A 16-year-old girl from Hong Kong, referred to as Athena, was returned to her homeland after a distressing experience while living with a host family in Perth, Australia.

Athena's mother is now contemplating legal action concerning the handling of her daughter's case following a claimed 'traumatic' homestay.

Athena, who arrived in Australia on a student visa in 2023, initially settled in Queensland before relocating to Western Australia for further studies.

Problems arose shortly after she moved in with a new host family this February, where reported tensions regarding household rules turned into a situation of conflict.

Athena described that the host mother was dissatisfied with her daily routine, which reportedly included sleeping in the afternoon after school and studying through the night—an arrangement she claimed had been discussed prior to her moving in.

On March 3, an altercation led to Athena contacting the police for assistance, alleging her host mother was yelling at her.

In response, local authorities attended the residence along with representatives from the Department of Training and Workforce Development (DTWD).

During this visit, one police officer was quoted in recordings saying, "she is being deported," while others suggested her safety was a priority.

Athena was ultimately returned to Hong Kong, citing welfare concerns as the reason for her removal.

Documentation revealed that her enrolment in the education program had been canceled due to perceived risks to her welfare.

The Australian Homestay Network, engaged by TAFE International Western Australia (TIWA), stated they could not disclose the host family's identity, maintaining privacy guidelines.

They have acknowledged the incident but opted not to comment further.

A statutory declaration presented to Athena's lawyers documented the alleged events leading up to her return, highlighting the escalation of the situation on the said date.

Following her return to Hong Kong, Athena and her mother ventured back to Australia, obtaining legal representation to appeal TIWA's earlier decision regarding her enrollment.

Their appeal was successful, allowing Athena to resume her studies in Perth with a different host family.

Her mother, while seeking anonymity, expressed concerns about the overall handling of the situation by the authorities.

Meanwhile, educational consultant Will Kwong raised points regarding the frequent conflicts that arise between international students and their host families, often attributable to cultural misunderstandings.

He suggested that proper emergency housing accommodations should have been arranged for Athena instead of her return to Hong Kong.

Kwong also pointed out systemic communication failures in the management of such cases.

In their response, WA Police confirmed they attended the incident on March 3 but asserted that no further action was taken and that the situation had been satisfactorily resolved on-site.

The Department of Training and Workforce Development noted that they prioritize student welfare and clarified that neither they nor TIWA possess the authority to deport students, as visa matters are governed by the Department of Home Affairs.

The events surrounding Athena's departure and subsequent return to Australia underline the complexities and challenges faced by international students in navigating their educational experiences abroad, compounded by differences in cultural expectations and support systems.