There are multiple ways you can find a job as an Au Pair in Australia. Working as an Au Pair in the land down under is a great way to live like a local, save a bit of money, and see more of the country. There are multiple ways to find a host family on your own or you can use one of over 30 different Au Pair agencies that will place you with an Australian host family. To learn more about working as an Au Pair in Australia and how to find a job, keep on reading.
Photo Credit: Christopher Burns
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Working as an Au Pair in Australia: What to Know
Requirements to be an Au Pair in Australia
To work as an Au Pair in Australia you need a Working Holiday VISA or a Student VISA that allows you to work part-time. The requirements to obtain these VISAs determine your eligibility to work in Australia as an Au Pair. Usually the requirements are; be between the ages of 18-30 (up to 35 for some nationalities), be unmarried, have no dependents, and be able to communicate proficiently in English.
How to Find an Au Pair job in Australia
To be an Au Pair in Australia you can find a host family on your own or use a placement agency. The following sections within this post will provide detailed information on these topics; How to Find an Au Pair Job in Australia on Your Own and How to Find an Au Pair Job in Australia by Using a Placement Agency.
How Much Money Can You Make as an Au Pair in Australia?
There is no set working wage for Au Pairs in Australia because room and board are included in your compensation and this rate varies. The money you make will also depend on your agreement with the family and how many hours you work per week. Generally, Au Pairs in Australia usually take home $200-$350 AUD per week.
How Many Hours Will You Work as an Au Pair in Australia
Usually Au Pairs in Australia work between 20-40hrs/week, 5-days/week. However, your work schedule, hours per week, and days off, will completely depend on your agreement with your host family. This, along with your tasks and duties, should be discussed and agreed upon before you sign a contract and agree to work for a family.
Perks of Working as an Au Pair in Australia
An Au Pair job will allow you to work and live in Australia for up to 12 months. Depending on how you budget, you can save some money or use the money you make to travel around the country on your days off. Since you will be living with an Australian family, you get an inside look at Australian culture that you may not be able to experience by just visiting the country as a tourist.
Photo Credit: Jonathan Gallegos
How to Find an Au Pair Job in Australia on Your Own
Where to Find an Au Pair Job in Australia
If you want to find a host family on your own there are several ways to do so;
Use Au Pair Specific Websites
You can create an Au Pair profile and search for host families on Au Pair websites. I personally recommend using Au Pair World. There are also, these 9 Au Pair websites you can use to find a host family on your own.
Use Australian Job Specific Websites
You can also search the classified sections of websites that hire people with working holiday VISAs such as Seek Australia or one of these 14 websites to find jobs in Australia.
Use Work Exchange Websites
Lastly, you can search for paid Au Pair jobs on help exchange websites like Workaway or one of these 10 work exchange websites.
How to Apply to Become an Au Pair in Australia
To apply to become an Au Pair, you will create an account on one of these websites and make a profile. You will search for host families in Australia who are looking for an Au Pair during the dates you are available. Then, you can reach out to the families you think would be a good match for you. Be sure to have lengthly conversations, including at least two facetime/zoom interviews, to make sure you both agree to the role(s) you will play as their Au Pair, meet the children, know what your living situation will be, how much you will be compensated, and more. Once you have found a family, make an agreement/contract. Then, obtain the proper VISA and head to Australia!
For more detailed assistance with the application process, see the How to Find a Job as an Au Pair on Your Own section of; How to Find a Job as an Au Pair Abroad.
Related Posts: How to Fill Out Your Au Pair World Profile
Pros and Cons of Finding an Australian Host Family on Your Own
It is a lot easier to find an Au Pair job on your own than you may think, especially in Australia. There are lots of Australian families that use these websites to find Au Pairs, so you should have plenty of options. Finding a family on your own means you do not need to pay a fee for job search assistance, but it can also mean more effort on your part and no one to have your back if you arrive in the country and you and the host family do not get on well.
Photo Credit: Corinne Kutz
Use an Agency to Find an Au Pair Job in Australia
If you want assistance finding an Au Pair job in Australia, then there are numerous placement agencies you can use. Each agency offers different programs or packages for perspective Au Pairs. Some are free for Au Pairs but most do charge program fees. These fees can include VISA assistance, host family vetting, profile assistance, family matching, etc... To view and compare these agencies, scroll to the Au Pair Placement Agencies section below.
Agency Fees and What is Provided
Agency fees vary depending on what they provide their Au Pairs. Most fees do not usually include things such as; flights, VISA costs, background checks, international drivers licenses, health insurance, other traveling costs, etc... It is important to understand the breakdown of the fees you will need to pay and what is included or excluded in those fees.
How to Know if an Au Pair Agency is Legitimate
To make sure and Au Pair agency is legitimate you need to do your research. Read past Au Pair reviews on third party websites, find out if they are certified, see if they have legitimate partner agencies, and check if they are a member of accredited Au Pair associations such as the International Au Pair Association.
Pros and Cons of Using an Au Pair Placement Agency
Safety, support, and assistance with transitioning abroad are some of the reasons you may want to use a placement agency. Agencies do the bulk of the work for you by helping you find a family they think will be a good match. They walk you though what you need to know, how to obtain your VISA, provide assistance while abroad, and more. They also make sure you receive proper payment and the agreed upon benefits of the job. However, placement agencies require you to pay fees and it may be easier and faster to find an Australian host family on your own for free.
30 Au Pair Placement Agencies in Australia
The placement agencies below offer Au Pair job placements and programs in Australia. Each agency has different placement fees, packages, and perks. Compare and contrast the following agencies to find the best one for you.
Au Pair Network offers placements in Australia with program fees of AUD $650.
Au Pair Care Australia offers placements in Australia with no service fees.
99 Au Pairs offers free Au Pair placements in Australia.
Intrax offers Au Pair placements in Australia with program fees of €990.
Dream Nannies offers free Au Pair placements in Australia.
Go Au Pair offers Au Pair placements in Australia. There is an application and placement fee but fees stated.
ACEXPLORE offers Au Pair placements in Australia. Must inquire for fees.
Aupair Girona offers Au Pair placements in Australia. Must inquire for fees.
Celtic Childcare offers Au Pair placements in Australia with program fees of €500.
Yellow Au Pairs offers Au Pair placements in Australia with program fees of €400.
Christian Au Pairs offers Au Pair placements in Australia with a registration fee of €30 and a matching fee of €150.
Au Pair International offers Au Pair placements in Australia with placement fees of $495.
Au Pair Butrfly offers Au Pair placements in Australia. It is free to sign up and connect with families on your own. A certified profile is €49 and the assistance package is €345.
AFJ Au Pair offers Au Pair placements in Australia with a management fee of €150 plus €300 for placement.
Au Pair Care offers Au Pair placements in Australia with program fees of €990.
Go 4 Au Pair offers Au Pair placements in Australia with program fees of €550.
The Cultural Exchange Project offers Au Pair placements in Australia with program fees of $789.
International Au Pair offers Au Pair placements in Australia with program fees of €390 for a short stay and €490 for a longer stay.
Club RCI offers Au Pair placements in Australia but fees are not explicitly stated.
Zubke offers Au Pair placements in Australia with program fees of €380.
APITU GO EXPLORE offers Au Pair placements in Australia with a registration fee of €120 and a placement fee of €250. They offer a 'gold' placement for €600.
A.I.S. offers Au Pair placements in Australia with a registration fee of €122 and a placement fee of €340.
JCR Au Pairs and Nannies offers Au Pair placements in Australia but placement fee is not stated.
Pipelettes Agency offers Au Pair placements in Australia with a registration fee of €200 and a placement fee of €250.
Roma Au Pair offers Au Pair placements in Australia. Must inquire for fees.
Anixi offers Au Pair placements in Australia. Program fees are SEK 6,700 (about $630 USD).
AIFS offers Au Pair placements in Australia for EU citizens only. Program fees start at €1,190.
Active Abroad offers Au Pair placements in Australia for German citizens only. Program fees are €499.
Au Pair Japanese Connection offers Au Pair placements in Australia for Japanese citizens only. Program fees are 10,2750 yen.
Adanac Au Pair offers Au Pair placements in Australia for Canadian citizens only. Program fees are unknown.
Conclusion
Working as an Au Pair is a great way to work and live in Australia. You can find an Au Pair job on your own by using Au Pair specific websites, Australian work websites, or work exchange websites. Or, if you would prefer, there are at least 30 placement agencies that can help place you with a host family in Australia. Whichever you decide, finding an Au Pair job in Australia is a lot easier than you think. If you have worked as an Au Pair in Australia, please share how you found your host family and what your experience was like in the comments below.
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