Homestay Management System

MyStay International/Australian Homestay Network (AHN) Privacy Collection Notice

  1. Public AHN Complaint Management Policy
  2. Public AHN COVID-19 Safety Policy
  3. Public AHN GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND RESPONSE POLICY
  4. Public AHN Room Holding Policy
  5. Public AHN Sexual Harassment and Abuse Prevention Policy
  6. Public AHN Host Reimbursement Policy
  7. Public AHN Refund Policy
  8. Public AHN Guest Agreement
  9. Public AHN Homestay Policy
  10. Public AHN Host Agreement
  11. Public AHN Guidelines for Interviewing Homestay Hosts
  12. Public MyStay International/Australian Homestay Network (AHN) Privacy Collection Notice
  13. Public AHN Privacy Policy
  14. Public AHN Critical Incident Policy
  15. Public AHN Code of Conduct for U18s in Homestay
  16. Public AHN Guest Placement Policy
  17. Public AHN Selection Criteria for the Recruitment of Homestay Hosts
  18. Public AHN Website Terms & Conditions

MyStay International/Australian Homestay Network (AHN) 

Privacy Collection Notice

Note: This policy is subject to change at any time. Please check all AHN policies on a regular basis for updates.

Entity:
Australian Homestay Network Pty Ltd (ABN 23 127 182 161)
A subsidiary of MyStay International Pty Ltd (ABN 80 605 198 990)

Contact:
Data Protection Office
Email: data-protection-office@mystayinternational.com
Website: www.mystayinternational.com
Address: Suite 12, Level 1, Offices First, Toowong Towers, 9 Sherwood Road, Toowong QLD 4066

Purpose of Collection

Australian Homestay Network Pty Ltd (AHN) collects personal and sensitive information (including medical information) from international students, their parents or guardians, education agents, and education providers. This information is collected as part of AHN’s accommodation placement and homestay management services for international students.

We collect this information to:

  • Assess and manage homestay placements for international students and ensure the suitability and safety of placements.
     
  • Identify and accommodate any health, wellbeing, or support requirements of students during their stay.
     
  • Communicate with hosts, franchisees, education providers, and agents to coordinate safe and appropriate accommodation arrangements.
     
  • Comply with our legal obligations under the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 (Cth) (ESOS Act) and other student welfare regulations.
     
  • Support critical incident management and emergency response procedures.

We may also use this information to manage operational processes, verify the accuracy of records, and monitor compliance with our internal policies and insurance requirements.

Types of Personal and Sensitive Information Collected

The personal and sensitive information we may collect includes (but is not limited to):

  • Personal details such as name, contact information, nationality, and date of birth.
     
  • Sensitive information including health and medical details (such as allergies, medications, chronic or mental health conditions, disabilities), racial or ethnic background, religious affiliation, and criminal history (if relevant to accommodation suitability).
     
  • Emergency contact information.
     
  • Information collected from education agents, providers, and tour organisations where applicable.

This information is primarily collected through our Homestay Management System (HMS) application wizard, via authorised agents, or through partner education providers and tour organisers.

Legal Basis for Collection

AHN is required to collect and maintain some of this information to comply with student welfare and reporting obligations of our partners under the ESOS Act 2000 (Cth) and associated regulations.

We will only collect sensitive information with your express consent and will not collect more information than is reasonably necessary for the purposes stated in this notice.

Use and Disclosure of Information

Your personal and sensitive information may be disclosed to:

  • Homestay hosts who provide accommodation services to ensure they are aware of any relevant health, safety, or welfare needs.
     
  • AHN franchisees and their staff who manage local operations.
     
  • Education providers and agents who coordinate student placements.
     
  • Third-party service providers such as transport companies, 24/7 emergency call centres, insurers, and technology providers engaged by AHN to support its services.
     
  • Emergency services or government authorities, where required for safety, welfare, or legal compliance.

We will not disclose your personal or sensitive information to any other third party without your consent, unless authorised or required by law.

Overseas Disclosures

At this stage, AHN does not disclose student information to overseas recipients. However, MyStay International Pty Ltd operates globally and may, in the future, transfer data to related entities in New Zealand,or other overseas territories now and in the future, where AHN operates a similar homestay model. If such transfers occur, they will be handled in accordance with Australian Privacy Principle 8 and the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) to ensure your information remains protected.

Consequences of Not Providing Information

If you do not provide the requested personal or sensitive information:

  • We may not be able to assess your placement suitability or match you with an appropriate host.
     
  • We may be unable to ensure your health, safety, or welfare needs are appropriately met.
     
  • We may not be able to offer you a homestay placement through AHN.

Retention and Destruction

AHN retains personal and sensitive information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this notice, or as required by law.

In most cases, records are securely destroyed or de-identified within seven (7) years of the end of your engagement with AHN, or sooner if no longer required.

Access, Correction and Complaints

You may request access to the personal information we hold about you, request corrections to inaccurate details, or make a complaint regarding our handling of your information by contacting our Data Protection Office at data-protection-office@mystayinternational.com.

Our full Privacy Policy is available at:
 https://au.homestaynetwork.org/policies

This policy includes further details about:

  • How you may access or correct your information,
     
  • How we handle privacy complaints, and
     
  • How we manage data breaches in accordance with the Notifiable Data Breach Scheme under the Privacy Act.

Acknowledgement and Consent
By providing your information to AHN, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Collection Notice and consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal and sensitive information as described above.