Committed to providing every student with personal attention…
…Students of the World facilitates cultural exchange, foreign language study and international education by providing affordable opportunities for high school students to participate in international exchange programs.
Students enjoy living with their host families and attending school…
…while receiving continual support from Students of the World. They also participate in community, cultural and social events. Students of the World makes it easy to study abroad. We coordinate flights, insurance, travel itineraries and visas for all exchange participants.
We have firm relationships with our international partners…
…to ensure the highest quality of care and support for all students and families. Our staff and partners will provide you with friendly and helpful advice at every stage of your journey.
Meet the Team
Sandeep
Managing Director, Central Office
Sandeep grew up in country South Australia in a place called Whyalla, moving to Adelaide when he was in High School. While completing Year 11 he completed a student exchange program in Germany, and he hasn’t stopped travelling since. Between his travel adventures he completed his Bachelor of Law and Commerce, followed by a Graduate Diploma in Chartered Accounting. He now spends his days helping students prepare for their exchanges. You are most likely to find him talking on the phone to families or playing with his two-year-old daughter.
Kerry
Program Manager, Central Office
Kerry has a love for travel, beginning with a short stay in South Korea before venturing off as an au pair in Italy after completing high school. Subsequent to this, Kerry moved to Thailand where she started up her own organisation involving the recruitment of English teachers into local schools. After twelve years, Kerry wanted to be closer to family and moved back to Adelaide with her two young boys. She is currently completing her Bachelor of Psychology and loves to go camping with her family when she’s not working or studying.
Renae
Outbound Program Coordinator/Social Media Coordinator, Central Office
Renae is an educational linguist who has worked with schools and universities throughout Australia and abroad. She is a passionate promoter of student exchange programs, having participated in her own exchange to Brazil many years ago – a year that had a profound impact on her life in more ways than she can count. Renae is a fully fledged language nerd who speaks Portuguese and Spanish in addition to her native English. She lives at the beach in Adelaide with her family and their four chickens.
Sally
Area Coordinator, NSW
Sally grew up on a beef cattle farm in country NSW. Her first trip overseas was for a University semester exchange program where she attended Washington State University, and completed a Bachelor of Early Childhood and Special Education. She then travelled to Canada for a working holiday and ended up staying for three years in Quebec City where she learnt French (slowly). She is passionate about the benefits of second language learning and packed her three young girls up and moved to France for 2 years when they were in primary school. Now almost adults her girls have completed their own reciprocal exchange with Students of the World. When Sally isn’t working you will find her at Manly beach ocean swimming or walking her labradoodle Lollie.
Petrina
Local Coordinator, ACT
Petrina and her family recently hosted an exchange student for the first time and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Describing her life as organised chaos, Petrina juggles three boys, a day job, a weakness for volunteering and plays in a fiercely social basketball team. Petrina and her husband Doug, run a cider making business called Three Sons Cider from their home which is an official off-licence. She loves waking up early and heading out in the bush with Elyse our ACT rep as they, and their dogs, are great friends and their dogs are dating.
Diana
Local Coordinator, Queensland
Diana grew up in the small cane farming town of Home Hill located in North Queensland. As a primary school teacher of over 33 years, she spent time teaching in Cairns and the Atherton Tablelands before moving to Townsville where she now lives. Her current school caters for a large population of EAL/D learners from a range of countries and she enjoys teaching them and learning about their cultures. Both her and her husband are of Italian descent so culture, food and maintaining traditions are important to her. She is excited to be involved with Students of the World. In her spare time, Diana enjoys social outings with friends, pottering in her garden and spending time on the tropical beaches of North Queensland.
Patrick (“PJ”)
Local Coordinator, Queensland
Patrick has an innate passion for travel, people and volunteering. From his early twenties of backpacking throughout Asia, Europe, UK and Canada he developed an enriched appreciation for culture, kindness and new experiences. This carried through to his professional career having taken on Operational and Commercial roles in Canada and Mongolia for 6 years of his current 19 year career with Orica. Married with 3 teenage children, Patrick and his family currently reside in the coastal town of Mackay, Queensland. Patrick is a volunteer with Orangesky, the Queensland Rural Fire Service and the Mackay Community Volunteer Association.
Franco
Local Coordinator, Victoria
Franco’s early years were spent in Italy, and from Grade 3 he attended school in Wangaratta. He is fluent in three languages with a working knowledge of two others. His passion for languages continued with formal studies at the University of Melbourne in Italian and French. He introduced the student exchange programs at his school and has worked with several student and teacher exchange agencies over the years. Franco still works part time as a teacher of Italian, language consultant and mentor. Spending time with family at every opportunity is his number one pursuit. He dedicates his available time to community work with the local Da Vinci Multicultural Centre and U3A. He enjoys looking after his birds and gardening.
Elyse
Local Coordinator, Aus. Capital Territory
Elyse and her family live in Canberra where they love to spend time outdoors, riding bikes, running with their dog and, in the chilly Canberra winters, doing yoga and visiting local galleries and museums. Elyse’s enthusiasm for the student exchange experience arises out of a German student coming to her country town school in 1987 for a year. Elyse and the student have remained best friends to this day, highlighting the amazing two-way benefit of the student exchange experience. Elyse loves to travel and was lucky enough to live for years in both Africa and Europe, enjoying all the opportunities that living with new people, in new places, with diverse cultures brings – and of course she also loved all the yummy food!
Nina
Local Coordinator, Tasmania
Nina is a retired French, Italian and ESL teacher who is passionate about travel as a means to experience new adventures and broaden one’s mind. Her own sons completed exchanges abroad and she and her family have hosted multiple exchange students from many parts of the world. Nina was born in Australia to Italian migrants and has lived most of her life in Tasmania, which offers her and her husband endless opportunities for bushwalking, kayaking and camping in general.
Rhiannon
Marketing Manager
Rhiannon grew up in the South Australian desert and country, starting life in Olympic Dam then to Whyalla where she stayed until completing year 12. She could not wait to move to Adelaide and experience the city life. While studying Visual Arts and Graphic Design at university, Rhiannon went on her first overseas trip, a conservation volunteer trip to Costa Rica. In awe of the world and the different cultures, Rhiannon and her husband James spent many years saving for their backpacking trip around the world (with a trip to India for Sandeep’s wedding too). They spent 16 months travelling through Asia, North, South, and Central America, Europe, and Africa. After living the city life, the country called again and Rhiannon now lives on a property in the Adelaide Hills with her husband, two children and flock of chickens.
Sonya
Local Coordinator, Queensland
Sonya grew up in Northern New South Wales and currently resides in Mackay, Queensland. She studied a Bachelor of Nursing and has been a nurse in various clinical settings. She currently works in the Queensland Department of Education supporting students with health needs. Sonya has always had a love of travelling and enjoys experiencing different cultures. She is married and has three teenage children.
Ray
Local Coordinator, Queensland
Ray was born and bred in Townsville and currently works as a College Business Manager for Catholic Education. He has a background in automotive engineering and small business management which led him to further his career as a program Development Manager at Meals on Wheels. His interests range from ski racing to cooking Italian food to tinkering in his shed. He has been involved with Students of the World for the past four years and is keen to further his involvement. Now that his two daughters have grown up and moved away, it gives him more time to pursue his own interests, his priorities being travel and meeting like-minded people.
What’s In It For You?
Students of the World’s international exchange programs extend your life experience to a global stage.
Our programs offer you the opportunity to spend time in another country where you will:
- Improve your language skills considerably
- Explore a new place and learn about a new culture
- Meet other students of similar ages and experience life as a local
Alternatively, bring the world to your own home by becoming a host family.
Share your home and life with an international student who is keen to experience everyday life in an Australian household and school. By hosting a foreign student, your family can learn about a new culture and develop long-lasting friendships.
Our Safety Commitment
Students of the World is committed to its child protection policies and procedures and maintains a high standard of vigilance in dealing with child safety.
Keys To Safety
✓ International Partner matching
✓ 24-hour student care
✓ Experienced local co-ordinators
✓ Stringent host family screening
✓ Department of Education approved
✓ Registered not-for-profit
✓ CASEO Member
Host Vetting
1. Application
Family fills out a detailed application.
2. Clearances
We ensure all inhabitants at the hosting residence have individual and current police clearances.
3. Referees
We conduct referee checks on families to ensure they come with strong personal recommendations.
4. Visit
We conduct a house visit of the residence and inspect the room in which the student will reside.
5. Maintain
We maintain contact with the family prior to the student’s arrival and during the entirety of their stay.
The Finer Details
Our international partners maintain the same standards of safety as Students of the World and complete all the necessary background and situational checks .
Students have 24-hour care during their stay in the host country. Each student is assigned a local coordinator who they are free to contact at any time to discuss any issues or concerns. All coordinators speak fluent English and are trained and able to take immediate action should any serious issues occur.
Students of the World is a registered as a student exchange provider in South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory.
We are registered as a not-for-profit organisation with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission.
We are members of the Council of Australian Student Exchange Organisations (CASEO) – a members-based organisation that promotes the value of student exchange programs and continuously works to improve policy and regulations regarding student exchange programs in Australia.
Registrations & Certifications
Students of the World is a registered student exchange organisation in various states and territories.
Students of the World Ltd is a not-for-profit organisation that is registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC). The ACNC is an Australian statutory body and national regulator of the voluntary sector, including charities and not-for-profits like Students of the World Ltd.
Students of the World Ltd is also a member of the Council of Australian Student Exchange Organisations (CASEO). CASEO is a members-based organisation that promotes the value of student exchange programs and continuously works to improve policy and regulations regarding student exchange programs in Australia. As a not-for-profit organisation there is also a regulatory requirement that means our accounts are audited by an independent auditor each year and lodged with the ACNC and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
Students of the World Ltd upholds a strong regulatory framework and within, a high level of policies, procedures and guidelines that we employ within the organisation and with our exchange students, our volunteer host families and schools. Students of the World Ltd is listed as a registered Student Exchange Organisation with the following regulatory state and territory authorities, which allows us to work with both public and private secondary schools:
Child safety and wellbeing is critical to Students of the World and our organisation is vigilant in complying with child protection laws. Furthermore, we provide personalised support and care to our students. Students have 24-hour care during the stay in their desired country. Each student is assigned a local coordinator who they are free to contact at any time should they wish to discuss any issues or concerns. All coordinators speak fluent English and are trained and able to take immediate action should any serious issues occur. Similarly, our overseas partners maintain the same standards of safety and complete all the necessary background and situational checks.
In the spirit of exchange programs in Australia, we operate on a reciprocal basis, which enables Australian students to benefit from the same opportunities in overseas countries. As such, governing regulations prohibit us from paying host families. This helps to promote an international understanding and goodwill between countries.