Hosting an exchange student
The opportunity to share your life and culture with a young person from overseas for one term, a semester or a whole year.
Invite the world into your home and let it surprise your every day
Share your family daily life with an exchange student from overseas for a school term, a semester or a year.
You'll have the opportunity to discover different traditions, customs and perspectives. stimulating curiosity towards different cultures and openness - not just for you, but for all your family members! Every day will be like a small cultural tour, during which you can learn new words, try a typical recipe, or simply chat away on how school, family, holidays, and all other aspects of life work in a different corner of the globe.
And of course, you'll be giving your chosen host student the life-changing opportunity to immerse themselves in Australian culture, in an authentic and safe environment, as they naturally improve their English and create strong bonds which often last over time. Living in Australia and joining your family will be a profound learning experience for your host student, who will experience a range of benefits: developing autonomy, improving their adaptability, gaining self-awareness and confidence - all vital skills for the future.
Together, you'll delight in every new experience, laugh about any misunderstanding and tolerate any oversight, transforming these shared moments in opportunities for meaningful exchange and reciprocal growth, for an all-round enriching experience.
Why host?
Travel from the comfort of your armchair
Bring your family together
Learn to welcome differences
Leave a mark
Rediscover your backyard
Ties without borders
Make their dream a reality. Who would you like to invite into your home?
I'm an active teenager, social, and eager to experience Australian culture.
I am curious, friendly, and responsible. I enjoy staying active.
I'm a curious, kind, and helpful person. I love challenges and wants to experience Australian culture and school life.
I am friendly, polite, and eager to experience Australian culture and everyday life while making new friends.
I am a thoughtful, independent and active teenager. Kind and caring, I have a close bond with younger children and am patient and responsible at home.
I'm an active, open-minded student. Organized and independent, I manage my time well between school, two households, and my hobbies.
I live with my parents, twin brother, and older sister. I'm active, curious, and enjoys trying new things.
I am active, creative, and look forward to sharing my hobbies and learning new ones with you.
I am a cheerful and independent teenager. Sociable, respectful, and curious about new cultures, with a strong character and a generous, cooperative nature.
I'm a cheerful and optimistic teenager from central Italy who is excited to experience life in Australia. Friendly and open to new experiences.
I'am curious, cheerful, and eager to experience Australian life.
I'm a confident and curious Italian student who enjoys intellectual challenges and social engagement.
I grew up in a multicultural family with Italian and Japanese heritage.
I am friendly, cheerful, and responsible. I loves sports. I'm Curious and motivated.
I think I'm lively, empathetic, and open-minded. I look forward to sharing my culture and becoming part of an Australian family.
I'm outgoing, curious, and eager to learn about new cultures.
I'm a student who is calm, polite, and adaptable. I love animals and has experience caring for pets.
I adore animals. My family has several pets—and. I'm curious, determined, and eager to experience new cultures.
Adele values family time, enjoys traveling, and is eager to experience Australian life.
I think I'm an organised, determined and caring person. I'mkeen to embrace Aussie life, sharing Italian traditions while learning about local customs.
I think I'm a friendly and outgoing exchange student. I'm is excited about the opportunity to live with an Australian family.
I think I'm friendly, kind, and for sure I enjoy meeting new people, though I may seem shy at first.
I enjoy being active and social. I'm also involved in a debating program and I think I'm known for being polite, adaptable, and respectful.
I'm raised bilingual, curious, independent, and eager to embrace new challenges.
FAQ
WEP host families are all unpaid volunteers. WEP is an Australian not-for-profit organisation and, as such, government regulations prevent us from providing remuneration to host families. All WEP students have their own spending money and are fully insured. Students are expected to cover costs outside their host family's usual outlay.
All students are covered by the Australian Government’s mandatory health insurance – Overseas Student Health Cover – the equivalent of Medicare. Many students also have additional insurance. Host families are not expected to include exchange students on their own insurance policies.
Once we know a little about your family interests and hosting preferences, we will send you suitable student profiles. You then get to choose the student who you think will best fit into your family.
Call 1300 884 733 to request a free information pack, application form and profiles of prospective students.
Government regulations prevent the remuneration of host families, so families generously volunteer to host. The student is responsible for any costs incurred through telephone usage, school uniforms, school materials, local transportation, personal items and any other general expenses that do not fall under the family’s usual outlay. Students pay a program fee to the organisation in their home country, which finances their application, interview & acceptance process, screening of suitable host family, program materials, flights, health insurance, orientation programs and 24 hour support for both themselves and the host family.
Host families have an extensive, experienced support network to call upon should they experience any issues during a student’s program. Your main source of support will be a local WEP coordinator. The coordinator is also a volunteer and is expected to get to know both your family and the student in order to ensure a pleasant experience for both parties. Most of the problems experienced by students and host families are due to miscommunication and culture shock, so an independent mediator is often all that is required. If an issue persists you will be able to contact us directly at our office. In the case of an emergency, both you and the student will be able to call our 24-hour emergency phone that will be answered by a staff member.
Generally speaking, students arrive in late January and mid July. If staying for a semester, students will leave early July or early December; if staying for a year, they will leave in December or early June.
The majority of students are from European countries, with some coming from North and South America. Host families are able to indicate their preference on the Host Family Contact Form and are encouraged to choose a student who they believe will best fit into their way of life.
Become a host family
Interested in hosting? Leave your contact info, we’ll get back to you.