Living with an Australian host family during your stay at Burnside SHS is a great way to experience the Australian lifestyle and culture.
Our International Homestay Coordinator Lizzi Hickey will place you with one of Burnside SHS host families, who will offer you a caring and supportive family. Your Aussie home will be located in a safe community environment which may be close to our school or in the peaceful, rural setting of Palmwoods, Mapleton or Maleny or in close proximity to one of our stunning beaches.
Living in an Australian family will enhance your English communication skills and facilitate lifelong friendships and connections forever.
The welfare of our International students at Burnside State High School is always a top priority to ensure all our students are safe, happy and have a wonderful and memorable experience. Homestay Families are always carefully selected by our International Homestay Coordinator to enable our International Students to make the most of their unique experience. All our families are screened by police checks to ensure they are a suitable host family for our program.
Here are some helpful hints to enhance your experience:
- Speak English in the family and school context
- Learn about our Australian culture and try new things - even vegemite!
- Share information and facts about your culture to inform your host family
- Offer to help out in your Homestay with household chores or tasks
- Go on outings with your host family when you can
- Tell the host family about your day each night at meal times
- Make the most of every opportunity
- Always be respectful
For Homestay Families
Becoming an International Homestay family can be a very rewarding culture exchange experience. Burnside State High School hosts Study Abroad students from one term to one year and Study Tour students from 7-14 days.
International Students choose to pay a fee to live in an Australian host family as they wish to become a part of an Australian family, to experience how we live in our culture, to improve their English skills and be a valued family member within your family unit.
Burnside SHS are now recruiting new Homestay families for our International students, if you would like to enquire and receive further information please contact our HOD of International School and Languages - Ms Jo Byrne jbyrn51@eq.edu.au or phone (07) 5459 7333.