Aupair Overview

It takes a village to raise a child! For many, an Aupair makes up part of that village. It’s something every family from Australia and anywhere else in the world considers a necessity when they want to make their lives easier.

This naturally begs the question, what is an Aupair? Is it something you should be considering at all? What kind of responsibilities does an Aupair have? Would hosting Aupair be right for our family?

If you are working full time, paying for childcare mainly out of your own pocket then a flexible solution, like Aupairs could be the way to go!

Aupair Meaning

Aupair refers to “a young person (mostly from overseas) who helps with housework or childcare, in exchange for food, a room, and some pocket money as part of a cultural exchange.” At 99aupairs we also developed a program called GYMPY to offer local families to host local Aupairs. More on this here.

International Students could also be an Aupair, or better Demipair, as they are only available part time with studies taking precedence. Many of them study early childcare. They have similar duties to Aupairs with the limitations of availability of up to 20 hours per week. Their goal, apart from experiencing the culture, is gaining more experience with childcare and improving their English skills.

Most Aupairs tend to use a month or two of their time for travel, which is a part of the whole pairing and education experience.

We had Aupairs stay with their families for up to four years (Demi Pairs) and locals (GYMPY) who are with their families well beyond the 12 months. Your classic Aupairs tend to stay with their host families between six and 12 months.

The Difference Between Aupair and Nanny

Now, something that you should keep in mind is that there’s a difference in the Aupair vs nanny debate. An Aupair is not a nanny. Actually, in most cases, they will have little to no training in terms of childcare. This isn’t a written rule and there are definitely exceptions, but you shouldn’t expect someone that has years of experience to show up at your doorstep. For this reason, we do not recommend that you leave babies who are less than 12 months old alone with the Aupair. We advise to that you take a few days to show your new Aupair the ropes before leaving them along with your children until you feel they have established a bond with your children.

What is the role of an Aupair?

What exactly is the Aupair’s role and what are their responsibilities? In most cases, it’s a matter of splitting it between childcare and light household duties. The Aupair takes care of the children in the morning and afternoon and does some light household duties when the children are at school or daycare.

The responsibilities begin in the morning, with the Aupair waking up and preparing your children for school (or daycare). They wake the children, help them with the morning routine, prepare their breakfast. They should also help them make their bed and keep their room clean, which are all things children should be doing on their own (depending on age) but sometimes need a bit of motivation for. Aupair’s may also to take their host children to a school or a daycare.

While the children are away, the Aupair usually does child-related household duties such as tidying up after breakfast. These are all easy, simple tasks that keep the home tidy.

In the afternoons the Aupair tends pick up the children from school or daycare and prepare them an afternoon snack. Some families have after-school activities for their kids, which can be Aupair’s responsibility also. Depending on the childrens ages, play and support with home work could form part of their tasks.

Last but not least, they prepare your children for the bed to end the day. Your aupair cares for your children in the comfort of your home even if you are running late from work. No more stressing about the call from childcare to pick up your sniffly child and scrambling for alternative childcare for the next few days.

An Aupair Is Not a Be All End All solution

The goal of an Aupair experience is a cultural exchange, not having an employee. As a family that has an Aupair living at home, it is your responsibility to make them feel welcome, make them feel part of the family. As a host family you should get them to experience your life as you live it. It should be a learning experience for both you and them.

At the end of the day, if you’d like to give someone the opportunity to live in your home and care for your children, having an Aupair is arguably the best way to do so. You won’t find the flexibility with other arrangements.

Is an Aupair the right fit for your family?

Not sure if an Aupair would suit your lifestyle? Simply book an Assessment Call here and we can walk through your individual scenario.

Reviews

    
 
 
        
   Sarah Reid 
 2024-03-21
 
 
  Really lovely family. So accommodating and friendly. Would love to have stayed longer :) thank you!
  
 
       
   Hailey McCallum 
 2024-03-11
 
 
  My journey as an au pair in Australia wouldn't have been as incredible without Irene’s caring touch. The process was surprisingly simple, the team showed genuine empathy, and their ongoing support made sure every moment down under was nothing short of amazing! Thumbs up for making it feel more like a family than just an agency!
  
 
       
   Kiran 
 2024-03-09
 
 
  Irina has been really great and thorough in helping get me this job and is very good with organising the meetings I had with the family so they could get to know me! The hiring process has been very speedy and I appreciate the little things in communication that were done to make this a nice experience before arriving to the host home. Additionally she has been checking up with me via WhatsApp and emails which is really nice !:) I recommend 99aupairs
  
 
       
   Kim Watson 
 2024-03-09
 
 
  Irena was amazing. I was desperate for a job quickly and she ensured I got one as soon as possible and she aided me with all the paperwork.
  
 
       
   Simone Angela 
 2024-03-08
 
 
  Irene were very helpful and made sure everything went smoothly. Highly recommend 99aupairs!
  
 
       
   Ffion Hooker 
 2024-03-05
 
 
  Irene was excellent at helping me find an Au Pair placement, she has great communication and really made the process easy for both myself and my new host family. I have had a great experience :)
  
 
       
   lauren White 
 2024-02-28
 
 
  Irene and team have no been amazing to work with! I'm so grateful for the help I am able to receive.
  
 
       
   Katie 
 2024-02-27
 
 
  I have been incredibly lucky with the placement 99AuPairs found for me. I was impressed with how smooth and simple the recruitment process was, and how supportive they were to both me and the family I am places with. Couldn’t recommend this more, especially with no hidden fees, and continued support! Great for people wanting to explore but have the comfort of a warm and welcoming family home to come back to.
  
 
       
   Elisa Guggeri 
 2024-02-05
 
 
  I'm grateful for the help that the agency gives me. They help me with the documents. They talk clearly and I appreciate that. They support me with my choices and help me to understand the contract. After my arrive in Australia they are here to ask me if I am good with the family
  
 
       
   Candy Templeton 
 2024-01-12
 
 
  Very happy, polite & friendly experience. 99 Au-Pairs saved me soo much time trying to find the right person for my family. Can’t fault them & my au-pair is perfect for us. Would highly recommend to all mum’s out there… soo easy, the best experience. Thank you
  
 
  
  
 
 
   Google rating score: 4.9 of 5, based on 139 reviews