WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

• Students must have completed year 12 and be aged less than 18 years 6 months when they leave Australia.

• Students depart in January following year 12. 

• Applicants must have above average academic ability and must have an outgoing and pleasant personality to fit them for the role as an Ambassador for Australia. They must have the ability to accept discipline and be capable of adjusting to new and strange conditions.

• Applicants must be of good character and reputation.

• Sons and daughters of Rotarians are eligible for Youth Exchange, but receive no special preference in selection. All applicants are selected solely on merit.

• Students must hold a current Australian passport on departure.

OBLIGATIONS

• Students are required to obey the laws of the host country at all times and accept the discipline of the host school and the host parents. Students are required to adapt to the home environment of the host families - host families are under no obligation to adapt themselves to the student.

• Students must return to Australia on completion of the exchange by the most direct route as arranged by the District Youth Exchange Committee.

• Parents are required to provide the cost of transporting the student to and from the host country.  This cost varies and depends on the final destination of the student. This travel is arranged by Rotary and the cost is included in the overall fee charged by Rotary.

• An approved comprehensive Travel Insurance Policy which covers the students for the duration of their exchange, is provided as part of the overall fee charged by Rotary.

• Parents will provide for day to day personal living expenses including clothing, telephone, postage, and travel on organised tours etc. for the student while abroad.

 ROTARY YOUTH EXCHANGE PROGRAM TIMETABLE

• Applications for an exchange must be lodged in writing using the Initial Application Form on the Prospective Students page.

• Applications should be lodged with the Rotary Club or clubs generally in the area in which the student resides or attends school before MARCH 31st in the year prior to departure.

• A local committee appointed by the Rotary Club may interview students and their parents during APRIL and will select a suitable student for consideration by the District Youth Exchange Committee no later than APRIL 30th.

• The final application for successful students must be completed and forwarded to the District Youth Exchange Committee for consideration by early MAY (date to be advised). Applications received after this date may be rejected.

• During May the District Youth Exchange Committee will assess and interview all applicants selected by individual Rotary Clubs within the District.  A final endorsement of students to be sent abroad will then be made, subject to the District Youth Exchange Committee being able to secure host agreements from Rotary Clubs abroad.

• The District Youth Exchange Committee will conduct several briefing sessions for parents and students during the time leading up to departure.

• The District Youth Exchange Committee will endeavour to meet the wishes of applicants by sending them to a country on their preference list, but where the committee deems this to be impossible or undesirable to arrange, reserves the right to arrange placement with a Rotary Club in another country.

• The overseas Rotary Club arranges board and lodging with approved host families for the duration of the exchange.

• Students will as a general rule, depart from Australia in January. The period of exchange will be between 48 and 50 weeks.

• No student is regarded as an Exchange Student until officially accepted by a host Rotary Club in another country.