Mercedes College aims to provide all international students with a family lifestyle that will help them adjust to Australian culture and provide a secure and safe environment in which students can grow and develop during their time in Adelaide.
They are often families who have students already studying at Mercedes College, or Old Scholars, or community members, who are happy to share their home and provide a stable base for a student from another country.
Students benefit from becoming part of a South Australian family, and lifelong friendships and bonds are often formed.
Formal boarding does not suit all students, so our varied range of Homestay families gives us the ability to be flexible and match students to a home that best suits them.
Students and Homestay families receive direct support from our dedicated International Student Office, who are always available during school hours, and can be contacted in the case of emergency, including medical emergencies and urgent safety concerns, on a 24-hour number.
Each student is provided with:
Homestay families are responsible for washing their student’s clothing, bedding, and towels.
However, an arrangement can be made with Homestay families if a student prefers to wash their own clothing.
From Sunday to Thursday, students can arrange to meet friends in a safe environment, but must be home by 6.00pm.
On Friday and Saturday evenings, students must be home by:
Individual arrangements may be reached between a student and their Homestay family when it comes to meals.
Weekdays typically involve a packed recess and lunch to take to school, and breakfast is a meal where everyone helps themselves to their preferred food (for example, toast, cereal, juice etc).
Dinner is usually provided as a full meal and preparations for this usually begin late in the afternoon. Students must notify their Homestay parents no later than 4pm if they choose to eat dinner out with friends or will otherwise not require and evening meal that day.
On weekends there may be some degree of flexibility based on family commitments. Students may prepare their own lunch, or a light lunch may be served as a family. This would be discussed with Homestay hosts.
Snacks are provided by Homestay families, but students often purchase a few of their favourite snacks and confectionery.
Bathroom arrangements differ from family to family, but Homestay families always show students how to adjust water temperature and use their bathroom fixtures.
As the bathroom is usually shared with other family members, international students are reminded of standard bathroom-sharing courtesies:
Excessive use of water or power may result in a student being charged to contribute to the costs.
Students are required to always carry a mobile phone, with credit if using a pre-paid sim card, and with their Homestay parents’ address saved in it.
Homestay families will provide access to the home wifi/internet, as this will be needed for study purposes.
However, some families may implement their own internet restrictions for entertainment outside of study, such as downloading or streaming movies, TV programmes, and music.
Students must respect these restrictions and adhere to the ICT Acceptable Use Agreement.
Homestay families will teach students about the public transport options available around their home, to get to and from Mercedes College.
Students are responsible for the cost of their travel and are required to carry their student identification card (ID) to use secondary student tickets.
Metro cards (bus, train and tram) can have money added to them at The College Shop or online. Payments before 9pm will be available the next morning.
When travelling by car, all passengers must wear a seatbelt, as required by law.
Homestay accommodation ranges between $390 and $420 per week.
Two weeks’ notice is required if the student intends to move Homestay.
For more information about Homestay, please contact our ISP Accommodation and Welfare Officer:
+61 8 8372 3200
homestay@mercedes.catholic.edu.au
CRICOS Code: 00365D
