When it comes to childcare, families are understandably reserved in terms of hiring someone. The risk of leaving just about anyone with your child is huge, and you want someone that is trustworthy to watch over them. This is where the Aupair program comes in because it matches you with a trustworthy person that has been vetted by agencies and accepted into the program after a professional recruitment process.
That being said, finding Aupairs in Melbourne isn’t easy, and those that don’t understand what the position entails still err on the side of caution. So, let’s look at how it works, what the costs associated with it are, and why you should definitely go for it!
Aupair Australia Program
While you’ve probably heard of nannies or babysitters, Aupairs are a lesser-known category of workers that do a very similar job. Typically, an Aupair would be a young person from overseas that wants to go to Melbourne in order to learn or improve their language skills and spend time living with an Australian family.
When compared to both nannies or a babysitter, an Aupair has more responsibilities towards the families. Yes, their primary responsibilities are childcare, but workers are also expected to do some light housework duties as well. We’ll get to the responsibilities in a minute.
In exchange for childcare, Aupairs are given a place to live in Melbourne and a monthly allowance that would cover any personal costs, for example. While in Australia they’re usually given a one-year Working Holiday Visa, but that doesn’t mean that they would be working for the duration of it. Some of them choose to save some of the money and cover the costs of travelling for a month or two before they need to head back home.
Melbourne is an incredible place to live in, from the beautifully clean environment and magnificent weather to the people’s friendly overall attitude, which is why Aupairs often pick it as their destination. And with traffic being, well, not that impressive, families could use someone to take care of their kids that doesn’t have to travel to their home every day.
Something to note is that Aupairs aren’t exactly trained nannies. Some might have some knowledge and experience, but not all. This is why it’s usually not recommended that you leave children that are younger than 12 months with an Aupair. However, when you have an Aupair living at your home, it’s a matter of establishing trust and leaving your child with them, a few hours at a time.
There are situations which Aupairs are perfect for, and one of them is before and after school care. This kind of care can be an expensive endeavour for families that want childcare, but Aupairs arrangements usually keep costs down while you still get a trustworthy person looking over your child.
The Responsibilities of an Aupair
It is worth mentioning that the responsibilities of Aupairs in Melbourne tend to vary quite a bit. They depend on a few factors, but the key ones are the Aupairs age, the child’s age, and how the household is organised in general. It is usually left to the Aupair to adjust to the family’s schedule, and their responsibilities are split 80/20, where 80% of the time they do childcare and the remaining 20% goes to light housekeeper duties, mostly related to the child. Of course, this is something you as a family will discuss and arrange.
With that in mind, here are some of the basic responsibilities of an Aupair ( aupair ). For families, this is where you can expect them to help you, and for those looking into this position, this is what you should be well versed in:
- Waking up and preparing the children for school. This includes helping them wake up, wash and dress, whether that’s for school or daycare
- Helping the kids clean their room (and keep it clean) and make their beds. It is not an Aupairs responsibility to discipline children, but rather help them out with chores they should be doing on their own
- Preparing breakfast and lunch for the children. The kids’ dietary requirements should be kept in mind, and Aupairs tend to discuss meals with families to make sure the children get everything they need
- In some cases, Aupairs also drive the children to school or daycare. Of course, this depends on the age and whether or not they have a driver’s license and car, but as with most other things, it’s a subject of agreement
At this point, the children are probably out of the home and the Aupair can return to the home and take up some of the light housekeeping duties. Whether that’s putting away toys or putting away kid’s laundry, these are things that can be done while they don’t have any other responsibilities.
Then, it’s time to pick up the children from school and prepare a healthy afternoon snack. Some families will have after-school activities arranged for their children, and it is the Aupairs ( aupair )responsibility to take them there and/or pick them up when necessary.
Last but not least, helping children with their homework is another one of the responsibilities that parents usually “delegate” to the Aupair, and then comes the time to prepare the children for bed.
When are Aupairs the Perfect Solution?
Remember that Aupairs might feel uncomfortable at first in their new setting. It’s a cross-cultural experience where the Aupair may be away from their home for the first time, and they might feel uncomfortable or even a bit lonely until they adjust.
However, when you need someone that covers odd hours and provides the childcare flexibility you need, an Aupair is the perfect solution. They’ll take care of your children while you’re at work, which is one of the prime reasons to go for one.
If you want to make it a good experience for the Aupairs in Melbourne you’re considering, you should make an event out of their arrival, give them a pleasant place to live in and make sure you’re patient and friendly until they adjust. And when they do, you’ll enjoy the experience just as much as they will!
Nanny jobs in Melbourne
There are many nanny jobs in Melbourne with decent salaries, families like single parent, job holders and parents who need help to take care of their children heir the nanny. Melbourne is such a city where many job holders need nannies and babysitters to take care of their children so the opportunities for nanny jobs in Melbourne are higher.
Frequently asked question around the public
How much does nannies cost in Melbourne?
*There is no specific amount of salary for nanny jobs in Melbourne, but average hourly cost is in between 26$ to 40$ still as per requirements of family and agency the price will fluctuate.
How many types of nanny jobs in Melbourne?
*Commonly there are three types of nanny jobs in Melbourne full time, part time and casual. These job types vary from company to company and paid by hourly.