The Au Pair program in Australia is not yet administered by the government, so the rules are mainly taken from the international Au Pair program. There are general principles that Au Pairs, Host Families and local Au Pair associations should respect.
Au Pair responsibilities in Australia
The Au Pair’s duties include childcare tasks, for example: picking up the kids from school, tidying up the kids’ room, preparing some simple meals for the children and helping with the homework. Simply being a big sister or brother for the kids.
Being an Au Pair has nothing in common with being a cleaning lady! The participant should take a part in the general household chores, but on the same terms as other family members. That’s the concept of the Au Pair program.
Discuss all the details before the stay begins and sign the contract. It will be an important point during the visa application and it will help clarify the exact scope of responsibilities.
Host Family duties in Australia
The Host Family must provide the Au Pair with proper accommodation - the applicant must have a cosy, private room and access to the rest of the Host Family’s place.
The Host Family should also provide the participant with at least 3 full meals per day. In fact, the Au Pair, as the Host Family’s member, should enjoy the meals along with the family.
In return for childcare, the participant should receive pocket money. The Host Family needs to pay the Au Pair on time and ensure that the amount is sufficient.
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Working hours
As there are no official Au Pair program rules in Australia, the exact number of working hours should be in the contract.
The number of working hours may vary between 10 and 40 hours per week; nonetheless, usually it’s roughly 25 - 35 hours. Babysitting hours are included in this time.
Au Pair salary in Australia
The recommended hourly wage is 7 AUD. That will sum up to 175 AUD per week for 25 hours or 245 for 35 hours, respectively 790 AUD or 1100 AUD per month.
Tax will be withheld from the Au Pair's pay and they'll be obligated to lodge a tax return each year.
From January 1, 2017 the first AUD 37,000 of a working holiday maker's income are taxed at 15%. There are two different kinds of tax though, so please check the information on the website of the Australian Taxation Office.
Holidays and free time
Discuss the time off and holidays before signing the contract. We recommend at least one day off in each week, and at least one Sunday in each month. The participant should discuss the exact schedule with the Host Family and plan the free time. Include the babysitting hours in the work time.
Discuss the holidays in detail as well - the recommended time of the holiday break is 2 weeks per 6 months of the stay. If the Host Family and the Au Pair spend a holiday together, clarify if this is a part of the participant’s holiday or not. Mention this clause in the contract!
Accommodation
The participant should stay in a private, cosy room at the Host Family’s place - it’s a fundamental requirement of the Au Pair program all over the world and in Australia as well.
Furthermore, the Host Family needs to provide the participant with at least 3 full meals per day. The Au Pair doesn’t have to pay anything for the room, nor for the full board with the pocket money. This is only for the participant’s personal expenses.
Language course
The participant can enroll in an English language course while being in Australia. The applicant should cover the language course cost. It’s also possible to discuss this with the family.
Travel cost
To become an Au Pair in Australia the participant most likely need a visa. So the applicant will need to prove that he/she has enough savings and can cover the travel expenses. Nonetheless, it is possible to discuss with the Host Family if they are willing to share these costs with the participant! We recommend doing any refunds only after the Au Pair’s arrival.
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