Hosting Families

Hosting an overseas live-in Au-pair has many benefits for families who require some help looking after their children. These include the children are cared for in their own environment, care is focused on their needs and at more flexible times. Many families find an extra pair of hands is very helpful around the busy hour of meal and bath time or getting children off to school.

It is also very cost effective and can be used by families with children of all ages. Hosting an Au-pair will provide a unique opportunity for your family to learn about another culture which can be immensely rewarding.

For those families who require an Au-pair to help with the children but also need help with specialised skills such as computer work, web design etc we may be able to find someone who can do this work for you too. Payment for this specialised work would have to be negotiated.

AU-PAIRS

Au-pairs are young overseas students without any formal childcare qualifications. They can be between 18 and 30 years of age. They live with an Australian family as part of a cultural exchange to improve their language skills. They need to be treated as a member of the family and must have their own private bedroom with full board and must be free to attend English class for 10-15 hours per week.

TYPE OF HELP

It is important that the family’s expectations are outlined in clear detail to the Au-pair before an offer is made to join the family. This is a list of typical duties to consider:

• setting / clearing the table

• cooking

• making school lunches

• school drop off and pick up

• trips to the park

• playing with the children

• bath time help

• art and craft with children

• laundry

• vacuuming

• changing bed sheets

• ironing clothes

• cleaning, be specific

• other house duties, be specific

• night babysitting

WORKING HOURS AND RATES OF PAY

The amount that the Au-pair works is negotiable between you and the au pair. Work is typically during the day from 7.30am until 9.00am and from 3.00pm to 7.00 pm. Some families with younger children will organise a combination time spent with the au pair and other day care and require a little less help on some days and longer hours, or even an entire day on others. The average payment rates offered to Au-pairs are full board plus $7 per hour for each hour worked.

ACCOMMODATION

The Au-Pair must have her own bedroom and preferably only share a bathroom with the children. The Au-Pairshould share all other areas of the house with the family and be provided with all meals as well utilities such as electricity and gas free of charge. The Au-Pair must pay for any personal or long distance phone calls. It is worth bearing in mind that the more comfortable the Au-pair is in your home, the more successful the host period is likely to be.

COST

Registration with Coolum Christian International College is free. The placement fee is $100 but this is not payable until both parties have come to an agreement.

PLACEMENT PROCEDURES

1. Please complete the application form.  We require that you have a blue card and would be happy to arrange this.

2. We will confirm we have received your application and will process it.

3. Profiles are forwarded to you by email as soon as we have an applicant(s) that you might be interested in.

4. You will only be able to contact the au pair you are interested in through us. If necessary, we will translate all correspondence to and from the Au-pair.

5. Once you make an offer to the Au-Pair and she accepts, you will be required to pay the placement fee and the English tuition fee. We will then issue a Certificate of Enrolment into Coolum Christian International College which will help the Au-Pair in the visa process.

6. We will issue you with a receipt for the fees which confirms that you agree to our terms and conditions.

7. We are available for support and any questions you may have for the entire duration of the Au-Pair placement. The average time it takes from acceptance of an Au-Pair till the Au-Pair arrives in your home is between 2 and 4 months.

MANAGING THE RELATIONSHIP:

Treat the Au-Pair like you would like to be treated in someone else’s home or you would like your children to be treated if they were to go on an overseas cultural exchange. Families generally expect the Au-Pair to get emotionally involved with their children, to be a role model like a friend or big sister and to be creative and help to provide fun and stability for the whole family. At first it is best to include your au pair in all your family activities. You will find that after a few weeks they will settle in and make their own social arrangements with friends.

Be aware, for an Au-Pair, coming to Australia is one of the most expensive choices as Australia is one of the few countries where Au-Pairs have to pay their own fares & insurance. (USA families offer full return airfares). Also, once they are in Australia they could earn better money in other jobs. An Au-Pair would be living with your family because they want to. We strongly suggest that you treat them as a member of your own family. 
Ensure that your “Duties List” is detailed, listing all the requirements and be strict about the working hours. Do not be tempted to treat your au pair as if she is always on call. Be patient and supportive during the early adjustment period. Compliments and thanks for things that went well will often be very effective. Although Au-Pairs must have a reasonable level of English before they can be placed, they are from a different culture and it is easy for misunderstandings to occur. It is best to sort out these out as they arise. The most common placement failure is a result of a build up of misunderstandings and lack of communication.

Terms and Conditions

• Coolum Christian International College provides the service of placement of Au-pairs into host families as part of the English + Au-Pair program.

• The Contracts is made between the host family and the Au-Pair.  CCIC has no part in the contract.

• CCIC provides free guidance, counselling and interpreting services for the duration of the Au-Pair’s contract.

• The placement fee of $100 is non-refundable.

• English Tuition fees are not refundable once the Au-Pair has arrived at the host family’s residence. Should the Au-pair not arrive, English Tuition fees are 100% refundable.

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