If you are considering becoming a host family for international students visiting Australia, there are a number of things to consider in advance. Most important of all, you want to be sure that the experience will be mutually beneficial – a chance to expose your family to new cultures and ideas while sharing the very best that you and the country of Australia have to offer to someone from overseas.

To help make your decision and to ensure you are fully comfortable and ready to welcome new people into your home, here are three questions you should ask yourself before signing up.

Do you have the time to help a student explore a new country?

One of the greatest benefits to both the international student and the host family is the ability of that family to include the new arrival in regular Australia activities. Visits to local events, celebrations of National holidays, or local sporting matches. These are all exciting events that your students will love.

But before signing on, ask yourself if you have the time to go to these events and enjoy them. If not, it may just not be time yet. Your children may be too young or work too hectic at the moment. Or you may need to rearrange some other responsibilities. Whatever the case, make sure everyone involved will have the time needed to fully enjoy the experience.

How will your family react to having a new person under the roof?

You will surely discuss the prospect with your family in advance, but think beyond their initial reaction to how they will interact with a new person in the house. How will children interact? How will they enjoy the new responsibilities or outings? Will it work within the schedule and the needs of everyone currently in the house?

More often than not, you’ll find hosting an overseas student to be incredibly beneficial to children. It helps them to really get to know a new culture and a new country. It helps them to bond with someone outside their family, and it helps them to explore their own country through the eyes of a new arrival.

Do you have the resources to welcome someone additional into your home?

Finally, there’s the matter of resources. Having an extra person under your roof will require you to spend time and some money to help them out. The cost isn’t the same as a child, but it does exist. This is often a reason why some host families hold out for longer before volunteering.

If this is the case, consider contacting Global Experience and asking to learn more about what we can do to help you prepare for an international student in your home. It truly is the experience of a life time and if you match the questions above, you will be a great fit. Contact us today to learn more.