INTERNeX International Exchange specialize in offering specialized programs for international students and graduates who are interested in traveling for practical work experience.

We started in Canada in 1999 and opened our second office in New Zealand in 2009. In both countries we offer Professional Internships, Volunteer, Work & Travel, Work Experience in Retail, Hospitality & Tourism, Homestay and Farmstay programs. In 2015 we opened our programs in Australia.

The Farmstay program is a unique way for participants to gain some international work experience while gaining a cultural family based experience during their stay abroad. For families it a great way for you to get some help around the farm, around the farm house, to get some help with the children and to meet young people from around the world and to show off the culture and ways of a farming family.

We work with horse training / breeding farms, equestrian farms, horse racing farms, beef and sheep farms, dairy farms, crop farms and orchards, and mixed farms of any size and any number of animals.

The first thing we do is send you a list of questions asking you about your farm, family and roles you would like the candidate to be involved in and will create a farm profile.

Family is a broad word and you may have young children, teenagers, no children at all, you may live alone or with a group of friends. All family units are ok so long as the participants is included in that unit as a part of the family and not seen simply as a worker on the farm.

You will have varying roles and responsibilities that you want the person involved in and that depends on their experience. All participants are required to help.

The participants have varying levels of experience and are essentially approved to come on the program based on attitude, understanding of the program, desire to learn, level of language and motivation.

After we receive applications and interview participants about the program we will then select which farms we think they are most suited to and will send you some information on the participants.

If you agree that you would like to host the participant then we will send you your farm profile to the participant and if they agree we the proceed to arrange flights, visas, insurance and transfer information to get to you on the agreed start date.

Many participants are very nervous having travelled to the other side of the world and are really excited to meet you. They have decided from hundreds of different options around the world that they would like to do to come to New Zealand and learn the life of a New Zealand farming family and to make an honest contribution.

As the host we ask that when they arrive to your home you make them feel welcome and a part of the family and take some time to sit down and talk to them about your family and any ground rules that you would like them to know about.

We find our participants would prefer to know the rules and ways of the farm than to learn they have done things wrong or not know if they are doing right or wrong and it us up to the host to bring this up with them.

The basic agreement is as follows:

To make sure everyone understands the basic outline of the program here are the basic terms of the agreement that we ask for you to agree to when hosting an INTERNEX Farmstay participants.

The Host Agrees to:

1. Provide a warm and inviting family environment for the participant to live in.
2. Treat the participant as a family member as opposed to simply a farm worker.
3. Provide the participant with a clean, warm and tidy room with a window. Basic furniture should include a bed including bed sheets and a place to put clothes. It is ok if participants share a bedroom but should not be shared with family members.
4. Provide normal daily meals including breakfast, lunch and dinner every day and to have some snacks like fruit between meal times. Dinner must be a well-balanced meal, generally consisting of meat, vegetables, potatoes or rice, fruit and milk or juice. Fast food dinners such as pizza, hamburgers, hot dogs etc. are acceptable on an occasional basis.
5. In the first days to go through the household functions and where items are in the kitchen, bedroom, laundry and other areas in the home. It is a good idea to explain the dynamics of the household in order to avoid problems, e.g., if it is ok or not ok to have weekends off, using the car or to go on a trip. Please be clear and make sure your participant is aware of the rules and regulations of your household so there are less possible issues later on.
6. At this time it is a good idea to let each other know to communicate any issues them with you and to have a chat about it.
7. The host show the Farmstay participants as much from the farm. You can think of the daily work and chores. The participants are expected to help also inform them with the information to help with the daily chores, do the dishes, vacuum cleaning and cleaning the house. Be aware, the main job of a Farmstay is working on the farm. It depends on what kind of farm it is. Helping with feeding, prepare horses for riding, helping in the woolshed or cattle yard. The participants are part of the household so they also should help with the dishes and cleaning the house, but this should not be the main task.
8. To include the participant in any trips away from the farm or to come to an agreement that is satisfactory to both parties if you are going to be away from the farm for an extended period of time.
9. To speak English
1. The host may either do their participants’ laundry or make laundry facilities available to them.
2. To keep INTERNeX updated on any issues and concerns as they arise.
3. INTERNeX or the host family does not assume any responsibilities for any injuries suffered by the participant while in the host’s care. However, please assist and ensure the participant becomes ill or injured and need medical attention. All candidates have medical insurance on our programs and they will have
a copy of this insurance with them. Please contact INTERNeX as soon as possible.

Please remember that we at INTERNEX are here for any problems, questions or concerns that you may have during your partnership with INTERNeX. If you are having a problem and do not feel like you can talk to your Farmstay participant or you have troubles with the character or personality of the person, please contact INTERNEX. If you do not understand any part of this contract, please speak with an INTERNEX representative.

I acknowledge that I have read the above mentioned ‘Farmstay Rules’ and understand that after signing this document, that I agree with the conditions that INTERNeX proposes to the Farmstay.