Southern Cross Cultural Exchange

Southern Cross Cultural Exchange (SCCE) is an Australian-based educational organisation specialising in exchange programs for secondary school students which seek to promote tolerance and further international understanding. SCCE was the first Australian-based student exchange organisation, founded in 1983. It has since exchanged over 13,000 students with 27 countries. SCCE is a non-government organisation approved and registered with Australian federal and state education departments, and established with immigration and education authorities throughout the world. It is based in Mount Eliza, outer suburban Melbourne, Australia.

Programs

Students are exchanged with Austria, Brazil, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, and the United States. To encourage cultural immersion and promote international understanding and acceptance, all exchange students stay with a voluntary host family. Students also attend a local high school and are encouraged to participate in extra-curricular clubs, sports and community activities. Students may choose programs varying in length between four weeks to ten months, depending on the country. Some countries, particularly European, will also support students complete a gap year as an exchange student. SCCE also designs programs specifically for school groups wishing to travel together on an exchange program. For many years SCCE has successfully supported many school groups travelling to France, Germany and Italy.

Hosting

SCCE arranges local Australian school placements and provides support and advice to host families and international students throughout the program. Students stay in Australia for programs of three, five or ten months and bring with them pocket money to support their activities in Australia.

Controversy

The program was involved in a controversy in 2004 when a woman whose trip was organised by Southern Cross Cultural Exchange said she had been subjected to sexual abuse by her host father. The Exchange said that of over 10,000 students that it had on exchanges in over 20 years, were just three charges of sexual misconduct.[1]

References
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