MyStay International Pty Ltd (MSI) is an Australian-based technology and business solutions company specialising in properly-managed accommodation for international students and other niche target markets.
Our Group began creating its foundations in 2007 with the formation of the Australian Homestay Network (AHN). AHN commenced in Australia as the very first standards-based homestay provider for international students and developed the original and ‘appropriate’ national standards for homestay. Its operations were focused on delivering the highest quality experience based on accountability, system integrity, transparency, personalised services, safety, insurance, and a 24⁄7 professional support line.
AHN has seen a dramatic 14 years of success and growth in what had previously been considered an unregulated boutique industry, becoming Australia’s largest and most recognised homestay organisation for international students and receiving acknowledgement and commendation for its standards from both Industry and Government. Over 80,000 international students from 185 countries have experienced an AHN homestay since the first placement in September 2008.
Following the success of AHN in Australia, we launched operations in the USA in 2012 with our first office in Seattle, Washington.
2012 also saw AHN work with the Australian Government to improve the conditions and outcomes for onshore processing of asylum seekers. The widely promoted ‘Community Placement Network’ (CPN) saw 600 people released from immigration detention facilities to live with Australian families. The scheme was viewed as the most successful and efficient way of integrating asylum seekers into the community.
In 2015, MyStay International Pty Ltd was formally established to incorporate the consolidation of existing businesses. An important part of the merger – and critical to the Group’s strategic plan – was taking ownership of our Homestay Management System (HMS) and trademarks, which had previously been owned by an external company.
Our Group saw further expansion in 2023 with the launch of New Zealand Homestay, introducing the best practices, technology and expertise developed by AHN to enhance the hosted student accommodation market in New Zealand.
In the last five years, the Group has continued to demonstrate its ability to adapt its technology and hosted accommodation services.
In 2018, AHN was the only traditional homestay provider named as an approved accommodation operator for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
The 2019 addition of US-based strategic investment partner AmeriStudent positioned the Group for further growth, with MSI attaining 25% shareholding in StudentRoomStay International (SRSI) and securing development, management and territory distribution rights for StudentRoomStay.com.
During the 2020-2021 COVID-19 pandemic, AHN was appointed by the NSW Government to assist vulnerable international students as part of its Temporary Crisis Accommodation Scheme. More than 1,200 students received vital accommodation and support through AHN’s International Student Support Network (ISSN) initiative.
2022 saw the launch of the Disability Homestay Network (DHN) to provide properly-managed hosted accommodation for eligible participants of Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). DHN offers standards-based, personalised short-term accommodation and support services to give people with disability greater choice and control on their journey to achieving their goals.
MSI has received recognition from The PIE for our achievement and innovation in global education and has been selected as a Finalist for the PIEoneer Awards in 2017, 2018 and 2020.