One of the countries that attracts a lot of people: Australia. It’s an incredible destination for an au pair experience, with its landscapes so different from France, its atypical culture, its exotic flora and fauna, and so on.
Find out more about au pairing in Australia and the role of the au pair in an Australian host family.
Conditions for becoming an au pair
First of all, a quick reminder about the criteria for leaving as an au pair: there are a few requirements to be met.
Going to Australia
You have to meet a few additional criteria to be able to travel to the other side of the globe:
- If you'd like to be an au pair for between 6 months and 1 year, it's always better to leave for as long as possible.
- A sufficient level of English is necessary, and a minimum of A2 to B1 is preferable.
- Have a clean criminal record.
- At least 200 hours of experience in babysitting, tutoring, animation, etc.
- Not married or with children.
PVT visa application
There isn’t really an official au pair program in Australia, which is why you don’t apply for an au pair visa like in most countries, but a Working Holiday Visa or WHP.
Eligibility requirements for the PVT visa
As long as you meet all the above criteria, you can submit your application, but only if :
- You are between 18 and 30 at the time of application.
- You have a valid French passport.
- You have sufficient financial resources: AU$5,000 (€3,500).
- Take out health insurance for the entire duration of your stay.
- Meet the health criteria required by Australian Immigration.
- Not be accompanied by dependents.
- Not have already participated in the PVT Australia program.
Being an au pair in Australia
Your role with your Australian family will be to look after the children throughout your stay, including tidying their rooms. You’ll also take part in certain communal tasks (putting things in the dishwasher and/or washing dishes, emptying garbage cans, looking after pets, etc.).
In return, you’ll be provided with food, accommodation, your own room and a bathroom to share with the children and/or your own bathroom, and paid an average of AUD 280 per week for 25 to 40 hours’ work, including babysitting.
An au pair stay in Australia is an experience that many young people dream of. It can also be frightening to be so far away from one’s family. But Australians are generally very welcoming! Having an au pair host family would be an excellent option for free accommodation and visiting the country in your spare time, especially as Australians love to share their culture.
To sum up, an au pair placement in Australia is :
- Food, lodging and clothing;
- Work around 30 hours a week (up to a maximum of 40);
- Participate in small household tasks related to children and family life;
- Be paid about $280 AUD per week (about €186).
The au pair contract in Australia
Since Australia doesn’t have an au pair program as such, there isn’t really an official contract for au pairs. That’s why we advise you to contact your agency.
In this contract, you’ll need to include your hours of work, including babysitting, your salary, your daily duties, etc. Everything concerning your stay with your host family. It’s a good idea to talk about your days off and/or weeks of (paid) vacation in advance, and to include these in the contract too.
Why Australia for an au pair stay?
Going to Australia means a change of environment, culture, flora and fauna. You’ll leave your comfort zone for an incredible experience that will enhance your CV. In fact, in addition to improving your English, an au pair stay gives you enough free time to visit and try out the activities available in the surrounding area:
- The country is famous for water sports such as surfing, canoeing, etc., but you can also practice aerial sports (parachuting). How about a day at the beach and a swim near the Coral Reef?
- The landscapes are magnificent and varied. You can go from a view of Sydney, Melbourne or Adelaide, to a desert landscape, especially in the center of the country.
- Australia is also home to kangaroos, koalas and many marsupials, not to mention emus and ostriches. Animals you won't see in their natural habitat in France.
Au pairing in Australia is your chance to experience total immersion. It’s also an opportunity to become more independent, to strengthen your ability to adapt, and so on. Other skills that will be very useful in the world of work.
