About us

Our aim: To promote and coordinate homestay activities in Townsville for students from country areas and overseas in partnership with select educational providers, and to ensure the highest standards are maintained by approved homestay families.

Homestay Townsville oversees and coordinates a registry of approved homestay properties and families in the Townsville region.

As the winner of a Judges Commendation in the Export Awards (2006) Homestay Townsville prides itself on its attention to detail and providing a high level of service to our students, host families, local institutions and tour operators.

The business is run by husband and wife team Prue and Rick Lewis, who are highly-committed professionals working within strict industry regulations and guidelines. They draw on nearly a decade of experience in assisting overseas students with their homestay requirements.

Prue and Rick have travelled to various parts of the world, staying with students and their families, which gives them a greater understanding when placing visitors in suitable accommodation in Australia.

The couple also host anywhere between two and four students themselves.

Homestay is considered a better option than school boarding for students who wish to learn the English language quickly, have the support of a family and experience an authentic Australian stay.

Prue and Rick are committed to ensuring that every student enjoys their time in Townsville as much as possible, and monitor how students are progressing with their host families and their studies.

Homestay Townsville offers the following services to ensure the best outcomes for its visiting students and host families:

School enrolments

Homestay Townsville helps students select the most suitable Townsville school for their requirements; signs school enrolment documents on behalf of parents; helps with the purchase of initial stationary, school supplies and uniforms, and monitors the standard of achievement in partnership with the education provider, taking steps to ensure that standard does not lapse. Prue and the host families also provide on-going support with educational needs, including language skills. Parent-teacher interviews are attended when requested and school reports are sent home to parents.

Visa applications

Homestay Townsville will make an appointment with a migration agent and explains visa regulations and local laws to students. For more information please click on the IQ Australia Link

Accommodation

Students are matched with a Townsville family and are given their own bedroom and study facilities. Their accommodation is inspected by Homestay Townsville to make sure it meets the high standards and photos are supplied to parents where requested.

Travel to and from airports

Students are picked-up and dropped-off at the airport and assisted with all other travel arrangements, including the booking of airline tickets to go home for holidays. For more information please click on the World Travel and Cruising link.

Orientation meetings

Prue will attend the initial meeting between the student and host family to run through some basics points that are important in the running of any family. She also liaises with the student should he/she have any grievances with the host family.

Finances

Homestay Townsville assists students to open bank accounts when they arrive.

Medical

Assistance and support for students with medical requirements is provided, including making appointments.

Parent visits

Accommodation, car hire, travel arrangements and school visits can all be organised if a parent decides to visit.

On-going support

Homestay Townsville is contactable 24-hours, seven-days-a-week should an emergency arise.

Leisure

Host families are encouraged to take their students to as many of Townsville’s sites and attractions as possible.

To find out how students and families have found Homestay Townsville’s services, please visit our testimonial page.

For further information on the services we provide please contact us.