Length of stay, holidays and moving out
Length of stay
Usually you and your host will decide together about how long you'll stay for. They may let you know a maximum period but the minimum is two weeks (which is non-refundable).
Holidays
If you'd like to take a holiday and return to the same homestay, you'll need to pay a fee of A$150 per week while you're away.
Moving out
If you'd like to move out, you must give your host one week's notice in writing. If you choose to leave before your one week's notice is up, you'll still have to pay the homestay fee of A$330 (Melbourne) or A$315 (Geelong) for that week.
Living in Victoria
Weather and clothing
We have four distinct seasons (spring, summer, autumn and winter) in Melbourne and Geelong, with temperatures ranging from 10 degrees Celsius in winter, up to 35 (or more) in summer.
It's best to wear layers of clothes and to carry a small umbrella with you as it can sometimes rain unexpectedly. If you're going to be in Victoria during winter, bring warm pyjamas for those chilly nights.
Travelling to DUELI
Travel around Melbourne
Although we try to place students in homestays as close to DUELI as possible, you might have to travel for 20–40 minutes to and from DUELI.
Learn how to get to our Melbourne Burwood Campus
Travel around Geelong
As a smaller city with good public transport links, Geelong DUELI students will likely live under 30 minutes' travel from either of our Geelong campuses.
Fees and cancellations
Fees
Homestay fees are A$330 per week in Melbourne and A$315 per week in Geelong. The fees should be paid directly to your host when you arrive, and should account for being two weeks in advance.
Remember to ask your host for a receipt that you both sign. Keep a record of all payments to avoid any misunderstandings and make sure you know when each of your payments needs to be made.
There's also a one-off non-refundable homestay placement fee of A$250, which you should pay to Deakin before you arrive.
Find out more about our fees and how to pay
Cancellations
If you need to cancel your homestay, you'll need to give written notice no less than 48 hours before you arrive. If you notify us late or not at all, you'll have to pay a fee of A$250. Separately, your homestay placement fee of A$250 is non-refundable.
Students under 18
Securing accommodation
If you're under 18, you'll need Deakin to approve your accommodation and welfare arrangements – and you'll need to stay in an under-18 homestay arranged by an approved provider.
Find out more from the Department of Home Affairs or contact us for further information.
Read about the Department of Home Affairs requirements for under-age students
Learn more about applying as an under-18 student
Security and switching accommodation
Always let your host know of your whereabouts and tell them if you're going to be home late. Remember that students under 18 can't stay elsewhere overnight – they must be at their homestay.
If you're under 18 and would like to change your accommodation, you must get written permission from your parents and approval from the DUELI Student Adviser before you move - otherwise your enrolment with DUELI might be terminated.
Questions and further information
If you've got any questions, problems or need more information about homestays, please contact a DUELI Student Adviser. Appointments can be made at either of our DUELI campuses.