INFORMATION FOR FAMILIES IN AUSTRALIA

AU PAIR
An Au Pair Plus is normally a single person, male or female, aged 18 years or more. They are here primarily to improve their language and cultural understanding as well as being an extra pair of hands.

An au pair’s duties might include washing, ironing, light house-work (vacuuming, dusting, washing dishes), meal preparation, taking children to and from play-group/school, and otherwise helping with the children (feeding, bathing, creative activities, homework). As an au pair they can work for up to 25 hours per week, usually 5 hours per day, with usually two days per week completely free, including Sunday.

They will usually receive 200AUD per week or more depending on the location, and they will get free lodgings and meals.

AU PAIR PLUS
Sometimes the normal 5 hours a day or 25 hours may not be enough for a busy family with two working parents. An Au Pair Plus will still not take care of a baby under the age of two for regular long hours.

An Au Pair Plus is normally a single person, male or female, aged 18 years or more. They might help with children and light household chores for around 30 hours per week. While an Au Pair Plus can work longer than a normal au pair, the hours should be kept to 30 hours per week during term time where possible, to enable them to attend language classes if you wish.

Normal Au Pair Plus duties include childcare, preparing light meals for the children, tidying, washing and ironing for the children, light housework such as dusting, sweeping/mopping and vacuuming, cleaning the kitchen or bathroom. Jobs which are not considered routine light housework include wiping down skirting boards and paintwork, polishing brass or silver etc. Your family will give you a timetable and the total number of hours they expect you to work. Traditionally the Au Pair’s work is at least 50% child related, so any variation on this needs to be discussed and agreed with you in advance.  Au Pairs should not be asked to mow the lawn, do gardening, clean cars either inside or out or to clean outside windows, except by prior agreement. Some male Au Pairs may be willing to undertake such tasks instead of doing indoor housework. We recommend that an Au Pair Plus should not be asked to clean any place of business or any home other than the host family’s.

The payment they will receive is from 240AUD per week depending on the location, and they will get free lodgings and meals.

MOTHER’S HELPER
A mother’s helper is prepared to work for longer hours.

Normal working hours would be a maximum of 40 hours a week with weekends free. A mother’s helper may also care for a baby or young child, but only if they have experience or qualifications. Be aware not many au pairs come with this experience. The timetable and responsibilities for a mother’s helper will be agreed with the agency beforehand.

The payment they will receive is from 300AUD per week depending on the location, and they will get free lodgings and meals. If they come with 50 hours of experience with babies, they will expect from 350AUD per week.

1. You submit the application form.
2. When we receive it we will ask you to send us a family photo by email. We will send you a reference form to be completed by a church leader.
3. You return it with 120AUD non-refundable deposit, which can be dome by Paypal or Bank transfer.
4.  We look for a suitable candidate.  The speed at which we can work depends on demand and your own particular needs. We look to match the right person into your family with similar interests or church background to yourselves.
5. We email details of relevant girls to you. If you are initially interested you may telephone the au pair or email. This must be done within three days, to be fair to other families who may be waiting.  The au pair will not be offered to another family during this period of time. After this she may be offered to another family. It is important at this stage to communicate with the agency to give your impressions and feelings about the Au Pair. If you are not happy another may be offered immediately to you.
6. You set a date for the girl to arrive and a finishing date (which can be tentative.)
7. You need to explain to the girl exactly what duties you will expect her to perform. You should suggest a timetable and confirm what you will pay her.
8. You need to confirm to the agency whether you are needing a standard au pair or au pair plus or mother’s help.
9. The Au pair will pay their own  travel costs to Australia and back to their own country as well as any Language Courses they may wish to attend  ( unless, of course,  you choose to make a contribution or give initial financial support). However it is important that you find out the name of the nearest place offering Language tuition and the costs involved hourly. You may decide how many sessions the Au Pair can attend according to your family needs and priorities but this will need to be verbalised before the Au Pair makes any final decision to live with you.
10. You must pay the full placement fee before the commencement of the contract with an Au pair. No travel arrangements should be made until the full fee is received by the Agency. We cannot offer support without the payment being made on time.
11. In case of early termination (by either party) the Agency will offer an alternative Au Pair that is available at that time within the guarantee period of time.
12. If either party wishes to terminate the contract, two week’s notice must be given. During this period of time the Au pair should be allowed to continue to live with the family and should carry on normal duties and receive pocket money as usual. The Au pair must not be made to leave immediately unless criminal activity has taken place in which case the Agency and the Police must be informed. (This has never happened!)
13.  After the arrangement has been agreed by both parties, Christian Au pairs will immediately invoice you. The invoice may arrive well before the arrival of the Au pair but should still be paid so all details are totally finalised.
14. We are on the end of a phone at any time in the arrangement to provide advice or support for you or the girl.

• A family should give the au pair a private room of their own which is clean and comfortable.
• The family should give help to find local classes where the au pair can learn English. The family should enable the Au Pair to visit places of interest and to take part in social activities. The au pair will need to pay for tuition at English classes unless the family choose to support the training. The family will need to make sure that travel arrangements are agreed before the au pair arrives and a letter of invitation is sent to the au pair prior to arrival.  It is helpful for the family to meet the au pair on arrival but this is not always possible if the family live at a great distance in which case alternative arrangements should be made on arrival to Britain. The au pair pays for the air fare to Britain. But you should arrange their onward journey.
• Au pairs usually stay in Australia 6-12 months. Most Au Pairs are prepared to start in August-September. However there are some applicants throughout the year for different periods of time.
• After 6 months in a family the Au Pair is entitled to five days paid holiday at an agreed time. If they are staying for one year it would be ten days. The au pair could save her holiday entitlement and have two full weeks paid holiday at the end, to visit other parts of Australia.
• It is important that any holidays taken by the family should include the Au Pair if she wishes. If this is not possible, other mutual arrangements should be made. It is suggested that Au pair take off public holidays along with the rest of the country. If it is necessary for the Au pair to work during this time it is a nice gesture to either pay extra pay or time off in lieu should be given. Au pairs may remain in the family home during holidays if desirable.
• We can arrange for au pairs to change families provided the new arrangement continues to meet the requirements by law and is authorized by Christian au Pairs. But the agency should be informed of any difficulties early on. No consideration can be given if an au pair leaves a family unless the agency has been given an ample opportunity to find a solution.
• It is good to encourage the au pair to get a pay-as-you-go mobile phone. Girls benefit greatly from the use of the internet to keep in touch with family and friends. However, be aware if the au pair is not getting a social life as they will likely become homesick.
• Most Au Pairs who come to the Australia are away from home for the first time and are adjusting to a new language, a new environment, new customs that may be totally different to that they are used to. They may feel homesick at first! Families should be understanding during this period and should try to help the Au pair adjust to their new surroundings. Should problems persist we would appreciate you contacting our Agency and raising your concerns. Families should be aware that some Au pairs come to Australia to learn English and you should be willing to help correct mistakes in speech.
• Please be aware that at certain times of the year there are shortages of Au Pairs. This tends to fall between November and February and although we do our very best to help you it is advisable to be aware of the situation should you decide to change Au pairs during that period of time. Even so, we have girls available every month.