Our Hosting Experience

• Exchange lasts 10 weeks from early-to-mid June until late August

• Hosts are automatically shortlisted to interview stage for scholarship

• ​Strong support network provided

Each year, approximately 20 German students travel to Australia in early-to-mid June and stay for approximately ten weeks, until late August. Students in Years 10-12 attending high school in Victoria or WA are eligible to host a German student, regardless of whether they currently learn German. The hosting experience is extremely rewarding, and provides the opportunity to broaden understanding of culture, current issues and language in both Australia and Germany. Host siblings are able to not only create a meaningful connection with a German student, but can also meet and form a lasting network with other host students around Australia.

SAGSE and GASS provide a strong support network to ensure the experience is valuable for host families. A Host Family Coordinator is in regular contact before and during the Germans' stay, and will be available to answer any queries at any time. Host siblings are welcomed to the GASS Wintercamp in the July school holidays, as well as multiple regional days and trivia nights. These are not compulsory, but are an important part of the experience, and a fantastic opportunity to meet the other host families and Germans.

Host families are financially responsible for the student during their stay, however students will carry a sum of spending money to meet all social costs. German students have been selected through a rigorous and highly competitive process and will readily adapt to the routine and lifestyle of their host family. 

Students who have hosted a German student through the SAGSE hosting programme and wish to apply for the SAGSE scholarship will automatically be short-listed for the final interview stage, provided they meet the eligibility criteria and complete an application form. Host students who are younger than Year 11 may carry over their application advantages until they reach the eligible age.

Application Forms:

Please send your applications to the Hosting Team via email: hosting.vic@sagse.org.au