• Age: Students are required to be between 15 and 18 years on arrival. For an October arrival, students must not be older than 16. Depending on programme length, students are not allowed to turn 18 and 6 months on arrival.

• Language: Students must be able to communicate in English.

• Academic level: Students are required to have a minimum overall academic record of 70% average in the last three years.

• Immunisations: Students are required to be vaccinated against Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Polio, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Varicella (if student did not have chickenpox). A Tuberculosis skin test (TST) OR Interferon Gama Release Assay blood test (IGRA/QuantiFERON TB-Gold) must be completed no more than 5 months before arrival.

• Status: Learner at high school

• Mindset: Curious, open-minded and keen to immerse yourself in a life changing experience!

Students can be placed in Queensland, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, Tasmania, or South Australia.

The school year in Australia begins in January and continues until December. The school year is divided into four terms with a two week break in between each. Each term start and end dates vary from state to state. From Years 7 – 10, students study typical subjects like Maths, Science, History and Geography and may be able to choose one or two electives. In the senior years (Year 11 and 12), students can choose subjects based on their interests and career goals. Subjects may include Psychology, Legal studies, Photography, Drama or Environmental Science. English remains a compulsory subject throughout the high school career, however, students can choose the stream of English, such as General English or English Literature. Students are required to wear a school uniform.

A host family, by definition, may be composed of a single parent with children (living at home), a couple without children, or a couple with children (pre-teen or teenage). Host families may be drawn from a range of age, socioeconomic, ethnic, and religious backgrounds.

Host homes may be apartments, condominiums, prefabricated homes, or single-family dwellings. Placement environments may be urban, suburban, small town or rural.

You may be expected to share rooms with host siblings of the same sex. No guarantee of region, kind of family, or kind of home is expressed or implied and you must be prepared to accept placements in any region, type of family, or kind of home.

GROW Abroad will provide you with all the necessary information and documents needed. We will guide you through the paper jungle and make sure you leave prepared. Before departure, you will receive an orientation, so you know what to expect and are prepared to arrive in Australia. We will also organise a meeting with your parents to make sure they are all up to date.

Our local partner hosts a mandatory 1-Day orientation within the first two weeks of arrival that is included in the programme fees. The goal is to explain the programme and its core rules, explaining how the school system works, providing students with useful information about Australia, as well as introducing the exchange students within vicinity to each other. This is aimed at helping you and your fellow exchange students to transit smoothly into your new life.

Instead of the online orientation, if you arrive in July or August, you have the option to participate in a 4-day, 3-night Soft Landing Camp in Sydney at additional cost. This is a great way to meet others from around the world whilst seeing the beautiful sights of Sydney. Activities include Sydney sightseeing, Harbour by boat, lunch at the famous Bondi Beach, getting up close and personal with iconic Australian animals and fun games at night. The camp also includes workshops about the Australian culture and programme expectations. Full board accommodation, local transport costs and activities are included in the fee.

Local coordinators are the first point of contact for you as a student, you will meet them as soon as you arrive. Throughout the whole experience, your local coordinator is ready to assist you and your host family in case you need advice, require assistance or have questions or problems. Your local coordinator will be in regular contact with you and your host family. In case of an emergency, an emergency phone can be reached at all times.

Depending on the duration you are in Australia, and the location you are placed, you may be given the opportunity to travel with your host family or to join a tour with the local organisation or even with your school. You will be expected to pay your own way.

From $10,400

Enrolment with the Overseas Health Student Cover (OHSC), a compulsory health insurance imposed by the Australian government is included in the programme fees. Coverage is required for the programme duration plus up to two additional months.

Additional insurance cover, including, but not limited to, cover for personal liability, travel to and from Australia, parental visits in the case of a serious medical situation and repatriation cover (prerequisite to join the program) is required, as OHSC is a limited insurance.

We will advise you about which visa you need, this will depend on your length of stay. We will support you with all the documents you need to apply for your visa.

The application process consists of the following steps:

1. Apply by clicking the “Enquire Now” button above

2. Personal interview and acceptance

3. Preparation

4. Orientation programme for students and parents to prepare for your experience