Click here for SAGSE Victoria's new Host Family poster.
The following information is relevant for
NSW/ACT, Victorian and West Australian students.
For Queensland information, please click here to visit the SAGSE
Queensland
website.
Introduction
In 2005, the Society (SAGSE) and the German Australian Students' Society (GASS) will once again be welcoming a group of German students to Australia for approximately ten weeks. During this time, the students will live with Australian families and will attend school with their host brother/ sister. It is therefore with great pleasure that we invite you to host a German exchange student for this period of time.
Benefits of the Host Family Program
A successful exchange depends largely upon communication. Communication between a German student and the Australian host family is not only beneficial and rewarding but promotes cultural understanding for all involved. Valuable and lasting friendships are formed as the student enhances their knowledge of the English language and Australian culture and contributes to the host family's understanding of current issues and everyday life in Germany and Europe. The time spent by the German student with the host family is extremely valuable, enabling all parties to participate in an exchange of culture and ideas that they otherwise may never experience.
Since 1997, in the awarding of scholarships to Germany each year, SAGSE has advantaged those applicants who have previously hosted a German student. Host-siblings are automatically considered for the short list, provided they otherwise meet the eligibility criteria, and they complete an application form (available here). Scholarships are awarded to students at the completion of Year 11 (and Year 12 in Victoria as well).
Each year, the selection committee in each state selects approximately 20-25 students to be interviewed for the scholarship. Host-siblings are advantaged in the following way. In NSW, host-siblings receive automatic entry into this final interview stage of scholarship selection. In Victoria, host-siblings automatically receive a preliminary interview, success in which will give them a place in the final interview stage. Please note that hosts who are younger than year 11 may carry over their interview advantages until they reach the eligible age.
Past hosts have found the interview advantages a considerable help in furthering their prospects of winning a scholarship. Since this initiative was introduced, ten NSW and eight Victorian host students have been successful in the final round of selection and have been awarded scholarships to Germany.
While hosting by no means guarantees that a scholarship will be awarded, SAGSE hopes that host-siblings will continue to benefit from this initiative.
The students arrive in Australia in June and stay for approximately ten weeks (arrival and departure details will be forwarded to host families as soon as possible). As the German students will be between sixteen and eighteen years of age, it would be preferable for the host sibling to be in Year 10 to 12 at school. Whilst a basic knowledge of German is recommended for the host sibling, it is far more important for the host family to have a wide variety of interests and be prepared to welcome a student from another country. The German students already have a sound knowledge of English and one aim of their time in Australia is to extend their communication skills and knowledge of the English language.
Interested students and families from all regions in NSW and Victoria are considered equally. Host families are asked to welcome and accept a German student into their home, however the student must also attempt to adapt to the host family's routine; the host family is not expected to change their lifestyle during the student's time in Australia. While many host families enjoy taking their German student to attractions around their state, this is by no means obligatory.
The German students must attend school with their host brother or sister for the duration of their time in Australia. This will give the students the opportunity to meet Australian students of similar age and to gain a greater understanding of Australian schools and our education system. Schools are encouraged to provide the German student with a personal timetable and assign them to specific classes in order that they receive the full benefits of their school experience and cause minimum disruption to classes. This, however, is at the discretion of the particular school. The German student's experience can be greatly enhanced if they are allowed to attend different classes at different levels to facilitate language development and a wider appreciation of Australian culture.
The German students are not required to complete homework. The primary purpose of attending school is to make contact with Australian students. The German students are not required to further their academic qualifications during this period, rather it is intended that the experience will broaden the students' outlook. The student is required to abide by all school rules, including wearing uniform if this is compulsory. As the length of the stay does not warrant the purchase of a school uniform, a loan from the school or friends is preferable.
It is usual for the students to undertake a short trip in small groups without their host families. The length of such trips is limited to 5 days and it is important that the students have written permission from their family in Germany, as well as the consent of their host family and the Society. Students will be provided with itinerary forms which they are required to complete, listing their intended location and accommodation on each of the 5 days and a contact address and telephone number. A copy of this form will be retained by the host family and a copy will be given to the Host Family Coordinators of the Society.
Host families will be responsible for the student during their stay. Board or fees of any description will not be paid either by the Society or by the student. Students will carry a sum of spending money enabling them to meet extra costs, such as independent travel (explained above). All students will be fully insured upon their arrival in Australia. Health insurance is covered by Medibank Private and is coordinated by SAGSE.
There will be a camp (organised by GASS) for the German students and their host siblings, during the July school holidays. The German students will all have paid for this camp in advance. GASS will subsidise the cost of the camp for one host sibling from each family, however subsequent siblings attending are required to pay the usual amount (roughly $150).
Representatives of both SAGSE and GASS will be in contact with host families before and during the German student's stay. The GASS Host Family Coordinators will organise interviews with the families who have applied and be available to answer queries regarding the program. Host families will also receive the GASS newsletter, informing them of social and other events organised by GASS. The SAGSE Host Family Liaison Officer will be in touch with host families periodically by phone throughout the German student's stay to make sure everything is running smoothly and to provide further support or help which may be required.
A Past Host Sibling Writes of Her Experience
I want you to imagine two totally different faces. The first is the light and excitement that fills the eyes of an exchange student when they see a kangaroo for a fleeting moment as it bounds across the landscape. The second is the upturned nose and tightly scrunched mouth when Vegemite finds a new set of tastebuds. These and many other expressions of surprise, joy, thrill and gratitude are all on the agenda if you decide to take up the opportunity to host a student on SAGSE exchange. It seems like just yesterday, but in reality it is nearly five years since my host sister said goodbye and left Australia. The ten or so weeks preceding that moment were and amazing time for not only myself, as the official host sibling, but for my whole family.
Upon arrival Gabriele immediately became a member of the household. She attended school with me and was soon friends with half the year level. There was no holding back when it came to involvement. When she learned that I was in the school production, she instantly signed up to play in the orchestra-and performed brilliantly! Gabriele's stay with us gave my family an opportunity to rediscover Victoria and remember all the wonderful places to visit and see.
Perhaps the greatest thing about hosting an exchange student is what you all get out of the experience. For Gabriele it was a chance to spend some time in a foreign country, understand out way of life and make lots of new friends. For us it was enriching to learn about Germany and bring a vibrant, warm person into our home.
Megan Jackson and her family, from Victoria, hosted a German student during her year 12 in 1997. If you would like to speak to us about hosting, or to a family such as Megan's who has hosted before, please contact the GASS Host Family Coordinator in your state, as indicated below.
Hannah
Kluckow
Mob: 0422 100 693
hostnsw@sagse.org.au
Drew Teese
Mob: 0438 836 176
hostvic@sagse.org.au
Applications are made through the German-Australian Student Society (GASS) in your state. Members of GASS will arrange interviews with all interested families to discuss details and to answer any questions regarding the role of a host family. Interviews will be conducted in April/ May and our main concern at that stage is to find the most appropriate match between student and family. As only a limited number of host families can be selected it is urged that interested families apply as quickly as possible. In the past, both visiting students and host families have found the program a very rewarding experience and we encourage you to become involved.
The application
forms are available to download from the Forms
page.
Please note the files are in Adobe Acrobat PDF format (see below).
N.B. Your hosted student must also fill out a Travel Permission Itinerary Form before they may travel unaccompanied in Australia during their exchange. This is also available from the Forms link.
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