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Living with an Australian Homestay Family 
ALS can place you with a friendly Australian Homestay family who have been selected by our Homestay Service to suit your requirements. We can also provide a car and driver to meet you at the airport and take you to your Homestay. All of our Homestay families have a genuine interest in international students and know how to make students feel welcome.
“Full Board Homestay” means that you get breakfast and an evening meal on weekdays and three meals a day on weekends. Students have their own room and clean bed linen, pillows and blankets are provided. Each room has a wardrobe, study desk and chair.
Homestay in Brisbane is more reasonably priced than some other Australian cities and the standard of accommodation is excellent. Our homestay families are experienced in the care of English language learners, so they are patient and caring. They will also help you with your English at home.
When you first apply for Homestay you will be asked to complete a Homestay Questionnaire, (see our Application Form), so that we can find the Homestay home and family that best suits you. Homestay Arrangement Charge: There is a charge for arranging homestay. This is shown on our Application Form and in the Prices section of our website. If you require Homestay, you will need to pay this charge at the time of enrolment. If you require airport greeting, you should also pay the airport greeting charge at the time of enrolment. Please do not pay Homestay weekly charges in advance. These should be paid directly to the homestay family on arrival. You will need to pay a minimum of for (4) weeks homestay on arrival. And remember.....
Staying with a caring Australian homestay family is the best way to improve your English and make lasting friends on your visit to Australia. And you may make wonderful Australian friends whom you will know all your life. Looking for a Backpacker Hostel instead of Homestay? We can also give advice about hostel accommodation in Brisbane before you arrive, or you can look up Brisbane hostels on the internet and see for yourself. Longer-term students may wish to move into a shared house or apartment. This is best done after you arrive, because you will probably want to see the apartment before you sign a rental agreement. Here is a list of some of the more popular Backpacker Hostels in Brisbane: | Brisbane City Backpackers | 380 Upper Roma Street, Brisbane Qld 4000 | | 1800 062 572/ + 61 7 3211 3221 | www.citybackpackers.com | | | |
| Valley Verandas Friendly Backpackers | 11 Grenier Street, Spring Hill Qld 4000 | | 1800 680 320/ +61 7 3252 1820 | www.valleyverandas.com.au | | | |
| Tinbilly Travellers | 466 George Street, Brisbane Qld 4000 | | 1800 446 646 / + 61 7 3238 5888 | www.tinbilly.com | | | |
Sharing a House or an Apartment with other Students After you have arrived in Australia and settled into life here, you may wish to share a house with other students, or friends. A place in a private share house or apartment could cost you around $A100-$175 per week, depending on how many people share the apartment. The College cannot arrange a share house for you in advance. You must do this after you arrive. Often you will see a notice on the College notice boards, advertising a place in a share house or apartment.
Below is the typical annual cost of living in a student share house arrangement in Brisbane:
Schedule of estimated living Costs for one year in a Share house or Apartment in Brisbane (2007) (Prices in Australian Dollars):
Food (Buy own food)................................ $4,500
Rent (Share house or apartment).............$5,500
Telephone and power................................$1000
Transport (buses, trains etc).....................$1500
Entertainment............................................$2500
Other Miscellaneous Costs........................$1000
Approx Average Living Costs per year = $16,000
Of course some people can live more cheaply than this, depending on how many share the apartment and how far you live from the College, so the above figures are just a guide. Renting your own House or Apartment in Brisbane: Unfortunately, the College cannot rent a house or apartment for you in advance, as you will have to sign a contract with the owner and pay a rental bond. You will have to do this after you arrive in Brisbane. Buying a car in Australia: You can buy an older-model car for around $AUD 4-5,00.00 in Australia. New car prices start at around $AUD 14-15,000.00 including vechile registration and insurance. Don't forget to get an international driving licence before you leave your home country.
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Accommodation 
