Families asked to host exchange students

STAFF at the Australian Institute of International Understanding are calling on families throughout the region to serve as hosts for the return of the non-profit’s annual large-scale Japanese exchange student intake.

AIIU will bring 42 students from Konan High School in Japan’s Shizuoka prefecture to Ballarat for the first time since 2019 as part of the organisation’s English language learning program.

AIIU’s national program manager Melissa Di Pasquale said the organisation is encouraging local families to open their homes to the international visitors.

“The aim of the program is for the students to be immersed in the English language so their conversational English can improve,” she said.

“Konan do have a strong focus on their English program and it’s more about the conversation side rather than written.

“We’re very lucky we have some great families that continue to support these programs but we’re always looking for new families as well.”

The AIIU was established in 1987, and Konan High School students have been visiting Ballarat as part of the program for about 20 years, previously supported through Federation University.

Following interview screenings, each family will be paired with a single student aged between 16 and 17 years old from Monday 24 July to Friday 14 August, with placements based on shared interests.

Families will be paid $45 per night in supporting the students whose exchange will include English lessons at Ballarat Neighbourhood Centre as well as excursions to Sovereign Hill, Geelong and the Ballarat Wildlife Park.

Ms Di Pasquale has hosted exchange students since 2012 and said there’s a great cross-cultural benefit for everyone involved.

“Anyone who’s interested in learning about a different culture or learning a different language, we encourage them to contact us,” she said.

“The students do become a part of the family and they become a friend for life as well. I still get texts and invitations from students that stayed five, 10 years ago.”

To express interest in hosting a student, email AIIU’s lead coordinator Jenny Harrison at [email protected].