Host Agreement Between Study Vision (Homestay Provider) and the Homestay Host Family (The Host)
Revision of : 03 November 2026
This agreement is between:
Party A: Study Vision, a business of Consteam (Australia) Asia Pacific Pty Ltd (ABN 42 067 258 315)- thereafter referred to as “The Homestay Provider”, or “Study Vision” or “Us” ;
And
Party B: The Homestay Host who will be accepting a guest placed by Study Vision- thereafter referred to as “The Homestay Host”, or “Host” or “You”
A- MEANING OF TERMS
- Eligibility or Suitability Criteria: the criteria Study Vision has set up to select and evaluate a new Host. It also applies when matching a new student (guest) to a Host.
- Guest: the student placed by Study Vision in your home.
- Homestay: an arrangement managed by Study Vision where a guest is placed in your Home and a room with/without some meals are provided.
- Homestay Fees: Rent collected from the student (guest) and paid to the Host (You).
- Homestay Insurance, or Insurance: the required insurances for Home, Contents and vehicles that the Homestay Host must buy and maintain, independent from Study Vision, throughout the period that the Host is having Guests placed by Study Vision in your home. Refer to the section on Insurance in this Agreement for important details.
- Host: you and any other applicant named on your application form and registered by Study Vision as a member of your household, as well as any other person over the age of 18 years residing in your Home during a Homestay (excluding Guests)
- Policies: the Website T&Cs, including our Policies for Vetting of Homestay Hosts, Refund Policy, etc., and any other policy notified to you by Study Vision from time to time, all of which form part of this Host Agreement (but the terms herein will take precedence to the extent of any inconsistency.
- Services: the services as agreed on between Study Vision and the Homestay Host, as detailed in this Agreement, and in the Booking of the student(s) (your Guests).
B- INTRODUCTION
Thank you for your interest in hosting students at your home with Study Vision.
Study Vision is a business of Consteam (Australia) Asia Pacific Pty Ltd (ACN 067 258 315). We are based in NSW, Australia.
Since November 1994, we have operated our business throughout all of Australia.
Our core service is providing Homestay Accommodation to international students, and other support services, mainly Airport Pickup and Study Tours.
We enjoy working with Homestay Hosts, like yourself, who provide quality homestay accommodation at their home for international students enrolled at Australian Universities, TAFEs, Colleges and schools.
We hope that both the international students (guests) and their Homestay Hosts have a safe, trouble-free and enriching experience.
This Homestay Host Agreement governs your relationship with Study Vision. It is the framework by which Study Vision and the Homestay Host mutually agree on and accept their respective duties, responsibilities and obligations with respect to each other, and with respect to the hosting of any student or other guests, who are provided or placed by Study Vision to live at the Home of the Host Family in a Homestay Accommodation arrangement. The Homestay Host could also be the accommodation manager or owner in a shared type accommodation.
It is your responsibility, as a Host, to ensure that any person in your household, including other guests in your home, receives adequate and timely notice of the terms and conditions of this Host Agreement and their obligations under it.
By accepting the Study Vision’s “Initial Booking” that you received with this Agreement, whether it is sent to you by email, Mobile Phone Text, verbal phone booking, or by a social media (WhatsApp or others), that you also agree to:
- accept to abide with all terms and conditions of this agreement
- comply with any other special instructions in the Booking given to the host
- agree that it shall supersede any prior Agreements we had with You, and
- agree to fully comply with the duties, terms and conditions as detailed in the following links:
C- Validity of this Agreement
- This agreement is sent to you attached to each Booking for a student placement at your home. As you receive it and approve this Booking, your electronic signature is automatically received in Study Vision’s database indicating you have also approved the version of the agreement sent to you with the Booking.
- Each agreement continues in force only while, and for as long as, the student, as to be placed in the attached Booking, is living at the Host’s premises.
- This continues even if the student is temporarily absent from the premises, such as during holidays when a guest may travel away for a few days or weeks.
- The agreement expires under these conditions:
- The day the student permanently moves out from the premises, for any reason.
- Study Vision informs the Host by email that the placement of this student shall not continue, for any reason, under the management of Study Vision, starting from a specific date. The agreement continues in force until this date.
D- Eligibility- Conditions
To maintain your Eligibility as a Homestay Host with Study Vision, you need to:
- Continue to be legally residing in Australia, competent person, over 25 years of age (not subject to Guardianship or Administration);
- Be not bankrupt, have no criminal record and otherwise be a fit and proper person of good character reputation. You have a duty of care to immediately inform Study vision if this condition ever changes with you or with any member of your Household.
- Maintain adequate insurance, particularly the Homestay Host Insurance, and as detailed in the section on Insurance in this Agreement. Prudently, consult your insurance adviser to help you identify what Insurances that you need to maintain including insurance for your Home, Contents and your vehicles (where you may use to transport any guests in).
- Abide by all the terms and conditions in this Agreement and any other specific instructions in any Booking document sent by Study Vision.
- The Host’s Home must be owned by You, or if you are leasing it, you must provide (if you haven’t already done so) to Study Vision with a written proof of lease covering the period of any Booking of Homestay, and the consent from your landlord/Real Estate Agent for you to do Homestay Hosting in it.
- The Home must be in good condition, clean, Mold-free and well maintained. Pest control and management is important to maintain.
- Before the student checks in at your home, the bedroom must be clean, with fresh bed sheets, have a proper desk, desk light, comfortable study desk, wardrobe (clean and free of any other belongings), lockable door, good ventilation, clean and functional curtains/blinds, and with appropriate heating and cooling for the student’s comfort.
- Hosts cannot exceed hosting more than three (3) students at your home, at any one time. Immediately inform Study Vision if this condition changes.
- Abide by this Code of Ethics:
- Develop positive relationships with students which are based on mutual trust and communication.
- Acknowledge the uniqueness of each student and the levels of each student’s strength and weakness.
- Support and assist students to live comfortably in their new environment at your home.
- Respect the student’s rights to privacy whilst apprehending that privacy does not equate to isolation.
- Acknowledge the significance of culture, customs, language and beliefs in the life of their student, and thus attempt to respect and accommodate their diversity within your household’s daily life.
- Assist, support and nurture your guests where needed or requested, but keep in mind that a desire to please may be interpreted as interfering by the student.
E- What You Agreed to Provide
While the student is residing with you in your Home, Study Vision expects you to:
- Provide for the student a bedroom as follows:
- Single (unless otherwise specified in the Booking document) bedroom complete with a good quality bed (not a mattress on the floor), including clean linen, adequate cover and good pillow(s).
- Have a closable door for privacy (just make sure you have a spare key or know how to open it in an emergency if the student is locked in).
- Adequate Cupboard space.
- Curtains or blinds on all windows.
- A good size study desk, comfortable study chair, desk lamp
- Unlimited WIFI access from inside the bedroom.
- Adequate ventilation and natural light.
- A proper bedroom room with a window that can open, and adequate ventilation. If there is no Air conditioning in the room, access is needed to a fan and a small heater for extreme temperatures.
- Makeshift rooms including converted garages, storage areas, portioned areas, etc. are not acceptable.
- Access to a bathroom and toilet with a lockable door. Hand soap and clean towels to be provided. You (The Host), not the student (The Guest) is responsible for bathroom cleaning, even if it is an ensuite in the student’s room, as and when needed.
- Provide a safe environment which will offer the student a total experience of living as a member of an Australian family which also encourages positive study habits.
- Provide the student with good healthy and well-balanced meals as detailed in the Booking document. Healthy snacks will be appreciated.
- Provide access to laundry facilities, including laundry detergents, as and when needed by your guests.
- Provide a calm, supportive, warm and welcoming environment. The occasional assuring smile and positive remarks will help build confidence for these young guests, while living away from their own family.
- Ensure that all adult members of the Host’s household who are over the age of 18 have a current Working With Children Check (WWC Check) throughout the placement period of this Booking. If the student being placed in this Booking is under the age of 18, the Host must immediately inform Study Vision if any adult moves in the Host’s home, even for overnight, while the Study Vision is still staying there.
For information on how to apply for a WWC clearance in your state, please visit this website and choose “Where can I get a Working With Children Check”, and select your state’s WWC office.
- Use English as the main language spoken in the home, particularly when your guests (students) are near you. This is more important if you speak the foreign language of the students, as practising English is a basic need by all students in Homestay. Speak slowly in clear and simple English, particularly with those students with poor English-speaking skills.
- Offer help, guidance, support and encouragement with language practice, studies, planning leisure activities and adapting to living in Australia (this may require patience and empathy and a willingness to show the student more than once).
- Provide orientation within the family home e.g. Safe use of the kitchen, safety around the pool area and house facilities and the security system (if any). Applicable house rules should be explained, for example: what time dinner is, telephone protocols, rules regarding smoking, alcohol, guests visiting, curfews, household tasks and bathroom conduct. This should be attended to as soon as possible after arrival. Families are encouraged to provide the student with these rules in writing.
- Provide to the new student upon arrival an orientation of your neighbourhood and places of interest (sports venue, local dining shops, shopping centre, banks, parks, etc) as well as means of public transport to/from the student’s educational provider’s campus. Give plenty of advice for safety on the road (pedestrian crossing, walking alone in the evening, stranger danger, etc.).
- Offer sincere, unprejudiced interest in the cultural and religious background of your guest (student).
- Respect your student’s need for privacy and allow them space to be alone. Meanwhile, establish and maintain good communication with your guests and encourage them to raise their concerns freely.
- Have a duty of care towards your guest, of all ages. Remember that their own parents trust that you will look after them and help them.
- Provide parental-level supervision for U18 of age students. This supervision includes out of school hours, study and pastoral care and requires a family adult member to be at home while the U18 student is at home. Report to Study Vision any issues or concerns with the student’s attitudes, behaviour, suspicious friends/visitors, etc. Always notify the education provider (student’s school) promptly if the student, for any reason, will be absent from school or will arrive late to school on any day of the week. Keep the name, phone and address of the school handy at all times. Keep the U18 student’s Guardian (Caregiver) contact details and report to the Guardian immediately if you have concerns for the student’s well being or safety or if the student breaks Curfew hour or wants to stay outside your home till late or overnight or if the student will be travelling and needs the Guardian’s prior written approval.
- Advise Study Vision immediately of any change in the standard or element of the accommodation provided.
- Liaise with Study Vision regarding any concerns or difficulties. With guests who are U18, keep the student’s appointed Guardian informed regarding any issues concerning their student’s health, eating disorder, mental and psychological condition, and any suspicious behaviour particularly with suspicious friends.
- When Study Vision sends you a questionnaire to provide Feedback on your experience with each of our students at your home, we expect you to fill it and return asap. This helps us to get to know about your experience, and if there are any issues or complaints, we will attempt to support you and resolve them quickly.
- Accept that STUDY VISION reserves the right to carry out inspections of your home, with adequate notice, to ensure that the standards of Homestay accommodation and services provided to the students (your guests) are maintained.
Note: If you are hosting an underage (U18’s) student, current Australian regulations (ESOS Act) requires that your home will be inspected by Study Vision or the student’s Guardian or the student’s school, strictly once every 6-months). These inspections may be by video call or by physical visit to your home. You will be advised in due time before any such inspection.
F- Homestay Host Insurance
Hosts are responsible to have their own adequate and appropriate Insurances at all times while hosting students from Study Vision.
Please always send Study Vision copies of your Home’s Certificate(s) of Currency of all your Insurances, whenever you renew them.
Study Vision is not qualified or licensed to provide any financial or insurance advice. Thus, Study Vision advises all hosts to discuss any additional insurance needs for their home or contents with their own insurance broker/provider before hosting guests at their home under a Homestay arrangement.
Important Message about Your Home Insurance:
- Study Vision does not provide any insurance cover to Homestay Hosts or their guests, at any time.
- Hosts are solely responsible and accountable to buy and maintain, at their own cost, proper and adequate insurances for their home, contents and vehicles, throughout the period when they are hosting Study Vision guests in their Homestay
- Hosts agree that they shall not hold Study Vision, or the students who are placed by Study Vision at your home, or Study Vision staff, Management, or contractors, in any way to be responsible, Liable or accountable to any abuse, theft, loss or damage to property or contents, and including all forms: whether physical/material, financial or non-material, arising from hosting the students (guests) in your home.
When you accept this Booking, i.e. to host Study Vision students placed with you at your home, you shall indemnify Study Vision, its staff, Management and contractors, as well as all your students (guests) placed in your home by Study Vision, from any Liability, theft, loss, deaths and damages to property or contents, in any way or form. Consequently, you shall not request or demand any compensation from Study Vision, its employees and contractors, and the students (guests), in any amount or form arising from any incidence due to this placement.
- At minimum, Hosts must have and maintain at all times the following:
Public Liability cover of $20 million that covers both of the following two liabilities:
- the Liability of the Homestay Host to the student (Guests in Homestay);as well as,
- the Liability of the student (Guest) to the Homestay Host.
NB- If you already have insurance for your home, please contact your insurance company first to check if they provide cover for the above two types of liabilities.
- Please be aware that Standard “Home and Contents” or “Contents only” insurance policies do not cater for all risks associated with hosting students in your home. This is because they are not designed to cover the property of someone who is not a member of the policyholder’s family or damage caused to a policyholder’s property by someone living at the address. They do not cover the host’s liability to the student or the students’ liability to the host.
“Homestay Host” Insurance:
A new Homestay Host Insurance policy has recently been created in Australia to provide Liability cover for:
- a student negligently damaging the host’s property
- a student negligently causing injury to a host
- a host negligently damaging the student’s property
- a host negligently causing injury to a student
The policy costs approximately $200 for a $20 million limit and has an excess of $500 for any claims that are made. It covers up to 4 students (guests), who are not members of your family, living with you at your Homestay.
It is available online at: [https://www.expressinsurance.com.au/homestay-insurance](https://www.expressinsurance.com.au/homestay-insurance)
Therefore, before any student (guest) from Study Vision moves in to live in your home:
- If you already have the Homestay Host Insurance from the link above (Express insurance), and you have not yet sent it, please email to Study Vision a copy of your Certificate of Currency to : [email protected]
- If you already have any another insurance, please contact your insurance company and ask if your current insurance provides the minimum required $20M Liability cover for the following two parties (You must mention this to your insurer):
- the Liability of the Homestay Host (Yourself) to your students (Guests living in your Home, ie together with you and your family); as well as,
- the Liability of your student (Guest), who lives in your home, to Yourself ( the Homestay Host).
i.e. Your cover must specifically cover for the following conditions:
- Your student(s) (guests) negligently damaging your (The host) property;
- Your student(s) (guests) negligently causing injury to your family (The host);
- Your family (The host) negligently damaging your students’ (guests) property;
- Your family (The Host) negligently causing injury to your students (guests).
If your current insurer confirms that the above Liability cover applies with your insurance, please request confirmation in writing from them and save their reply in case you make any claims. Please email Study Vision a copy of this written confirmation from your insurer. © 2024
- If your current Home and Contents insurance does not provide $20M Liability cover to both You (The Host) to your students (guests) at your home as well as the Liability of your students (guests) to you, please:
Purchase and maintain at all times while you are hosting Study Vision students the “Homestay Host Insurance” specifically one which covers the liability of Hosts to students as well as the liability of students to their Host. As of June 2024, the only such Liability Insurance found in Australia is the one offered by Express Insurance (see this link to read more and to apply): ([https://www.expressinsurance.com.au/homestay-insurance](https://www.expressinsurance.com.au/homestay-insurance)). Please email asap to Study Vision, a copy of this Certificate of Currency to : [email protected]
- If you do not have any type of insurance or if you only have a type of Homestay (Host) insurance that does not cover the liability of both the host to the student, as well as the student to the host, please:
- D.1- Purchase and maintain at all times while you are hosting Study Vision students the “Homestay Host Insurance” specifically one which covers the liability of Hosts to students as well as the liability of students to their Host. As of June 2024, the only such Liability Insurance found in Australia is the one offered by Express Insurance (see this link to read more and to apply): ([https://www.expressinsurance.com.au/homestay-insurance](https://www.expressinsurance.com.au/homestay-insurance)). Please email asap to Study Vision, a copy of this Certificate of Currency to : [email protected]
- D.2- It is recommended to check with an insurance company or broker your need of having (in addition to the Homestay Host Insurance) the “Home and Contents” insurance. Note that if you are living and hosting students in a strata property, either as an owner or tenant, the “Contents only“ insurance may be adequate, as the building is normally covered by the strata. Buying the Accidental Damages option in any insurance taken is prudent to have, particularly when hosting students (guests) at your home. Please email asap to Study Vision, a copy of the Certificate of Currency of any insurance you will have to : [email protected]
G- Homestay Fees (Rent)
Homestay Fees (Rent) is available on our website here: [https://www.studyvision.com.au/info-for-hosts-homestay-main/#HostRates](https://www.studyvision.com.au/info-for-hosts-homestay-main/#HostRates)
- All fees, including Homestay Fees (Rent) shall always be paid by the student to Study Vision. Hosts must not directly collect any Rent (Homestay fees), charges or any payments from the students (Guests) or any other party, at all times.
- As long as the student lives in your Home, Study Vision shall continue to receive, on your behalf, all payments directly from the student (Guest) for the booked Homestay accommodation. Study Vision will first deduct its own Management Fees from any Guest Payment before remitting the remainder amount (net Rent) to the Host’s nominated bank account via electronic funds transfer within a reasonable time.
- Supporting your students’ English language skills must be on a non-commercial basis to maintain the “Tax-free” status of operating the Homestay at home. It is acceptable for a host to offer a student formal English lessons at home, at no charge. If a host intends to charge for this service, or any other service, Study Vision needs to be made aware of that intention and any charges involved, well before the student is placed at the homestay.
- Hosts will be paid the Rent for the first 14 days of the Homestay on the first scheduled payment day after the date the student first checks in. Provided that the Guest has paid the Homestay Fees in full, Study Vision will generally transfer the Host Payment to Hosts on a fortnightly basis thereafter.
- Guest Holiday Payments:
- The student should give you at least 2-weeks’ notice of any intended holidays longer than 2 nights. If they will only be away for 1 or 2 nights, they should give you at least 3-days’ notice.
- If they will be away for 2 weeks or more, they should pay you 50% of the normal Rental amount for the period they will be away. If they will be away for less than 2 weeks, they should pay the normal Rental amount for the period they will be away.
- Please notify Study Vision of any intended student holidays, as soon as possible, so we can collect the correct Rental from the student. Also, please ask the student to contact Study Vision as well, to confirm these arrangements.
- Where a Guest fails to pay Study Vision the due Homestay Fees, Study Vision will not be liable for any unpaid Rent to the Host.
- The host agrees to refund to Study Vision any monies in excess of those contracted to be paid to the host within one week of becoming aware of the overpayment.
- The host agrees to return any outstanding homestay fees to Study Vision if the student is removed from the home by Study Vision.
H- Confidentiality & Privacy
- Hosts and STUDY VISION agree to keep confidential the terms of this Host Agreement and any information or material received in connection with this Host Agreement or a Homestay and marked, or reasonably presumed to be, confidential (Confidential Information).
- Both Hosts and STUDY VISION agree that they will not disclose any Confidential Information to any third party unless or until it:
- is or becomes publicly known through no wrongful act of the receiving party
- is received from a third party (other than from or on behalf of a Guest, Host or STUDY VISION) without restriction and without breach of any confidentiality obligation to the other party
- is independently developed by the receiving party; or
- is required by law to be disclosed (provided that the other party is given advance notice of, and an opportunity to, contest any such requirement).
- STUDY VISION will always handle your personal information and the personal information of Guests in accordance with its Privacy Policy, accessible at [https://www.studyvision.com.au/privacy-policy/](https://www.studyvision.com.au/privacy-policy/)
- Any personal information about a Guest received by you in connection with a Homestay is Confidential Information for the purposes of clause 2. Without limiting clause 2, you warrant and agree that you will:
- keep Guests’ personal information private and confidential
- only use Guests’ personal information for the purpose to which it was provided to you or otherwise with the consent of the Guest; and
- will not disclose Guests’ personal information to any person except with the Guests’ consent.
I- Liability
- All Hosts in your Home are jointly and severally liable for a breach of this Host Agreement by any of them.
- To the maximum extent permitted by law, STUDY VISION excludes all warranties not expressly provided in this Host Agreement and all liability for any loss (including consequential or indirect loss), cost, damage, or claim, however and whenever arising (including due to the act or omission of a Guest or Host), suffered by any person in connection with the Services, a Homestay, or this Host Agreement.
- Nothing in this Host Agreement is intended to exclude any consumer guarantee under the Australian Consumer Law, or term otherwise implied by law, which cannot be excluded. Hosts agree that, to the maximum extent permitted by law, any liability of STUDY VISION in connection with such a guarantee or implied term and in respect of any particular supply of Services is limited (at STUDY VISION’s election) to either resupplying those Services or paying the cost of having those Services resupplied.
- Subject to clauses 1 and 2, to the extent that STUDY VISION otherwise has any liability for any loss, cost, damage, or claim arising in connection with the Services, a Homestay, or this Host Agreement (including for negligence), STUDY VISION’s liability is limited in aggregate to Fees paid or payable in the 12 months immediately preceding the date on which the cause of action accrued
- Hosts continually indemnify STUDY VISION from and against any loss, cost, damage, or claim (including third party claims) suffered or incurred by STUDY VISION in connection with a Host’s breach of this Host Agreement, except to the extent that any such loss, cost, damage, or claim is caused by a negligent act or omission of STUDY VISION.
J- Termination
- A Host may terminate a Homestay (before or after commencement) immediately on notice to STUDY VISION if the Guest has committed a theft, damaged property, caused an injury or engaged in violent or threatening behaviour (or any other behaviour which makes any person in the home feel unsafe) in connection with the Homestay. In such circumstances, STUDY VISION will (or will assist the Host to) take all reasonable steps to remove the Guest from the Home, if required.
- A Host may otherwise terminate a Homestay at any time after the first 4 weeks of the Homestay on 2 weeks’ written notice to STUDY VISION.
- STUDY VISION may terminate a Homestay (before or after commencement) immediately on notice to a Host if:
- C.1- a Host fails to satisfy the Eligibility Criteria;
- C.2- the home ceases to meet the requirements identified by STUDY VISION under this Agreement; or
- C.3- STUDY VISION otherwise determines in its sole discretion that it is appropriate to terminate the Homestay immediately in response to a request from a Guest or related party.
Hosts acknowledge and agree that Guests may, after the first 2 weeks of the Homestay, request to terminate a Homestay without having to show cause or reason on 2 weeks’ written notice. STUDY VISION will inform the Host within a reasonable time of receiving any such request from or on behalf of a Guest, and the Homestay will be terminated effective from the expiration of the notice period.
- A Host may otherwise notify STUDY VISION of any complaint regarding a Guest or Homestay at any time, and STUDY VISION will use commercially reasonable endeavours to resolve, or assist the Host to resolve, the complaint.
K- General
- No employment: Nothing in this Host Agreement creates a relationship of joint venture, agency, partnership or employment between any of the parties.
- Assignment: Hosts cannot assign, transfer, or dispose of their rights or obligations under this Host Agreement without the prior written consent of STUDY VISION.
- Variation: STUDY VISION may vary or update this Host Agreement at any time, but we will take reasonable steps to notify you of any changes. Remember that the Agreement’s newest version will be attached to each Booking made by Study Vision, thus you are responsible to carefully read the version you receive with any future Booking, as changes may have been made, before you approve the Booking.
- Notices: Any notice or demand to be given or made under this Host Agreement must be in writing and delivered to that party’s nominated address by post, fax, or email (as applicable). Notice is effective on receipt by the addressee.
- Governing law: This Host Agreement is governed by the laws of New South Wales and the parties irrevocably submit to the jurisdiction of the Courts there.
- Entire agreement: This Host Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties, and supersedes and replaces any prior representations, negotiations, or agreements in respect of its subject matter.
- Waiver: Any waiver of a right or remedy under this Host Agreement will only be valid if the waiver is given in writing and signed by the party giving the waiver.
- Severance: If any provision of this Host Agreement is unenforceable, then that provision (or relevant part) may be severed without affecting the enforceability of any other provision.
Note: This agreement is subject to change at any time. Please check all Study Vision Policies on a regular basis for updates.