Overview

High School Abroad Australia program gives students the opportunity to live with a local host family and attend a local high school in South Australia, one of the safest, most underrated regions of this country-continent! Whether your preference is to join a surfing club, learn all the intricacies of Australian Footy, or be academically challenged, you’ll learn to speak some Australian (much more than g’day, mate!) and even try a bit of Vegemite (don’t smell it first, though).

Is the “Land Down Under” calling your name? Let’s see.

  • You want to see as much of this giant country as possible – there are optional trips you can add on to places like Great Barrier Reef, Uluru, or Kangaroo Island
  • You have specific interests like tourism, child studies, technology and more and want the opportunity to choose your courses.
  • You want a culturally different experience but want to speak English abroad.
  • You’re happy to live in a small, tight-knit community: our placements are outside of Adelaide, the region’s capital.
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Program Details
SUPPORT AND BUDGET ELIGIBILITY
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*Video courtesy of Tourism Australia
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australia Exchange student and friends on a beach in New Zealand

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australia Exchange student on a beach in New Zealand

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PROGRAMS LENGTHS

Application Deadline: March 15th

 

Inclusions

  • Airport pickup upon arrival
  • Host family accommodation and 3 meals per day
  • Comprehensive medical/accident insurance
  • Arrival Orientation with Australian Local Coordinator

Academics

It is recommended prior to departure each student confirms with the home school whether courses will be transferable or accepted. There is no guarantee your host school will provide you an official transcript. It is the student’s responsibility to request and receive documentation or letters from the host school verifying completion of course work. Students must have good attendance, standing, and behavior in their host school for such requests to be fulfilled.

Support: 

  • Visa Assistance in applying for the visa ahead of arrival, including visa paperwork and extensive directions and support.
  • Pre-departure support from your US-based program manager
  • Support from in-country staff upon arrival to your homestay
  • Pre-departure orientation before you leave.
  • 24-hour in-country and emergency support for the duration of the program, including 24-hour emergency phone numbers to reach a program manager at any time.

You will need to budget for:

  • Flights to and from homestay
  • Optional tutoring or academic support tutoring as needed
  • School supplies and costs of uniform if applicable
  • Local transportation
  • Pocket money
  • Personal hygiene articles (deodorant, tampons, perfume, shampoo)
  • Specialty food items, if needed for allergies or preference

Eligibility

In researching a study abroad program, you have already shown you are a leader and open-minded in your academic pursuits. These are just a few of the traits that our exchange students possess. You’re motivated to immerse yourself in another culture and flexible enough to live outside your comfort zone. You should also:

  • Be between 15 and 18 years of age (at the time of travel)
  • Be from the United States or Canada
  • Possess a high school cumulative GPA of at least 2.75/4.0
  • Be in great mental* and physical health
  • Have a genuine interest in becoming a part of your host family and community
  • Fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before departure

*What does it mean to be in good mental health?

Moving to a new culture and staying in unfamiliar surroundings without your normal support structure can be very stressful, even to a well-adjusted student. Sending a student with pre-existing conditions on a long-term exchange program could exacerbate whatever challenges the student was previously facing. In order to ensure the safety of our participants, we must be rigorous in our pre-screening of all high school abroad applicants.

Therefore, we may not be able to accept students who have struggled with any kind of mental illness, specifically within the last 2 years and/or are reliant on medication to address their existing mental health condition. Each student will be addressed on a case-by-case basis and ultimately it is the in-country partner who holds the right to accept or decline a student based on their individual policy.

These include, but are not limited to:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder
  • Eating disorders
  • Chronic debilitating migraines
  • Bipolar Disorder

All students who currently experience one or more of these conditions will be required to submit an addendum to the terms and conditions as well as a letter of support from their current mental health specialist. If the student’s mental health issue has been managed (post-medication) for over 2 years, we will still require a note from his/her relevant practitioner (psychologist, therapist, psychiatrist, etc) as part of the application process.  We encourage you to discuss your specific situation with us directly, before securing these documents.

Please note that students who have been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD will not be guaranteed any academic accommodations plans by the host school abroad.