Au Pair

Au Pair Frequently Asked Questions
 
If you have decided to become an Au Pair then we are extremely happy that you have chosen this profession! It is a great way for you to go around the world and experience many different cultures, as well as get the chance to receive free accommodation for your efforts and live with some extremely loving families who really need the help. It is also a great way for you to start your career in the nanny industry if that's what you are after, and it will always make you capable of expanding your resume for other potential employers down the track. But as you try and get yourself into the Au Pair business we are sure you have all sorts of questions that you are looking to be answered, and this is what this page is here to help you out with! There are so many things that can be answered but we have compiled a few for you here now so that you will be better suited in finding the correct information you need! They aren't called 'frequently asked questions' for nothing so read on to hopefully answer all the questions you need answered!
 
Do I really get free accommodation simply by looking after another families kids?
Of course you do! That's what's so great about being an Au Pair! The fact that you can get yourself a free room, simply by offering your services as a live in nanny, really sells itself doesn't it? There are so many potentially great things you can experience when you go to the other side of the world and you have the chance to do it for nothing more than the cost of an airplane ticket. And with plane tickets not being as expensive as they once were, it gives you a great opportunity to do a job for a very cheap price!
 
If I am working all the time, I'll never get to see the parts of Australia I want to right?
Wrong! Just because you are there to work, doesn't mean you won't ever get any free time! In fact you will find that you will be only working about 4-5 hours a day, so that will leave you with time to do many other things! Maybe you want to go to your nearest cities and explore them, or take a bit of a trip to see some amazing Australian nature? You could even ask your host family if you could go on a holiday in Australia itself and experience some unique areas of this unique country!
 
Is all I have to do looking after kids or will I be required to do something else?
That is all dependant on what the host family wants. You will find that your main duties will be looking after their kids, but you will also find you will probably have to do some general house hold cleaning jobs like washing the dishes and taking out the rubbish, as well as feeding the animals if they have any and doing other tasks that they ask of you. You should never refuse to do any of the jobs they ask you to do either as you are a guest in their house and you are there to work, so it's pretty much a given that you will have to help out more.
 
So is it true that the only money I will have to pay is my plane ticket to Australia?
Nearly, you will also have to pay a small fee to us of $250, a fee that will be returned to you after the successful completion of the stay at your host family. Other than that you will find that some host families may give you some weekly 'pocket money', but we suggest you come with your own money so that you may catch buses and do some further travel when you are in Australia. And you can also bring home lots of souvenirs for your family when you get home!
 
I will feel sad and lonely if I don't get to talk to my family back home. How can I talk to them?
Your host family will generally provide you with access to the internet as part of you staying with them which is usually the cheapest way of communicating with your family. Here you can do video calls online or email them photos and stay up to date with numerous types of social networking. They may also let you use their phone, so long as you pay for the international phone calls you make. It may be a lot cheaper for you to purchase a pre-paid phone card that would allow you to know exactly how much credit you have when it comes to making the phone calls. You would obviously then have to work out the time difference between Australia and your home country.
 
How long will I have to be an Au Pair for?
This again is all dependant on what your host family requires. They may want you for a very short amount of time or a very long amount of time; you would have to check this over with them before you start your stay. If you want to extend your stay, you could always check with the host family if this is ok, or if possible you can always try and get another Au Pair job directly after the one you will do at first. Always make sure you check how long you will be there for so you can work out everything prior to travelling there.
 
Being an Au Pair is an amazing experience, and one that is something you should try out at least once in your life! Getting to see other countries such as Australia will really brighten up your day, and the potential to also experience Australian family life will also give you an amazing thrill. So why not give it a go now? Fill in the application form on our site and you can get started TODAY!