Billets

Terms and conditions for billeting

To maximise the health, safety and wellbeing of students involved in billeting situations all billet hosts within Tasmania are required to undergo a Good Character Check prior to the commencement of any billeting arrangements.

The requirements of a good character check clearance applies to all adult members (18 years and over) of the host household.

Approved interstate or international billeting arrangements must also ensure that an equivalent screening process is undertaken by billeting hosts prior to commencement of the excursion.

• Teachers should brief students beforehand that there may be different social behaviours and cultural expectations in other families. While they should be encouraged to adapt to these, they should be made aware that the school will support them if they find particular behaviours or expectations disturbing and would like to change accommodation.
• The teachers-in-charge should ensure that the receiving school attempts to match students by age, sex and cultural factors and that the billeting parents are aware of certain minimum expectations for accommodation. These should include at least single-sex bedrooms, and privacy in washing and toilet facilities. They should also be aware of any student's special needs.
• The teachers-in-charge must ensure that there is accommodation in reserve for students who need to be relocated.
• The teachers-in-charge must ensure that the billeting families are proving to be suitable.
  This may be done by one of the following:
  • visiting the students at their billets
  • telephoning students at their billets
  • having the students telephone them.
• If a problem arises, students should be given the opportunity to indicate this in a discreet manner. If possible, the teacher should ask questions requiring a "yes" or "no" answer so that the student is able to reply without embarrassment.
• The teacher-in-charge must have a list of all students, with the address and telephone number of their billeting family.
• The teachers-in-charge are to provide students and billeting parents with the address and telephone number at which a teacher can be contacted in the event of unforeseen problems with the billeting arrangements.
• Teachers-in-charge must have transport available in order that students may be visited at their billeting home any time of the day or night.

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