24/7 Interpreter Service

We have received many questions regarding our Homestay 24/7 Interpreter Service.

There are no additional costs for the service as it is paid for in the management fee.

How it works is as follows:

1. If our AHN 24/7 Help Desk receives a call where there is obviously a language problem the AHN Help Desk automatically sets up an interpreter booking and reschedules the call. Usually this can be done on the same day.


2. If a Supervisor or a host is having a communication issue where language is the problem, they can book the service direct with our AHN 24/7 help desk (most languages available).


3. Up to 6 people can be on the phone line for the one call, so you could have: Help Desk, Interpreter, Supervisor, Host, Student and Network Account Manager all on the one call for major issues.

We are excited about this added benefit for Homestay.

AHN Community to Benefit from 24 Hour AHN Assistance Service

Enhancing the cultural experience and ensuring the safe welfare for International Students is a major focus of the Australian Homestay Network community.

We are pleased to announce that we have secured the services of a well established, reputable assistance organisation to offer 24/7 support to member organisations, their Homestay hosts and students placed through the AHN System

The AHN 24 hour, 7 day access assistance line will provide referrals for:

• AHN Homestay Helpdesk
• Medical Assistance and Referral
• Telephone Legal Advice
• Stress & Trauma Counseling
• Interpreter Assistance
• Claim Lodgement

Working together to build complete homestay solutions!!

Process to Join AHN

Many groups have commenced the process to join AHN.

Our current projection for 2008 is to have over 4000 international students entering their homestay placement through an AHN supervisor.

If your organisation/institution wishes to explore further the opportunity associated with joining the Australian Homestay Network it commences with the following steps:

• Signing of confidentiality agreement
• Access codes given for system testing where the organisation/institution trials being a student, homestay host and supervisor
• "Getting Started" with AHN workshop
• Decision and start up date agreed to

We are currently in the process of signing groups up for January and July 2009 start ups.

If you are interested please contact Ella on 0417 784047 or at ebalsamo@homestaynetwork.org

Australian Police Medal

We are pleased to announce that Senior Sergeant GREGORY IAN BISHOP was awarded the AUSTRALIAN POLICE MEDAL on Friday April 4th.
Senior Sergeant Bishop has voluntarily been giving advice to the AHN and recently has agreed to join our AHN Advisory Board and assist on matters to do with security and incident management processes.
The Australian Police Medal Award recognised Senior Sergeant Bishop's dedication to policing and his effectiveness in working in partnership with community groups within the South Brisbane area. He was also acknowledged for contributing significantly to the coordination of policing activities at numerous state, national and international events, including the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and 2001 Goodwill Games.
CONGRATULATIONS GREG AND WELCOME TO THE AHN!

GREAT NEWS!!!!

One of our first Foundation clients of the Australian Homestay Network is in the middle of the testing phases of our online management system and has;

• completed the homestay host training and assessment
• been a student
• been a homestay host

They are delighted with how easy the system is to use and with the organised flows for each functionality.

In the coming weeks they will move to testing the supervisor functions and are on schedule for a 1 July 2008 commencement.