Live in homestay

International students who are applying for Year 9 entry or higher (typically 14 years of age or over), may choose to live with private approved or government managed homestay families. 

For approved homestay arrangements (private approved and government-managed), the Tasmanian Government provide Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation and Welfare.

Our homestay program is directly coordinated by our in-house homestay team and after-hours emergency support.

Homestay experience

Homestay hosts provide: 

• a safe, supportive and welcoming home environment
• a private, furnished bedroom with a dedicated study area (including a desk, chair and lamp)
• three nutritious meals per day, plus snacks
• access to household facilities (e.g. TV, iron, vacuum cleaner, laundry)
• reasonable use of internet

Government approved hosts live within a reasonable distance from school (generally within a half-an-hour bus ride).

Homestay hosts support students on arrival and offer the opportunity for students to participate in family, community and Australian cultural activities. This may include setting up a local phone number, getting a bus pass, assisting with familiarising students with the local area and school enrolments.

Homestay hosts support students outside of school hours, and support in monitoring each students’ health and wellbeing.

Our dedicated homestay team ensures that homestay hosts are carefully selected and must meet strict requirements, including:

• anyone over 18 years old has a Registration to Work with Vulnerable People Check (RWVP) registered with the Tasmanian Government
• annual house visits and regular check-ins with hosts and students

Our homestay team provides additional support and resources, with a 24/7 emergency contact service available.

Arrival and terms breaks

Homestay families are available to host and support students throughout the school year and typically arrange to pick up and drop off at the airport.

Arrival and term break/school holidays

Students who are studying in Tasmania for more than 12 months are expected to return home over summer break (December and January). Students who are continuing to study in Tasmania are welcome to stay in homestay during other Term breaks (April, July and October).

Returning home at the end of the school year supports students to reconnect with family. Host families are generally not available to host students from late December until early February.

Students should plan their flights to return home at the end of Term 4 and return to Tasmania a few days before Term 1 starts. Students should provide GETI with their flights four weeks (4 weeks) before departing.

If there are compassionate reasons that a student cannot return home, we will work with the student to find alternative arrangements and determine payment requirements.