Homestay Family

Access Language Centre, Sydney organises a Homestay Family for students where they can get to know the Australian way of life by living in an Australian household during the course of their studies. All homestays are carefully selected by ACCESS so the students are in a relaxed and comfortable environment where they can practice the English they are learning on a daily basis. There are 3 different types of homestay options:

Homestay Half Board
Private room with breakfast & dinner (Mon-Fri) and 3 meals on the weekends

Homestay No Meals
Private room with use of kitchen facilities (schedule arranged by family)

Twin Share
Private room shared with travelling companion, breakfast and dinner (Mon-Fri) and 3 meals on the weekends

Living with a Homestay Family

Homestay allows international students to learn about our Australian lifestyle and culture in a safe and friendly environment. Every family is carefully screened by the Homestay Coordinator. All families have guaranteed to provide a high standard of accommodation and facilities. We ensure this by asking students to fill out questionnaires about their families when they arrive and leave.

ACCESS provides different types of families:

• Parents with children or teenagers
• Married couples with no children
• Single parent Family
• Elderly Couples
• Single Women

As Australia is a multicultural country, some homestay families may originally be from another country, but have lived in Australia for at least 20 years. Homestay families will live in a house, apartment or semi detached house. The majority of families live 30-50 minutes away from Access Language Centre, Sydney. Some families are able to take on more than one student, but students of the same nationality will not be placed together, unless requested.

NB: Homestay is not a hotel and the hosts are not servants. Please behave like a member of the family by being helpful, honest, respectful, polite, considerate and pleasant during the duration of your stay.

What does Homestay entail?

• Private bedroom: comfortable bed, a desk, chair, storage space and sufficient lighting.
• House Key
• Access to the bathroom
• Bed Linen
• Half Board: Breakfast and dinner every day and 3 meals on the weekend
• Room Only: Use of the kitchen facilities at a designated time (set by the families)
• Security and safe environment
• Practicing your English
• Experiencing Australian culture

Becoming a Homestay Family:

We are always interested in hearing from families who live approximately 30 minutes away from Central station, and would like to host International students in their homes. If you are interested in becoming  an Access Language Centre,  Sydney homestay family please fill out this form and  send it back to Cara, the Homestay Coordinator on alcsso@access.nsw.edu.au or fax it to  (02) 9281 – 7455 and Cara will contact you shortly after.

Student Independent Accommodation (Hostel/Guesthouse/Residence)

This type of accommodation provides students with an independent living space and an environment to settle in and make new friends from all over the world. All independent accommodation options are in close proximity to Access Language Centre and have a homely feel. They are all secure buildings with an onsite manager. A few rooms have an ensuite bathroom, but most rooms are with shared bathroom facilities. Bedrooms contain a comfortable bed, a study desk, wardrobe space, and a TV (depending on the type chosen). Guests have access to the shared kitchen to prepare their meals. The common areas (TV room, courtyard, BBQ area) are available for students to use freely and socialise. Access to the Internet is usually available and coin operated laundry facilities are also available on site.

For further information on each of the properties available and prices, please contact our Accommodation Services Officer, Ms Cara  Komarnyckyi (alcsso@access.nsw.edu.au).

Airport meeting service

We are happy to arrange for someone to meet you at the airport and take you to your accommodation on your arrival in Australia.

Access Language Centre, Sydney can arrange an airport meeting service from Sydney Airport (fee applies) and arrange airport return drop-off for an additional fee. This is the preferred option for students staying with a homestay family. For students who prefer to find their own way to their accommodation, there are two main transport options from Sydney Airport.

Taxis are located on the left hand side of the exit doors (follow the signs). A taxi ride from the airport to the city centre should cost around $30 to $40 and takes about 15 to 20 minutes, depending on traffic.

The other alternative is to take the train. There is a train station under the airport (on the right hand side of the arrivals gate) and a one-way ticket to Central Station costs around $17. The underground line from the airport to the city centre takes about 12 minutes.