Accommodation and Homestay
Homestay
JCU-ELC offers a quality homestay program. Homestays are a popular way for students to live with an Australian family and experience the local lifestyle while practicing their English. Homestay families are carefully selected and you will be matched with the best possible family available to meet your needs.
For more information download homestay handbook [PDF 140kb].
Homestays cost $220 per week. Students have their own furnished bedroom with study facilities. Homestay families also provide:
- 3 meals per day
- meet students on arrival at the airport
- and transport student to JCU ELC on the first morning of lessons.
How to apply for homestay? Download JCU-ELC accommodation form [PDF 41kb].
Student Residence Cairns
Footprints Cairns Student Lodge is the JCU-ELC preferred supplier of student residential accommodation. The lodge is located directly adjacent to James Cook University in Smithfield and is a 10 minute walk to the English language centre. The lodge offers a secure, friendly environment that is situated in a quiet street that has excellent access to a small local shopping centre. The student lodge provides:
- Own bedroom/study in 3 bedroom apartments
- Phone and internet connection in each room
- Airport transfers as required (extra cost)
- 3 meals per day
- Swimming pool
- Volleyball court
- Weekly cleaning service.
Costs: $250 per week. How to apply? Download JCU-ELC enrolment form.
Share Houses for Students
Sharing a house with other people is a great way to meet new friends, practice language skills and live in Cairns as a local. It is often cheaper than renting your own place and in cheaper than staying in a backpacker hostel. Share accommodation is often located in Cairns so you are within walking distance of shops, restaurants and the lagoon, and can simply catch the bus to the university for classes.
Cairns Sharehouse is the JCU-ELC preferred supplier of professionally managed share accommodation in central Cairns. Cairns Sharehouse is a family run business offering private rooms to rent in clean, central and secure share apartments in over 12 properties in the City. Room rates include:
- Weekly cleaning service
- Fully furnished rooms with study desks and fresh bed linen
- TV/DVD players
- Swimming pools/garden spas/BBQ facilities
- Free meal 7 nights per week
- Nightly security check
- Discounted tour booking service
- Onsite laundry facilities
- Air conditioning and internet available.
Costs: Rooms from $20.00 per night (based on 4 weeks stay). 3 weeks rent required up front and security deposit. How to book? Visit www.cairns-sharehouse.com or ring 0740 411 875. JCU ELC Accommodation Service can not arrange share accommodation, however can assist you with information about sharing a house.
More information can be found on the RTA web site http://www.rta.qld.gov.au/share_houses.cfm. Share house accommodation may also be found on the JCU Off Campus accommodation database http://www.jcu.edu.au/app/ccd/accom/offcampus/index.cfm?fuseaction=show_search_criteria&city=C.
Rentals
If you want to rent an apartment or house, it is easier to wait until you arrive in Cairns or Townsville. The Accommodation Service can provide a list of Real Estate Agents who would be able to assist you.
You are usually asked to pay a bond, which is equal to 4 weeks rent. This money is returned to you when you leave, providing all requirements are met. You will be asked to pay rent in advance. Contracts are usually for 6 months or more. The Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) is a government authority established to ensure protection of people who rent in Queensland.
JCU-ELC Accommodation Service can provide further details. RTA Fact Sheets in other languages can be found on this web site http://www.rta.qld.gov.au/other_language_fact_sheets.cfm.
Temporary Accommodation
Some students prefer to book temporary accommodation for the first few week. This enables you to become familiar with the local area before committing to more permanent accommodation. JCU-ELC Accommodation Service does not arrange temporary accommodation however we can assist you with recommended hostels.
