always cooked us something very delicious, I cooked Japanese food today.

It was such a wonderful time together.

Tina and her family are very precious and very first people for my life in Australia.

Tina is attractive, energetic, very kind and full of hospitality.

She is full of emotion and always taking care of her family and her friends.

Thank you for your kindness and also delicious food. Meatball spaghetti, lasagna, vegetable soup, special dishes for Christmas and Easter and spicy chicken curry.

They are all delicious and my favorite.

Thank you for everything. I was so lucky to have met you.

Kana Student

They were an absolute pleasure to host. So many laughs and when they left, tears. Amazing how much of a bond can be made in only 11 days. Miri and Rina will always be apart of our family.

Donna Host

Our time together was incredibly joyous, filled with laughter, cultural exchanges, and the creation of lasting memories.

We are eagerly looking forward to hosting more guests and are committed to being the best hosts we can be, creating a warm and welcoming environment for all who stay with us.

Donna Host

My host families, Miku and Luke, are very kind and always think of me.
I’m really happy to have met the best host family. Thank you!
There are times when I can’t express what I’m thinking because I can’t speak English yet, but Miku and Luke are trying to understand what I’m thinking, so I’m able to have a conversation.
Every day is very fresh and fun.
Thank you so much !

Tomoya Student

Zoe (Hsaio-Li) is wonderful. She is a strongly capable and clever girl with a great sense of humour. Being my first female student in a long time, I’m relieved and impressed by her independence and ability to problem solve. We’ve had some wonderful conversations. Zoe participates happily in any activities we hold. She is thoughtful and friendly and well all be sad when she returns home.

Donna Host

Full of love, very supportive, they are my second family in Brisbane.

Mayu S Student

Living with them allowed me to make friends with other students too, from different cultural backgrounds. It was nice to experience and learn from them and from my host family. I also had the chance of sharing to them my culture.

Alvaro E. Student

They have taken the time to show me around, introduce me to their culture, and make me feel included in their daily lives. Their support and encouragement have given me the confidence to embrace new experiences and make the most of my time here. I truly believe that the love and care they have shown me is a testament to the incredible individuals they are.

Thank you for taking the time to read this message, and for being a part of my journey.

Dalaphet Student, Brisbane

They are very kind, friendly, respectful people. I have a lot of memories with them. I love them!!!

Le Phuoc Student

I’ve been living in Australia for 14 months, I already settled here thanks to my host family and people around me.

I couldn’t imagine such a fabulous life in Australia and I didn’t expect that I could meet people who positively support and uplift me with encouragements in Australia when I was in Japan. I really hope to continue these lovely relationships more and I definitely remember the moments / memories with them forever. I love them.

Thank you for placing me in this house and letting me stay with my beautiful host family. I wouldn’t enjoy my life in Australia if I were not with them.

Yuna Student

The homestay experience has definitely helped me with my English. The immersive language environment forced me to practise English 24/7 which expanded my vocab rapidly when I first came here.

The homestay experience makes it easier to fit into a new country. Moving to a country that has a very different culture from what you are used to can be scary. Homestay makes the hard transitioning stage much easier to go through with family-like support.

Personally, I love how easy life is to live with a homestay. I am very lucky that I have Melanie in my life and be a part of her family.

Claire Student

I’m writing to reflect on my 8-year experience with my homestay host Melanie Holliman.

I felt cared for, respected and loved by Melanie. She has played a very important part in my life since I moved to Australia. She told me that I have become part of her family, and so has she to me.

Overall, I would recommend homestay to people. It’s a great opportunity to develop a long-lasting relationship and have someone to share your life with.

我写这篇文章是为了回顾我与寄宿家庭梅兰妮·霍利曼八年的相处经历。我感受到梅兰妮的关怀、尊重和爱护。自从我搬到澳大利亚以来，她在我的生活中扮演着非常重要的角色。她告诉我，我已经成为她家庭的一部分，她也如此对待我。总的来说，我会向大家推荐寄宿家庭。这是一个建立长久关系、找到可以分享生活的人的好机会。

Viora Student

Hi there, when Pak was with us, his sister would join us and we loved playing board games. It helps with English and we many great laughs. We also enjoyed eating out and trying new foods – delicious!

Adele Host

We are so happy to host Lily. She is very nice person, polite and respectful. As we have our own children, we treated her as our own too. Understood that she was far away from home and her family. We tried to help her to settle living in Australia. Also so glad that we received positive feedback from Lily. Hope all the best for her study and future. looking fwd to host another student.

Andry Host

I always enjoy getting to know the new students, their culture and sharing what it is to have an Australian lifestyle. I have shared some photos of my last student Max and his friend Linus.

It’s an enriching experience hosting an international student and I can thoroughly recommend it.

Marg Host

Here is my reflection on the homestay experience and how it is beneficial for international students when they first come to the country.

The homestay experience has definitely helped me with my English. The immersive language environment forced me to practise English 24/7 which expanded my vocab rapidly when I first came here. I really appreciate the English grammar-checking help from my homestay mum. She is so much better than Grammarly!

Personally, I love how easy life is to live with a homestay. Some of my friends who chose to rent on their own started their lives in Australia with an empty room. They had to sleep on the floor the first night after a 10hrs flight. The first month was so hard. I am really grateful that I only need to focus on settling in with school, and I didn’t have to purchase half of the store to start my life in Australia.

I am very lucky that I have Melanie in my life and be a part of her family.

Claire Student

Chihiro is still ‘wonderful’ so I am happy she is still here. Will be a sad day when she returns to Japan…

Get this… her Mum cannot speak English at all (nor me Japanese) but we have had a few facetime calls to converse (Chihiro interprets) during this year.
Unbeknown to me, her mother had been practising for over a month with Chihiro coaching her, to record a message, in English, for me and delivered it for my birthday to wish me a lovely day and to thank me for looking after her daughter – it literally brought tears !!

Anon Host

I’m writing to reflect on my 8-year experience with my homestay host Melanie Holliman.

Before jumping into my thoughts on the homestay experience, I want to first explain the reason why I have number posted or shared my experience online. I grew up in a family environment where we didn’t show affection. Over the years of living with Melanie, I learnt that it is okay to tell someone how important they are to you. And I’m slowly establishing that side of my personality.

I felt cared for, respected and loved by Melanie. She has played a very important part in my life since I moved to Australia. She told me that I have become part of her family, and so has she to me.

Melanie has introduced me to loving plants, camping and seeing the beauty of nature. I enjoyed developing my interests with her guidance and company.

Overall, I would recommend homestay to people. It’s a great opportunity to develop a long-lasting relationship and have someone to share your life with.

Viora Student

Sogen is an absolute pleasure to have stay. He is extremely polite and excited to eat and learn Australian culture. His English is getting stronger every day.

Melanie Host

I’ve been living in Australia for 14 months, I already settled here thanks to my host family and people around me. My host family, including the little doggy, treat me as one of the family members and make me comfortable. I really appreciate their kindness, consciousness and warmth. They promote my growth in terms of not only English but also other aspects: sharing laugh with my host sister (psychological), getting new perspectives, which are very useful in my decision making, through conversation with my host dad (an integral factor to my life), delicious meals cooked by my host mum (physically / weight). They form my studying-abroad journey and they always lead me to making right (enjoyable) decision and the best ways. I couldn’t imagine such a fabulous life in Australia and I didn’t expect that I could meet people who positively support and uplift me with encouragements in Australia when I was in Japan. I really hope to continue these lovely relationships more and I definitely remember the moments / memories with them forever. I love them. Thank you for placing me in this house and letting me stay with my beautiful host family. I wouldn’t enjoy my life in Australia if I were not with them.

Yuna Student

Hello!
We’ve had a great time with Yanran and Meng so far. And to add to the excitement we’ve had an old homestay student visit us for a week. Yuri studied at Griffith Uni in 2017 and stayed with us then. She returned a year later for further study and requested to stay with us again. It was so wonderful to have her return this week for a holiday, just to see us.

Louise Host

Yui is well and truly making the most of her time here. She seems to have settled in really well, and has integrated beautifully into our family life! She gets along extremely well with a seven year old, and we are all learning a lot about Japanese life. Yui is a dedicated student, and is learning a lot about life in Australia, and the English language. She is very open to new experiences and activities, and has particularly enjoyed cooking meals with us of a diverse range of international cuisines. We also went to the South Melbourne Market one day, and bought all the goods we needed for a big Japanese feast, which we prepared with Yui for several guests. We have also had some really lovely excursions out and about, including to St Kilda and Luna Park, and the Brighton beach bathing boxes.

It has been a very positive experience for everyone so far. And we would definitely love to host a student again.
Thank you for the opportunity to host a student, we feel like we have made a lifelong friend! I believe Yui has had a really good experience, and improved her English, and we hope she returns to Australia one day soon.

Morag Host, Melbourne

I would like to write some feedback of living Agatha’s homestay. Agatha’s house was always clear and comfortable. The meals provided are also very delicious and the furniture were complete. She respects personal privacy and will provide help when I need it. She was very kind and interesting. I have always enjoyed living in here.

Shulin Student

I am writing this to express my deepest gratitude for all the efforts you have made in helping my son find the perfect homestay during this holiday season. My son had a wonderful time with the homestay. They were all very welcoming, friendly, and provided him with a comfortable and safe environment. He was able to learn a lot about their culture and traditions and practice his English speaking skills in the process. I appreciate the time and effort you have invested in finding the perfect homestay for my son. Your attention to detail and dedication to your work is commendable. Thank you once again for everything you have done for us.

Winnie Ji Student's Mum

Its me Sudeep Bikram Chand and I’m here to explain my experience in homestay with Mrs. Sonia Alarcon. She is so supportive, kind kind-hearted and treats me as her own grandson. I’m getting a perfect family environment with her, without any communication barriers. Thank you so much…

Sudeep Bikram Chand Student

They are very kind, friendly, respectful people. I have a lot of memories with them. I love them!!!

Le Phuoc Student

I wanted to take a moment to share with you how incredibly lucky I feel to have been placed with such an amazing host family during my stay here. They have truly been exceptional hosts, and I cannot emphasize enough how grateful I am for their kindness and hospitality.

From the moment I arrived, it was evident that this family is truly special. They have created a warm and welcoming environment, making me feel like a part of their family from day one. Their genuine care and concern for my well-being have touched my heart deeply. Not only have they provided me with a comfortable living space, but they have gone above and beyond to ensure that I feel at home. The engaging conversations and the laughter we share have made my experience here unforgettable.

What impresses me the most about this family is their selflessness and generosity. They have taken the time to show me around, introduce me to their culture, and make me feel included in their daily lives. Their support and encouragement have given me the confidence to embrace new experiences and make the most of my time here. I truly believe that the love and care they have shown me is a testament to the incredible individuals they are.

They have touched my life in ways I cannot express, and I will forever cherish the memories we have created together. I wanted to share this with you because I believe it is important to acknowledge and appreciate the kindness of others. I hope you can pass on my sincere gratitude to them, and let them know how much they mean to me. Thank you for taking the time to read this message, and for being a part of my journey.

Dalaphet Student, Brisbane

Ten was the first student I have hosted, I was nervous and not sure what to expect. Now, I’m grateful for the experience, thanks to Ten. What a great first student! We had 6 months together and we really became family. I watched her grow from a nervous and shy girl, to a confident and independent young woman. I was very lucky to have Ten as my first student, we learnt so much from each other, shared experiences and made lots of memories. Myself and my puppy (who stole Ten’s heart) will miss her greatly!

Katie Host

Our relationship blossomed during her stay with me. She gave me a great feedback – that she was treated like a daughter in my house!! And in appreciation she left me a very well considered gift of Airtight containers. I gave her a 18th birthday gift with a trip to the dessert parlour in Castle Hill, together with her Uni mates.

Zubeda Host

I am enjoying having the students in my home as I live by my self and it’s nice to have someone to cook for again and the company is great. Thank you very much. I am very happy.

Gail Host

We had a great time hosting the student! Chikako is a very lovely girl and my kids love to play with her for about 40mins every night (I did mention that she doesn’t have to but she said she is enjoying to play with kids!)

Emma Host

Minami is an absolute delight to have as part of our family! She is loving getting involved in all our activites and especially swimming at the beach with us and was so excited to see dolphins at our local beach the other day. She is keen to be a part of everything, which is great!

Skye Host

These girls area perfect fit for me, they are very independant and Hatsuki has secured employment in a cafe. So proud of her. Aina helps me everywhere she can, in the home and in the garden. She is a social butterfly and very grounded. So proud of her. Ayana is so beautiful, she keeps to herself, but is mixing with the other girls nicely, I am keeping a extra eye on her as she is a little quieter The girls do their own thing mostly during the week, on the weekends we have been doing some great things together. So much laughing.

Vanessa Host

Saturday morning I went to Griffith Uni to farewell Kota and his friends that I met when he was here. Kota is a lovely young man. He is so positive and so full of life. He loves the Gold Coast, loves my home and my cooking. We had so much fun together and laughed a lot. I miss him. We are keeping in touch and I am hoping to go to Tokyo next year to catch up with Kota and Takumi who was my first Homestay student six years ago. We are still in touch.

Fiona Host

Thanks for the opportunity to host Tomoki and Yuga during the Musashi High School study tour. Tomoki and Yuga were delightful and great company. From day one, there were lots of jokes and laughs shared and it felt like we had known them before. It was refreshing to experience and see Australia through their eyes and learn so much about their culture and language. It was sad to see them go this morning but grateful for the experience. I hope they had a wonderful time.

Mylene Host

We really enjoyed the experience with the Japanese students, I attached a couple of photos and the thank you card from one of the students before their departure. It’s a great feeling when you know the girls appreciate for what you have done for them.

Emily Host

We have laughed with them and talked with them at length enjoying our during and after dinner conversations. We have celebrated birthdays. I am pleased that my cooking has been acceptable to people with very different diets to us. We have learnt much about the cultures of Vietnam, Russia, China and Hong Kong and keep a large map marking their home towns. We have learnt to tolerate cultural differences at the dinner table but one thing I still have not been able to master is the use of chopsticks.

Sharyn Host

Hosting can be a very enjoying experience, and communication is the key to success. We have been able to assist with varied emotional experiences helping our girls adapt to life in Australia.

Paul Host

I’ve been hosting internaitonal students for almost 6 years. I’ve loved it! It has provided me the opportunity to get to know people from around the world. I’ve learned to see people for who they really are, not who the media says they are. This has tauht me to stop judging people and to love them instead. I’ve learned about new places in the world and “seen” how beautiful various lands are through the eyes of people who live there. I’ve learned of some places I had previously never even heard of. I’ve eaten and learned to cook new foods. And on top of all of this there has been a financial blessing in the money i’ve earned from building these relationships! If you have ever thought you might like to host international people in your home I encourage you to give it a try!

Ruth Host

We absolutely loved Nobu! He was our first ever home stay and he set the bar so high! What a wonderful, optimistic, creative, human being! The experience was so rewarding for us and he is already so missed!

Giorgia Host

Good student and really happy share our experiences living in Australia. She also introduced a lot Japanese culture. Thanks AHN give us opportunity to host.

Jenny Host

Shunkai is a delight to have stay in our home. He is very respectful and has a great sense of humour. Very happy to have him stay with us.

Kristina Host

Kanako is such a lovely girl and we are having such a great time with her. She is learning a lot of English with us and is helping my daughter with her Japanese too!

Jyana Host

Very polite and helpful young man. Has fitted into our family lifestyle extremely well.

Janet Host

He is wonderful young lad. Very easy going, happy and independent. He is determined to do well, loves chatting and just spending time. A great student. I feel very lucky to be his host.

Donna Host

We have throughly enjoyed having Tuk with us. We are definitely going to miss his presence in our home. He has been an absolute delight to have with us. We are looking forward to future students staying with us 🙂

The Fullerson's Host

We are going to make videos and millions of photos with my students- just to share our happiness of homestay with the world- as our international family is growing with every new arrival. We have a lot of other events to share – for example, our Mayu had her very first independent cooking experience in her life – and that is after her mum said to me Mayu was not good at cooking !!! She is determined to be our family Chef now- slowly but surely. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to meet so many amazing people from different parts of the world through Homestay and help them feel like a home away from home and fall in love with Australia.

Mila Host

While I had a great time living in my homestay accommodation, I believe a homestay arrangement would be best suited to students who are either quite young, or those who would like to live in an accommodation that was more family oriented and structured. I am grateful for AHN to have placed me with such a lovely family; I will never forget my experience with my homestay family.

Emily Y. Student

For me, living in a host family is a very happy experience in this year. I will never forget Brad and Claire, I I hope I can keep in touch with them, like friends, like family.

Bella Student

I could feel my hosts commitment to help students in their transition to living in Australia. I felt very comfortable and although I still had some limitations with my English, the experience living with them helped me a lot. My host parents supported me not only financially, but also boosting my English and making my transition easier. I consider them as my family.

Alvaro E. Student

Steven has become such an integral part of our family, we all love him to bits. He easily settled in with us, and we all enjoy our “family dinners”.

Toni L. Host

Our family have been hosting for AHN for many years and have found hosting to be one of the most rewarding gifts that just keeps on giving! Homestay is not just an opportunity to share our home and the Gold Coast, but hosting students provides a unique opportunity to learn about their country, their people and culture.

The Baker Family Host

I was hesitant about taking a student from Saudi Arabia, but I will never prejudge any student again. He was polite, spoke great English, respectful and so helpful. I keep in touch with him, his wife and his two children and he calls me his Oz mum. I was even the first person to find out that he passed the first component of his PHD. I currently have a student from Saudi Arabia although some 15 years younger he is also wonderful.

Victoria H. Host

The most rewarding thing about becoming a homestay host is getting respected and numerous fiends all over the world and they treat you like their second mum.

Victoria H. Host

I have a great relationship with all my homestays. I still keep in touch with them through Facebook, Instagram, Wechat and meals out with the students.

Victoria H. Host

You need to be prepared to ‘go the extra yard’ to help. When they arrive they need to buy a travel card for public transport, open a bank account and buy a phone card to call their parents. You need to know where to buy these.

Sharyn M. Host

Fish has been here since the birth of our 3rd child, she still comes to over to play with the children or babysit them. We ask her to house sit our new home, the cat and the students at present when we go on holiday. We taught her how to drive, welcome her boyfriend into our family and the children call him “ Chips”. She has stayed with my husbands’ family in Europe. Her parents have come to Australia and invited us out for dinner and met up the last 3 years for a Boxing Day leftovers afternoons.

Selena H. Host

We have done homestay for 9 1/2 years and had some awesome experiences and shared amazing memories with our students.

Selena H. Host

Hosting can be a very enjoying experience, and communication is the key to success. We have been able to assist with varied emotional experiences helping our girls adapt to life in Australia.

Paul and Kay Host

Our student enjoy the more friendly, secure lifestyle of staying in homestay compared to small confined units.

Paul and Kay Host

I believe by staying in Homestay instead of just room, gives them a more homely comfortable feel that there is someone around to help – even answer a question, if they need it.

Paul and Kay Host

Having an internstional student has certainly changed our perception of Japanese culture and it will be difficult to say goodbye when her stay ends. We have had no problem in overcoming any barriers during her homestay.

Karen A. Host

We have been blessed to have Yuri as our homestay guest since August 2017. Yuri has become part of our extended family and it will be sad to her return home when her stay ends in June/July 2018. Her parents traveled to Australia from Japan at Xmas to celebrate the festive season with her and joined our whole family for Xmas lunch and loved every minute.

Karen A. Host

Our students loved our safe, family life and enjoyed the personal attention they received. We involved our family and it was always a treat to experience the new culture. It was important to us that the students experience the Australian way of life.

Judy B. Host

We enjoyed our Homestay Hosting and had amazing connections with our students. We were their Australian Mum & Dad. We have welcomed their friends celebrated birthdays and Christmas. Our First Homestay were 2 Rohingyan for 6 weeks. One of the Rohingyan’s still rings after 7 years. Thank you AHN for the opportunity to participate in they’re developing young lives and seeing their dreams begin to materialise.

Judy B. Host

Such a great experience being a homestay host. Learning different cultures and different languages and making new friends. We regularly keep in touch with many of our students who have stayed over the last 4 years.

Colin C. Host

Seven years ago, we accepted our first homestay student. We originally decided to become homestay parents to put some additional funds into our mortgage, however we quickly discovered that like most things in life, the more you put in, the more you get back.

Brad and Claire R. Host

We have thoroughly enjoyed our homestay experience. We have learnt a lot from our students. We have made some lifelong friends and have acquired some ‘daughters’ since we became homestay parents.

Brad and Claire R. Host

Sho was an excellent student. Actually almost all your students are top notch respectful people. We miss their presence in the house.

Simon N. Host

Tatsuki was a wonderful guest and we loved having him to stay. It was great to learn some aspects of Japanese culture.

Lisa R Host

We love her she is wonderful and very sweet.

Tanya M Host

It has been a pleasure to have Natsumi become one of our family members. This morning we were up very early to say our last goodbyes to Nat and make sure she had a smooth transition with airport shuttles. It was a very sad time for us all and we were all upset to see her leave – although happy at the same time for Nat to be seeing her family again after such a long break. I hope she comes back to Australia some time in the future for a visit and we can call get back together again. We will stay in touch. 🙂

Vonnie T Host

I really love my host family; they’re kind and friendly, pretty great house!

Azusa O

Really nice family!!

Xinyu D Student

I love this place!

Maria Isabel Velez G Student

Perfect!

Yiming X Student

Very friendly and hospitable people.

Ekaterina E Student

Very friendly and hospitable people.

Ekaterina E

Sze was a great student we will miss her it was a pleasure to have her stay with us.

Eddie S

She was lovely and it was a very pleasant experience for us and our family.

Leonie M

Very happy we are all getting along famously. Joshua has really fitted well in with our family. Same birthday has my husband, he is a wonderful boy and we are going to really miss him. His parents should be very proud of him. Looking forward to more hosting. Joshua has developed a wonderful bond with our 5 year old Oliver.

Robert H Host

Enjoying the experience very much they are lovely young ladies. They seem to be happy.

Robert H Host

Im very happy with the girls there are so sweet and lovely well manared.

Maria Di B Host

We had such a warming experience hosting Nanami, it was a sad day when she left. She formed such a bond with the children and was a pleasure to have her in our home 🙂

Carolyne W Host

Part of the family.

Linda M. Host

I have a wonderful homestay and I really enjoy my placement here. My host are lovely! They are very friendly and kind. Most importantly, they are very responsible and always prepare meals for me on time. Thank you so much!

Woi Qi S Student

Such a nice place with nice atmosphere, well condition and nice people 🙂 I feel enjoyable in each moment here 🙂

Jianing Z Student

Full of love, very supportive, they are my second family in Brisbane.

Mayu S Student

very good, they are kind and thoughtful

Shao Ting Z Student

What a terrific young lady….. she will remain friends of our family for a life time.

Catherine M Host

Christy stayed with me for six months, she was my first AHN placement. Our time together was lovely. Christy was always so polite and respectful. We chatted about many different subjects over dinner. Amy, my other student arrived in June, Christy was warm and welcoming to our new guest. It was a sad, but happy day when Christy left as I know she feels ready to live with her friends and she has an exciting future ahead of her. As a HOMESTAY host I want to help make my student’s stay in Australia a happy experience!

Megan E Host

A good family. I enjoy to live in this house.

Mingxuan Y Student

I really enjoyed hosting Ali he was a delight.

Averill G Host

She is the perfect student for me! Thank you!

Lynette C Host

Sakura Nakayama was a very happy polite and grateful guest who became part of our family for the month. We loved having her here and would welcome her back anytime. She will be sadly missed by us.

Kathryn A Host

The host has been very kind to me and helped me in every sense to get adjusted to life in Adelaide. Working with AHN has been a very simple task and they were perfect is selecting the host, based on my preferences. Thank you for everything.

Abhishek Vinuth B Student

I´m very happy here. I really enjoy this new experience. It is amazing to know more about new cultures and habits.

Fernanda Goncalves F Student

Steve Clarke is a very kind and nice hosts! he helps me a lot when I arrived Australia !

Xi C Student

very nice ,very lucky to meet them.

Wang Y Student

I like my host and this house, but I would like to live more independently, for example, cooking by myself. My homestay experience has been excellent since the first day and there is nothing wrong with my homestay
I have had a good start to live in Australia thanks to the host, Mig, so don’t worry!

Michika H Student

She is a very kind homemom, I love her very much.

Wen P Student

She is really a fantastic homestay host and I was lucky to stay in the home.

Wei-Wan W Student

Bader is a lovely gentleman who takes the time to interact with our family.

Joan C Host

Lovely young man. Easy to get on with and we all enjoyed having him stay with up. He even got used to our puppies.

Joan C Host

She is very friendly and generous especially playing with my kids .I think half of her suitcase fill up with gifts for all of us.

Kelvin W Host

Jimmy as he wishes to be known as, is really nice but very nervous at the present time. I am trying to help him settle in and have organized a metro card for him and shown him how to get to Uni and back home again.

Tanya D Host

Thatch continues to be a brilliant part of our family, a very polite, caring and intelligent young man. Thatch went to Gorge Wildlife Park and held a Koala. We are very much enjoying our time with Thatch and will be sad to see him go on Monday. He will always be welcome here if the opportunity arises again! Thank you all. Carolyn and Cooper 🙂

Carolyn S Host

Cherrie is a delight to have in my home.

Fran M Host

Joe has become my surrogate son! Such a lovely young man, and we will be in contact for years to come.

Suzie P Host

Setsuko is a pleasure to have in my home, and has become part of the family

Kerry S Host

I was very thankful that my damaged carpet was replaced- the peace of mind provided knowing that your insurance would cover the damage helped me so much.

Ella B Host

It is a wonderfull placement, and Special person!! I feel very happy

Isabel V. Student

I loved my room, it had a internet and a TV. The bus stop was right outside and took me right to school.

Susan S. Student

My homestay dad helped me open my bank account, and learn to drive a car.

Freddik B. Student

I am in contact with many still. My Skype address book is full of their names, and I love getting the holiday email messages from them.

Mei Mei C. Student

I loved my homestay parents, they treated me like their own son.

Abu A. Student

Marissa is a breath of fresh air. Such a delight and cooks sensational Brazilian food.

Linda D. Host

Yuzi is really lovely. The kids love her already and she seems to be settling in well.

Leonie M. Host

Isabel is a delight, thoughtful and considerate, and it is an absolute pleasure to have Isabel staying in my home.

Sharon H. Host

Barbara B. Host

I am enjoying Liping Wang staying she is very bright and good company. A delightful guest to have in the house.

Mirlene O. Host

Yubo Quan left today he was one of the most pleasant and well mannered boy’s I have had.

Cathy D. Host

I have hosted numerous students, some staying for a few weeks, and others for over a year. It is always a great experience to show my guests around the city and introduce them to the local culture. I also learn a great deal about the guests cultures.

Charles Host

It is uplifting as a host family to experience the thankfulness on the faces of our students. We fulfill any homesickness, helping show them the way while they are carving out their exciting new life.

Judi Host

I enjoyed hosting the study tour group! We were outside playing soccer until sunset each afternoon. It was a great experience for the students and my family.

Vincent Host

As a former international student, I enjoy creating the opportunity to give that experience back. Having students from other countries enriches our cultural awareness at home.

Keri Host