Questions asked by families

Questions asked by Au-Pairs

Q. We have registered with your agency and we have confirmed that we agree with your terms and conditions. Why have we not received any profiles to look at?

A. Either your registration did not meet our minimum placement requirements as stated on our Automatic reply or we simply haven’t had a profile that might be of interest to your family yet.

Q.  How long will it take to find an Au Pair for us?

A. Profiles are forwarded as soon as we have an applicant that you might be interested in, provided you have confirmed you agree with our terms and conditions. The average time it takes from application till the Au Pair arrives in your home is 2 to 3 months. Au Pair availability can be seasonal, We give priority to our existing families that use our services regularly, generally we can help most new and approved families from July till January.

Q.  How long are Au Pairs/ overseas Nannies usually placed for? 

A. Common placements in the months from July till December are between 6 and 8 months. Placements in January until June are usually between 3 and 5 months. We never place Au Pairs beyond 10 months. They are on 12 month working holiday visas and they all like to travel and see parts of Australia. Au Pairs are primarily here for a cultural and language exchange.

Q.   Do you place everywhere in Australia including in rural or outback areas?

A. Yes, we do, however most Au Pairs prefer the city areas. If an Au pair agrees to go to a country area, they usually do not commit to more than 6 months placement.

Q.  What type of screening do you do?

A. 99% of our applicants come through our overseas agencies.  Overseas Au Pairs and Nannies have undergone a criminal record check and medical check to make sure they are emotionally stable. They supply a min. of 2 childcare references (often more) which are verified by our agencies in their home country. All Au Pairs attend an in depth interview to make sure they understand the Au Pair job and responsibilities. All our applicants sign an agency behaviour contract in line with the IAPA (International Au Pair Association). Occasionally we have applicants already in Australia that contact us for placement. It is more difficult to screen these applicants. We will always let you know in advance when this is the case and you can then decide whether you are still interested to look at their profile.

Q.   What is the placement fee and when is it due?

A. Unlike most other agencies, registration with us is FREE. Our placement fee for an Au-pair is $500 for less than 6 months and $650 for 6 months or more. We do not charge you until you have agreed to host the Au pair into your family. Once you agree to host the Au Pair, we will charge the placement fee against your credit card. After we have received your payment, we will organise the entry visa for the Au Pair and confirm the flights.

Q.  Do you place Australian Au Pairs with families in Australia?

A. No we don’t. Being an Au Pair is really about cultural and language exchange in another country, Au Pair work is not a "real" job.  We do place Australian Au Pairs and Nannies into Europe and the USA.

Q.  We have found an Au Pair ourselves. Can your organisation sponsor her?

A.  I am sorry we cannot help you. We will only take responsibility and offer visa help to Au Pairs that have been prepared and screened by us and our partners.

Q.  Do you have Au Pairs already in Australia or about to arrive looking for positions?

A.  We sometimes have Au Pairs already in Australia. Usually the Au Pairs will stay in their home country until they are placed with a family and will fly directly to your closest airport. You are expected to pick them up or make alternative arrangements for them to arrive safely in your house.

Q.  What is the difference between an Au Pair, a Demi pair or Nanny?

A. AU-PAIRS:

Are young overseas students without any formal childcare qualifications and are usually between 18 and 24 years of age. All of our Au Pairs will have min. of 150 hours of baby sitting experience with families in their home countries. They are an “extra pair for hands” during busy periods of the day, such as early morning and afternoons/ dinner time. As Au Pairs are not qualified childcare workers/ nannies, they cannot be responsible for looking  after babies under 12 months of age unsupervised for long periods of time ( eg 2/3 hours maximum, not for the entire day). Au Pairs and nannies are not to be confused with housekeepers or cleaners. The cultural exchange of an Au Pair involves helping you with childcare and light childcare related duties only. An Au Pair comes out to live with an Australian family as part of a cultural exchange and to improve their language skills. They need to be treated as a member of the family. They require a live-in arrangement with their own private room (share bathroom OK) food and accommodation included.

A.  NANNIES:

Are mostly trained childcare workers or nurses, consequently hourly rates are higher. As we only place overseas nannies, requirements are normally the same for our overseas Au Pairs. Generally we have more Au pairs available than qualified Nannies and Nannies are therefore, more difficult to find.

A.  DEMI AU- PAIRS:

Demi Pairs (half Au Pair) as above are normally committed to language or business classes during the day (typically 8.30-14.00) and are available only in the afternoons and are mainly used for school pick up and after school care. They normally work between 15 and 20 hours (maximum) in the afternoon and early evening.  As they attend language courses, they do need time in the evenings to study and we recommend that Demi pairs finish by 7.30pm. Apart from cooking for the children, Demi pairs offer childcare help only and there is often very little time left for other light domestic duties.

Q.  Can 2 families share a single Au Pair?

A. No. Au Pairs come out on a cultural and language exchange with an Australian family. Just as you expect them to focus on your children, it is expected that you also focus on them. Sharing an Au Pair around will make it more difficult for the Au Pair to feel included and accepted as a family member and settle into your Australian lifestyle.

Q.  Do Au Pairs and overseas Nannies always live-in with the family?

A.  Yes that is what an Au Pair is. We do not support live out placements. To arrange a room or studio for an Au Pair somewhere away from the placement family is simply not acceptable.

Q.  Is every Au Pair / Family placement successful?

A. Unfortunately not every placement works out. Sometimes the family and the Au Pair are just not a good match. Sometimes the job is very different to what the Au Pair expected or they simply get homesick.  Au Pairs are young people (generation X) from a different culture. They do need to be nurtured and welcomed properly into your family. Trying to set an employer /employee relationship is not what most Au Pairs expect when they decide to become an Au Pair. Just as Au Pairs need to prepare themselves properly, you need to be able to welcome a young person from overseas into your home. Families need to be honest with them selves and consider very carefully what they are looking for in a person to care for their children. It is important not be attracted solely by the lore of flexible and economical childcare.

Q. What type of help does an overseas Au Pair or overseas live in nanny offer?

A. Au-Pairs and overseas nannies are primarily there to assist with child care and childcare related duties. Breakfast, clearing up, kids lunch boxes, school drop of and pick up, bath time, taking to park, art, craft and playing with the children are typical Au Pair jobs. It is fine to ask them to cook regularly for the children and an occasional meal for the whole family. You can expect the Au Pair/ nanny to assist with some other general light duties such as laundry, tiding for the children and occasionally vacuuming the main family room etc. With respect to the duties of the au pair, there is a fine line between what can and what cannot be expected. For example changing the bed sheets or ironing the kid’s school uniform are typical Au Pair jobs. We do not expect the Au Pair to change the bed sheets of the parents or iron the parents’ clothes. Au Pairs/ nannies are not to be confused with housekeepers or cleaners and we recommend that all families employ separate cleaning help. Generally the family’s expectations should be outlined in clear detail to the Au Pair when in contact; phrases such as “light housekeeping” are often open to misinterpretation and therefore, misunderstandings.

Q What guarantee do you offer?

A. Au-Pairs and Nannies have a replacement guarantee. If an applicant leaves within a 4 week period (short-term arrangement applicants excepted) we will find a replacement as soon as possible unless: your account was outstanding more than 7 days, and /or you have not met your obligations towards the Au-Pair by not completing the hosting agreement as well as writing down all the duties covered in the hosting document. Please note there are no trial periods.

Q. Who pays medical expenses when the au pair gets sick?

A.  Au pairs arrive with full insurance to cover emergency hospital stays. They usually have to pay for normal GP visits. If they cannot work due to illness, you will need to find alternative care for that day.

Q. What kind of support is given to families once we take on a person?

A.  We will stay your and the Au Pairs agent for the duration of placement. We are there to guide you, answer your questions and sort our problems if they occur. We will make sure the Au Pair arrives with all the necessary paperwork / insurances and visa. We will also make sure the Au Pair will be in contact with other Au Pairs in the area. This is very important for the Au Pair to help them settle in quickly and avoid homesickness.

Q.  What is the recommended allowance for a live-in Au Pair or live in overseas nanny?

A.  Minimum payment rate offered to the Au Pair should not be under $6 per hour. The most common placements are 30 hours for $180- 200 and 35 Hours for $210- 250. Full time Au Pairs will need to be offered a min. of $180 for 30 hours. Qualified nanny rates are negotiable but often around $8 or $9 per hour, depending on age and experience. Qualified nannies are often happy to work up to 40 hours a week.

Questions asked by Au Pairs.

Q. I filled in your online application, I received your reply but I have not heard from you again, requesting the additional more information?

A. Please check our original reply to you.

 1) You might be applying from a country that we have already several partner agencies; you need to apply through them as they do all our screening. 

2) Your registration did not meet our minimum placement requirements.

 3) You applied with a nationality that does not qualify for the right visa into Australia, please check the Au Pair information section.

Q. What type of qualifications do I need to be an Au Pair?

A.  You do not need any formal qualifications. You do need between 150 and 200 hours of experience working with children such as babysitting, youth club work, work experience etc.

Q.  Can I do anything to help me qualifying for placement with a family?

A.  Yes, of course! You need to do as much day time babysitting as you can, or do some work experience in a day care centre. You should also consider doing a first aid course and practise cooking some basic meals.

Q. How do I know if Au Pair work is really for me?

A.  Be really honest with yourself - do you really like children? Do you think you have enough patience with them when they don’t listen? Are you creative enough to distract them when they are upset or tired? Are you flexible enough to be living with a family with different values and beliefs and abide by their rules? Can you overcome homesickness?  Do you understand the difference between a working holiday and a holiday? You will have days that are just routine and more routine! We suggest you discuss this with someone that knows your personality well.

Q. Besides learning a new language, what do I get out of being an Au Pair?

A.  Being away from your own country and environment will stimulate you to work on your personal development. You will learn things about yourself that you had never realised before. You will change as a person; you will become more independent and confident. You also will develop a different view of the world as you realise that there are many ways to do things and you will learn how to handle different situations. Au Pair work will give you many life skills.