Rohan GleesonVice Chairman

Rotary Youth ExchangeAustralia

G’ Day

Host Family Selection

and Training

We are going to look at:• Screening• Training• Support Structures

• Do they impact on early returns?

Let’s start here:Do you agree:

The mistakes, misunderstandings & lack of communication by adults are the

main source of difficulties with exchanges.

Simply: It is an adult who usually gets something wrong!

Focus First:Gone are the days when Rotarians

traditionally hosted students…

There are many and varied reasons for the decline, but the reality is those

days will not return…

So what happens now?

The Hosting Pool:The hosting obligation must be shifted in part, to the parents of Outbound students.

Parents must be reminded of the reciprocal nature of the program and that, a district can only sponsor the same number of students that it can host.

Parents therefore must provide hosting details with their student’s preliminary application.

Screening:• Who has mandatory:• Volunteer Adult Screening

• Do your Clubs / Districts check• Homes & living conditions?

• Does it work?• Is there a better way?

Training:• Who has guidelines for Clubs• Do the Clubs do it?• What about harassment training• Host family BBQ’s or get togethers

• Where and how is it delivered?• Training weekends• DYPO

Support Structures:• How good are the Counsellors• They should hold it all together• Do they work with Host parents• Are they effective

• How Do your Clubs / Districts check• Do they?

Support Structures:• When the wheels fall off• Does the District / Club have:• Documented procedures to follow

• Do your Protection Officers:• Know their responsibilities• Know how to handle a complaint• The 72 hour requirement

What’s with the rock?