WHAT IS AN AU PAIR?

An au pair provides cultural live-in childcare. It is the most affordable and flexible form of childcare whilst the au pair gets the opportunity to ‘live the language’.  Au pair is also often called live-in-carer, nanny, mom’s help, mother’s help or even childminder. Although we can place au pairs throughout Australia, most au pairs are placed in the major cities such as Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Cairns.

Family au pairs generally work 25 – 30 hours including 2 evenings babysitting. During school holidays, extra hours can be agreed to suit your family requirements. 

Many au pairs already have good English skills and can help with school-runs, homework, after school activities, meal times and light housework. Hosting an au pair in your family is both fun and educational for your children.

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To facilitate the most flexible childcare solution, our au pair agency offer candidates from Europe, mostly Germany, France, Sweden and the Netherlands. We also have limited number of applicants from English speaking countries such as the UK, Canada and USA. Applicants travel on a Working Holiday visa, which means they can stay in your family for up to 6 months on the au pair program. 

HOURS AND POCKET MONEY

Host families provide full board and pocket money in exchange for the au pair’s help in the family. The au pair pays for their own flights to Australia, travel insurance, visa and language classes but families are expected to provide airport collection on arrival.

Family Au Pair (25-30 hours per week including babysitting)

• On duty approx. 5 hours per day, 5 days per week
• Babysitting can be 2-3 evenings per week
• Free time minimum 2 full days, at least every other weekend
• Minimum pocket money $150-$180 – 25hrs ($180-$210 for native speakers and experienced candidates)
• Limited light housework
• No sole care for children under 2
• Extra hours minimum $7 per hour (during school holidays for example)

Pocket money varies depending on the number of hours and the level of experience of the au pair.

More experienced au pairs and/or those willing to do substantially longer hours and more tasks are often categorised as 'mother's help', which is outside the scope of the au pair cultural exchange program and more of a 'real job'. Pocket money/pay should reflect this. As an employer you are required to register with the ATO, even though most au pairs stay below the income tax level. For the purpose of the tax office, they are considered 'residents'.  

In Adelaide we also place demi-pairs. These are language students, taking English classes for 20-25 hours per week and able to help with childcare duties up to 20 hours per week + more in school holidays. These candidates are ideal for afternoon, evening and weekend help. Pocket money $80-$100.

In all cases, families should provide a comfortable room and full board. Duty hours should allow an au pair to study and attend classes. Two days per week should be free and suitable compensation should be agreed if extra work is required.

During school holidays you may ask your au pair to care for the children all day at extra pay.

Some families, especially in remote areas, will also contribute towards travel expenses or give access to a car. There are also families who are prepared to pay for, or contribute towards the cost of English classes.

If you have broadband internet that they can use to keep in touch with home, it will minimize the risk of them being homesick.

An au pair pays for her/his own flights to Australia but should be collected from the airport. If the au pair attends the orientation program in Adelaide, the family pays for the onward (Interstate) travel from Adelaide to family home whether this is in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth or elsewhere in the country. Some families agree a bonus payment payable at the end of the au pair's stay.

It is very important to agree in advance what you expect from each other.

WHAT EXPERIENCE CAN I EXPECT?

We encourage host families to involve their au pair in family activities from shared meals to sports and days out. It is important that the au pair is given the opportunity to attend language classes.

Many host families only require a genuine affection for children from their au pair. Practical experience is an advantage, even if it is only babysitting, as is an outgoing nature for coping and living with new people in a foreign country. We expect an au pair to be honest, mature and responsible.

Au pairs with fluent English and additional childcare experience are very popular. Some have a background in education or have been (summer) au pair before. Expect to pay more pocket money for experienced candidates.

Consider if your family has specific requirements. A family where sole care is required, especially with more than 2 children, very young children or a child with special needs will benefit from a person with some experience. A family with teenage boys may consider a male au pair to connect with the boys through sports and hobbies and a young mum may wish to consider an au pair with some baby experience. (no sole care for the baby!).

Ensure your profile reflects your requirements – we will talk about it in our consultation!

An au pair is not a domestic help, nor a qualified nanny. Helpfulness and enthusiasm is expected, experience is a bonus. They should not be expected to take charge of all household chores or all childcare.

Au Pairs and driving.

Many families need the au pair to drive the children to/from school and activities. If yous au pair has a driving license from the UK or an EEA country, they are permitted to drive in Australia.

However, the fact that the au pair has a driving license does not guarantee suitability to drive in Australia. As driving in Australia is different it is best to consider a driver with some experience AND book a few lessons with a qualified driving instructor to familiarise them with your local area and road rules in Australia. Then give them time to practice before driving your vehicle on their own and transporting your children.

You will need to arrange appropriate insurance for the car that the au pair will be driving. (more info in FAQ section)

EXPECTED & UNSUITABLE DUTIES

Duties will vary by family, but most families expect the following to be part of the au pair’s duties. The balance of the au pair position should always be on childcare, rather than household duties.

• Wake the children in the morning and get them ready
• Help the children to tidy their rooms and make their beds
• Prepare breakfast and lunch for the children
• Clean up breakfast dishes
• Make sure children have books and homework for school
• Drive children to/from school (if needed)
• Tasks while children are at school: some shopping, light housework
• Prepare a healthy afternoon snack
• Assist the children with their homework, initiate and supervise play
• Help the children with their bath routine and help get them ready for bed

We ask the host family to outline their expected duties in the profile. Prior to the arrival of the au pair we also recommend preparing a detailed handbook, for which we provide you with a template. It outlines jobs and basic house rules so that expectations are clear and the au pair has a fair chance of not only meeting but exceeding your expectations.

List of duties considered unsuitable for an au pair:
Gardening
Window cleaning
Spring cleaning
Cleaning the oven, other than simple wiping out
Washing carpets
Washing the family car (expected if au pair is main user)
Weekly shopping
Pet training
Clearing up after untrained pets
Making parents bed
Ironing for parents *
Cleaning parents’ en-suite bathroom

Cooking the family meal, unless the au pair enjoys cooking and has chosen to do this for the family
*these duties can be included where there is less childcare and the children are out of the house for most of the day or optional for extra pay.
Au pairs should not be required to do housework such as cleaning and ironing at the same time as looking after young children.

WHAT ABOUT FREE TIME?

An au pair should have 2 days off per week and at least 3 evenings per week of free time (2 evening babysitting are included). At least one full weekend per month should be given.

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