Get a helping hand from a demi pair

 

The Demi Pair Training Scheme is an exciting opportunity for New Zealand families to host a student
and experience another culture in your home.

What is involved?

  • Provide a safe and comfortable home environment
  • Care for the student as you would for your own family
  • Meet all relevant legislative requirements
  • Pass all necessary assessments, including but not limited to police vetting, inspection, reference check, etc
  • Provide a private and furnished bedroom
  • Provide utilities and laundry facilities
  • Provide three meals daily to your demi pair
  • Fully comply with the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021

In exchange for the accommodation and meals, the demi pair will work 15 hours of childcare and light household duties weekly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a demi pair programme?

The Demi Pair Training Scheme is an exciting opportunity for New Zealand families to host a student and experience another culture in your home.

The main purpose is to provide students with the opportunity to improve their English and to be involved in practical childcare activities in a New Zealand family environment.

Students will live in the home and become part of the family. Families are asked to provide the student with their own room, including the student in all aspects of their family life, and provide child care training.

In exchange for the accommodation and food, the student will work 15 hours a week of childcare and light housework.

Who can become a host family?

Generally, we look for families with children who would like the experience of having an international student living at their home.

Students will need their own good quality room. Homes are expected to have internet. All members of the host family over the age of 18 must be willing to sign a form authorising police to check their records.

There is no typical host family and each family at HFNZ is different and unique. Host Families NZ welcomes any form of family that is responsible and able to provide a caring home environment to students.

If you are willing to provide a home away from home for students and get a helping hand at home, apply now!

How do I register and what documents do I need to prepare?

You would need to submit your online application. Click here to apply now!

At the same time, please send below supporting documents to partnership@hostfamilies.co.nz for further assessments

  1. Signed Police vetting form for all over 18 households (if you did not submit it together with your application)
  2. Two references. We would need their name, relationship to you, phone number, and email address. Please note the referee must not be anyone that is related to you.
  3. House photos and room photos for assessments
  4. A copy of ID for all over 18 households
  5. Sign a Demi Pair agreement

How long does it takes to get my application approved?

Generally, it takes about 6 weeks.

The application process involves a home inspection/interview, police vetting for all over 18 households, reference checks for the main caregivers, and overall evaluation.

Can I select which students stay at my home?

Our team will try our best to match a student that meets your preferences. However, we are unable to provide a list of students for you to choose from.

What is the backgroud of the demi pair?

Generally, students are European, from Germany or Switzerland, and females aged 18 – 30.

Some students will have a driver’s licence for a private car. Host families may allow the student to use their family car but must have car insurance to cover students, in case of an accident.

Some students have special interests, like horse riding, football, tramping, or music. We will endeavour to arrange a suitable match between student and family.

How long does it take to match a demi pair to a host family?

We are still rebuilding the programme so it is hard to predict how many bookings we will receive each year. We will let you know if we have any potential candidate once we receive your application.

How long will demi pair stays at my home?

Usually 12, 24, or 36 weeks, with English from 9 am to 12 noon (15 hours per week), and work towards an NZQA registered training scheme certificate. In the afternoon, evening, or on weekends, students will learn about and help with childcare for 15 hours per week. The childcare activities could involve babysitting, collecting children from school, preparing their meals, or light housework. If the student does not have a current first aid certificate, training will be arranged by our partner school.

What do I need to provide for demi pair?

The most important thing we would need our host families to provide is a warm family environment. Most of the time, it is the first time that our students/visitors travel to a new city or a new country. Your warmness and kindness will make them more relaxed and settled in well in a new environment.

Other than that, you would need to provide them with a fully finished room and three meals daily.

A fully furnished room includes:

  • A private, warm, and comfortable bedroom with a desk, a chair, and a lamp
  • The room has adequate ventilation, heating, and good lighting
  • A bed ( not a convertible or inflatable bed)
  • Bed linen (sheets, pillows, and blankets) and towels
  • Storage for belongings (such as a chest of drawers or closet)
  • Convenient access to bathroom facilities and unimpeded access to the outside of the house in the event of a fire or similar emergency.
  • Wireless internet and reasonable use of electricities, water, and internet (we strongly encourage you to have unlimited wifi when hosting a student)
  • Laundry facilities
  • TV in the common area

Personal things are the student’s responsibility.

I never hosted a student before so what should I do when the student arrives?

Welcoming a new student is exciting, but at the same time, you might find a lot of things the student does are different from what you are used to. Here are some tips to help you.

  1. Get to know each other and introduce the student to your family members
  2. Lead the student to the student room
  3. Show the student the bathroom and toilet facilities
  4. Help the student with the WIFI connections
  5. Let the student knows the dinner time and teach him/her how to make breakfast e.g., toast, how to prepare cereal, etc
  6. Provide the student with a house key
  7. Ensure that the student is carrying telephone numbers and addresses of both the school and the homestay
  8. Show the student when and how to do the laundry
  9. Discuss with the student about the work you would like them to do

Is there any rules for homestay parents?

Yes. There are.

Hosting rules in general:

  1. Always respect the religious observances of the student
  2. Please notify HFNZL immediately if the situation of the family or the conditions of the home changed from the time of the initial inspection, e.g. having a new family member/pets/moving address
  3. In case of sickness/injury/accident, you must take the student to the doctor’s/hospital. The student may have health insurance so please assist them to use it. If it is a serious illness or accident, please contact us immediately
  4. Please notify HFNZL in the event of an accident involving the student.

Can the student work additional hours?

Many German students have working holiday visas and are therefore available to assist with child care longer than the agreed 15 hours. Homestay families must discuss this with the student and are responsible for any financial payments.

What kind of tasks can demi pair help with?

Everything that is involved with the kids. Eg.: tidy up the kid’s room, wash the kid’s clothes and fold them, prepare their afternoon snacks or lunch box, empty or load the dishwasher, and take the kids to the after-school sports, light cooking (prepare dinner for the kids).

How much do I get paid for the homestay accommodation?

There is no payment to families for the Demi Pair programme. The student will provide 15 hour childcare work in exchange of accommodation and food.

Is there any household rules for the student to follow?

Yes. Each student will receive a homestay guideline from Host Families NZ. Click here to download the homestay guideline to the student.

What if the house is damaged by the student?

If there is any damage made by the student, report it and send a picture to Host Families NZ as soon as possible before the student’s departure date. Obtain a quote to repair the damage. We will send this information to the agent or school so that they can discuss the reimbursement with the student.

Host Families NZ encourages you to have your own insurance (house insurance/content insurance).

Please be aware that Host Families NZ is not liable for any damage that is caused by the student.

What if the student does not fit in my family?

Hosting a student in your home can be challenging. Our students are coming from all over the world and they may have a different way of doing things. What seems normal to you may not be normal to them. However, surprisingly, most of our families are getting along with the student. The key is communication. If you keep an open mind and communicate with your students closely, you will enjoy their company.

However, if you still feel uncomfortable after communicating with your students, please give us a call and we will assist you. If necessary, we can ask the student to move out by giving them a reasonable notice.

How do I contact you?

If you have a specific question about being a host family that is not listed above, please email us at partnership@hostfamilies.co.nz or phone + 64 21 026 91882

Become a host family for a demi pair  – it’s simple & free!

 

Step 1: Understand the responsibilities of becoming a host family  

Step 2: Apply Online 

  • Complete the online application form (at the bottom of this page)
  • Fill out the police vetting consent for all over 18 households. You can find the form here
  • Submit a non-conviction request through the Ministry of Justice. You can find the link here

Step 3: Homestay Inspection 

  • After we have received your application, we will contact you to arrange a home inspection. During the home inspection, we will explain to you the responsibilities of becoming a homestay host, and go through the programme detail with you as well as answer all your inquiries.

Step 4: Homestay Approval 

  • We will let you know your application result once we receive the criminal records for all your households (18+) and your inspection report from one of our team members.

Step 5: Wait for a match 

  • Host Families NZ will match you with a suitable demi pair as soon as your application is approved.
  • Once we found a good match for you, we will send you the candidate’s detail and arrange a Zoom meeting for you to meet the demi pair.

APPLY NOW!