The District 9550 Youth Exchange Program administers the long term, short term, disabled and Australia/New Zealand Matched programs.

These programs cater for students that have recently completed Year 12. Students interested in these programs should apply towards the end of Year 11 or early Year 12, and if selected, leave Australia after completing their senior year.

The Australia/New Zealand Matched program caters for students in Grade 10. Students interested in this program should apply early in Grade 9, and if selected, attend school in New Zealand in the first four months of Grade 10.

Rotary's student exchange programs, which are staffed by volunteers, provide the opportunity for up to 35 young people from our District each year to spend an academic year abroad for little more than the cost of airfare. The information provided here, is the starting point of exploring the benefits of th Rotary Youth Exchange program for you or your Student.

Every year, almost 10,000 young people from 66 countries see the world the way it is best seen - from the inside out - through Rotary's Youth Exchange program.

As a Rotary Exchange student, you may learn a new language but you will certainly learn a new way of living - and a great deal about yourself. The people you meet will learn too - about your country, and your culture and ideas. As an unofficial ambassador you will bring the world closer together and make new friends in the process.

Many other Exchange Programs are out there. Rotary is much less expensive because Rotary's exchange programs are staffed by Rotary volunteers backed by Rotary's extensive international organization and planning. But Rotary's real advantage is that our supervision and guidance are simply superb! Wherever there is a Rotary Exchange Student, there are local counselors to assist and advise. We take our surrogate parenting responsibilities very seriously! If you're even considering other programs, be sure to compare Rotary!

An explanation of the Rotary Exchange Programs follows:

Long Term - Students spend a full academic year with one or more host families. Host parents provide room and meals as well as support and guidance. The student becomes part of that family for the period that they live with them, and normally each student will experience 4 different families in their year. The host Rotary Club provides a limited monthly spending allowance, counseling, and supervision.

Rotary Ausralia-New Zealand Exchange - Students are "Matched" with a student from New Zealand. For the first 4 months, the students live under the same roof with their matched twin, and go to the same school. At the completion of the 4 months, the students both return to this District and experience the sam, but in the other students home.