Guidelines for au pair pocket money

Weekly payment based on role
In order to ensure a fair exchange and maintain the spirit of cultural exchange, we recommend the following guidelines for au pair pocket money, based on the average cost of room and board in a homestay program. The average homestay pricing adults 7 days a week, 3 meals a day in a single room is $350 per week. After completing 6 months with the host family, the au pair is entitled to a completion payment of $600.

For a typical week, we suggest that an au pair's working hours should not exceed 35 hours, with weekends kept free except for occasional babysitting, allowing the au pair to socialise and explore Australia. We provide this guide to ensure consistency across our au pairs nationwide.

We encourage families to consider and acknowledge the additional help provided by the au pair in caring for the children, including during school holidays or when staying home with a sick child. Additional pocket money is recommended during weeks where additional care is required.

Au pairs are responsible for covering the costs of flights, visa, gap year travel insurance, and a Working with Children's Check/Bluecard upon arrival in Australia. The host family is responsible for any onward travel arrangements, including airport collection or connecting flights, depending on location.

We are here to assist you in finding the perfect au pair for your family. If you have any further questions or would like more information, please feel free to contact us or learn more about our costs and our pocket money guidelines