AHN Guidelines for Interviewing Homestay Hosts
Note: This policy is subject to change at any time. Please check all AHN policies on a regular basis for updates.
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Document Overview and Purpose
This document provides a procedural guide for Australian Homestay Network (AHN) Host Managers when conducting a home interview with a new Host applicant or a follow-up interview with an existing Host.
The outlined procedure ensures that all Hosts meet the Host Manager's expectations. This guide must be used in conjunction with the AHN Selection Criteria for the Recruitment of Homestay Hosts.
1. Make an Appointment
Schedule the appointment at a convenient time for the Host, using the Homestay Management System (HSM) or by telephone, at the Host Manager’s discretion. The interview may be conducted virtually or in person.
Appointment Checklist:
- Availability: Contact the Host to establish a suitable time for an interview lasting between thirty minutes and one hour.
- Purpose: Advise the Host that the interview is an essential part of the AHN application process and explain what will be covered.
- Criteria: Explain that the AHN community selects its Hosts based on the AHN Selection Criteria for the Recruitment of Homestay Hosts.
- Diversity: Clarify that AHN is not seeking a particular type of family; the community values many different types of families, and all are assessed equally for suitability.
- Verification: Confirm the interview will cover:
- Checking the accommodation is appropriate.
- Checking the accommodation is safe and meets building regulations.
- Verifying the Host profile.
- Verifying the Host meets the AHN Selection Criteria.
2. Prepare for the Interview
Before the interview, the Host Manager should review and gain a strong understanding of the Host’s profile and any additional information required to assess the host.
Download a printed or electronic copy of the AHN Interview Checklist to complete during the interview.
Additionally, you must be familiar with all relevant AHN documentation to discuss the policies with the Host and answer any questions. You may also wish to take a copy of the AHN Host Agreement for reference, as reviewing it during the inspection can help address common queries.
Finally, plan the route to the Host’s address in advance and ensure you have a mobile telephone and the Host’s telephone number on hand for general contact.
3. Dynamics of Interviewing
The exact format and order of the interview is at the Host Manager’s discretion, provided all fields on the interview checklist are completed.
General Guidelines:
- Attendees: Interview the whole family if possible.
- Atmosphere: Help the family feel relaxed by adopting a friendly, relaxed, yet professional attitude.
- Observation: Note the family’s group dynamics and the way in which people interact.
- Focus: Stay focused and direct the interview according to your schedule and aims. A directed interview will produce the most information.
- Professionalism: Do not develop an authoritarian or judgmental attitude.
- Confidentiality: Discuss confidentiality, reassuring the family that all personal information entered onto the system is protected and encrypted.
- Approach: The interview should be a friendly, professional conversation focused on an exchange of information, rather than a simple question-and-answer session.
- Rapport: Establish a good rapport by beginning with safe topics before discussing any sensitive issues.
- Photos: If the Host profile does not already include photographs, seek permission to take photographs at the interview.
Documentation
Take particular care when filling out the Host interview checklist to ensure all fields are completed accurately. Pay close attention to the AHN Selection Criteria for the Recruitment of Homestay Hosts. The contents of your file should be kept private unless you decide to share relevant documentation (this is at the Host Manager’s discretion).
4. Interview Techniques and Topics
Recommended Techniques:
- Historical Questions: Prompt hosts to answer historical questions, e.g., “Tell me about a time when…?”
- Descriptive Questions: Ask descriptive questions, e.g., “What is it about hosting that you think you will like?”
- Clarification: Seek clarification on any answers you are concerned about.
- Cultural Discussion: Discuss cultural differences.
- Summarisation: Summarise the responses back to the family so they can correct or add to them.
- Examples: Ask for specific examples.
Relevant Discussion Topics:
- Sport interests
- Weekend activities
- Activities with extended family
- Holidays
5. Close the Interview
- Gratitude: Thank the families for their time.
- Next Steps: Advise the family that AHN cannot guarantee a steady stream of placements but will be in touch if/when a suitable Guest can be offered.
- Follow-Up: Advise the family that you will be in touch soon to confirm the outcome of the interview. Advise the host if any outstanding items we require before we can approve their profile (training completion, compliance documents, student room furniture etc).
- Finalise: Leave the interview on a positive note with all paperwork completed.
Note: AHN Host Managers should not feel pressured to reveal whether the interview is successful at its completion.
Reviewed: January 2026
