FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO MATCH A FAMILY WITH AN AU PAIR?
Most families can start interviewing au pairs a couple of days after our telephone consultation. As the au pair program is seasonal, we may not always have au pairs available to start right away.
The best time to find an au pair quickly is August/September/October when we have a great selection of amazing au pairs, all fully screened.
WHAT DOES YOUR VETTING PROCEDURE INCLUDE?
Many au pairs apply months in advance of travelling to prepare all their documentation.
All au pairs undergo thorough screening in their home country. Our trusted partner agencies overseas collect and verify documentation including childcare references, police check and medical check. The au pair is interviewed and asked about their motivation to join the program. Part of the interview is in English.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COSTS TO HOST AN AU PAIR?
Your costs are made up of our agency fees at the start of the program plus the au pair pocket money and travel bonus.
These costs vary, depending on your family needs. We discuss this in detail during our host family telephone consultation.
Most families pay $300-$350 pocket money.
WHY SHOULD I USE AN AGENCY?
Because you want to get it right!!
Especially first time host families have a lot of questions.
We've been doing this for many years and successfully placed and supported 1000s of au pairs. We help you every step of the way. All our au pairs are screened in their own country. We provide support throughout the program for your family and your au pair.
CAN MY AU PAIR DRIVE?
Most of our au pairs can drive in Australia. They can help with the school run and take your children to after school activities. If your au pair is staying longer than 6 months, she needs to apply for an Australian license (NSW & VIC)
As most au pairs have learned to drive in another country, on the other side of the road, we highly recommend a few driving lessons first. You have to include your au pair on your car insurance.
CAN AN AU PAIR CARE FOR A BABY?
An au pair is a fantastic extra pair of hands to help you care for your baby or to take other kids off your hands to allow you to dedicate time to the baby. Au pairs are however not the right childcare solution to provide care for a child under 12 months on their own. (Sole care)
If you are working from home, you can ask your au pair to care for a baby after training alongside you. Most au pairs are more confident with children over 2 years of age.
WHAT DO AU PAIRS DO?
Here are some of the tasks that your au pair can help with in your family. An au pair is a great childcare solution if you have kids of different ages.
All au pairs can also help with:
Diving kids to/from school & activities
Breakfast, lunchboxes, simple dinner
Keeping your home tidy
Kids laundry & school uniforms
Changing kids beds
Setting/clearing table, loading/unloading dishwasher, tidying kitchen
Occasional ad-hoc food shopping
CAN AN AU PAIR HELP WITH TODDLERS?
For this age group, parents often choose to have the little one in daycare 2-3 days a week and combine daycare with one-on-one au pair care at home for the other days.
Dressing or helping to dress children before daycare, playgroup or pre-school
Nappy changing or potty training
Care for and play with child/children at home
CAN AU AU PAIR HELP WITH PRIMARY SCHOOL KIDS?
Au pairs absolutely love this age group! You can expect help with:
Getting kids ready in the morning, out the door on time with the right gear in their bags
School uniform care
School run and driving to/from activities
Homework help, reading together. Many au pairs have helped with homework as part of their childcare experiences
Action packed after school care, most of our au pairs are sporty and some have even done sports coaching as their childcare experience
After school care with arts & craft fun at home!
Baking with kids
Supervising music practice, some au pairs are musical!
CAN AN AU PAIR HELP WITH HIGH SCHOOL KIDS?
Let your au pair be a role model, sports coach and after school tutor! Teenage years are difficult…. A big sister (or brother) can make all the difference!!
School uniform care
School run and driving to/from activities
Homework help & tutoring, researching projects. Many au pairs have helped with homework as part of their childcare experiences
Being a young adult friend who is close in age and can listen and support
CAN AN AU PAIR HELP WITH CLEANING?
Au Pairs are not cleaners!
Keep your regular cleaner for the ‘big stuff’ and get your au pair to help with daily tidy/cleaning after meals and keeping on top of kids laundry.
Tasks can also include setting/clearing the table, loading/unloading dishwasher, tidying up the kitchen after meals.
CAN AN AU PAIR COOK SIMPLE MEALS?
Au Pairs are happy to prepare breakfast, make lunchboxes and cook a simple meal for the kids or occasionally for all family members.
Most families make a schedule for the au pair to cook for the family a couple of nights a week. Show her/him how to cook your family favourites or get a meal box to make it easy with all ingredients and instructions in one place.
CAN MY AU PAIR STAY LONGER THAN 6 MONTHS?
YES! Au Pairs travel to Australia on a Working Holiday Visa which is valid for 12 months from date of arrival. Our program is for 6 months with the option to extend. There is no need for au pairs to apply with Immigration to stay longer than 6 months as they are officially exempt and allowed to stay in their care role for longer than 6 months.
DOES MY AU PAIR NEED A SEPARATE BEDROOM?
YES, as part of the program, your au pair gets room and board. An au pair should have a nice bedroom with a bed, a wardrobe and maybe a desk. Your au pair should be able to close the door and maybe have a home made ‘do-not-disturb’ sign for the kids. Some au pairs may be lucky and have their own bathroom, however, this is not expected! It is not appropriate to ask your au pair to give up her room for other guests...
WHAT IS A FAIR SCHEDULE AND TASKS?
Your routine week should not require more than 30-35 hours of help. During school holidays or if you have a sick child, your au pair should be flexible to help out more, in exchange for extra time off another week or some extra pocket money.
Tasks should be fair and balanced, an au pair should not be the only family member to tidy or wash up. If your au pair cooks a meal a couple of nights a week, a parent should clear up after dinner and vice versa.
HOW WILL MY AU PAIR MAKE FRIENDS?
Making friends from all over the world is an important part of the exchange program. We aim to introduce your au pair to other au pairs soon after arrival. We have an active Whatsapp group for au pairs and organise regular au pair events.
At weekends, most au pairs organise to meet up and explore the city together or go to the beach.
A great way for your au pair to make Australian friends is to join a local (sports) club or team.
WHAT FOOD SHOULD WE PROVIDE?
Your Au Pair should eat most meals with your family. If you are going out, for example at the weekend, just make sure that your Au Pair knows what she can make for herself, this could be bread, cereal, spreads, cheese, pasta ect.
It's a nice touch to offer your Au Pair a few items of her choice to your shopping list, without adding to your food bill. For example a certain type of cereal.
Luxury food items can be bought by the Au Pair from her pocket money. Explain clearly which items are reserved for lunch box (individually pre-packed)
WHY IS THERE AN AU PAIR SHORTAGE BETWEEN MARCH AND JULY?
Most of our Au Pairs are from Europe and studying (or teaching!) and in an academic year rotation. They have exams from April - July and then take a year out to come to Australia on the Au Pair program.
In the quiet months, we sometimes have EXPERT au pairs who are already working as a nanny in the UK, Canada, USA or Ireland.
EXPERT au pairs are in high demand as they tend to be more experienced and often native English speakers. There is a higher placement fee and higher pocket money expectation.
HOW DO WE CATER FOR A VEGETARIAN AU PAIR?
Some of our Au Pairs are vegetarian. We always expect them to be willing to cook and feed meat and refrain from comments about their motivation to your children.
Most vegetarian Au Pairs do not have vegetarian parents and are quite capable at cooking their own simple meals.
Also, it is a good idea to have a box of vegetarian burgers in your freezer and simply replace meat with a veggie burger to save time and effort!
WHAT DO AU PAIRS DO IF THEY HAVE A LOT OF FREE TIME?
It's a fine line between your Au Pair being 'overworked' or not having enough to do and being bored!
Some families have school age children or child(ren) in daycare and the au pair mostly helping for a few hours in the morning and again afternoon/evening. Some Au Pairs in this family situation may take on volunteering or additional work, for example a couple of lunch time shifts in a local cafe. Please discuss that your family should have priority, for example if a child is sick and can't go to daycare/school, your family needs come first.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR AU PAIRS TO HAVE MOST WEEKENDS OFF?
The Au Pair program is about two very important things, one is a welcoming host family and the other one is about making friends from all over the world and the experience of 'Aussie Life'. We introduce your Au Pair to other Au Pairs nearby to help them make friends quickly. Au Pairs then often explore together, usually at the weekend as this is generally their free time. If they have a Monday off instead and no friends to 'hang out' with, this could get quite lonely. And if they are always missing out on Au Pair get-togethers, they may feel disconnected...