Au pair in Australia
Au pair in Australia
Official Au Pair in Australia Program Information
There is no official program to be an au pair in Australia, however you are able to work as an au pair in Australia under the Working Holiday Visa or the Work and Holiday Visa programs. These programs allow young people between the ages of 18-30 (at the time of application) to have an extended holiday, which is supplemented by short-term employment. Citizens of certain countries qualify to participate in the Working Holiday and Work and Holiday programs in Australia (see below). There are eligibility requirements and certain conditions you must meet in order to participate in these schemes.
Au pair in Australia Mandatory criteria
Working hours, free time and holidays
Accommodation and meals
Language skills and course
Insurances
Visa InformationWorking Holiday Visa (Subclass 417)
To be an au pair in Australia, this visa is suitable for people from the following countries: Belgium, Canada, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan and United Kingdom.
The Working Holiday visa allows you to stay in Australia for up to 12 months, however you may only stay with the one employer (i.e. a family) for up to 6 months. You are allowed to do any kind of work of a casual or temporary nature and are allowed to study for up to 4 months.
Further information can be found at: http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/working-holiday/417/
Work and Holiday Visa (Subclass 462)
This visa is suitable to be an au pair in Australia for people who have tertiary qualifications, or have successfully completed at least two years of undergraduate university study from the following countries: Bangladesh, Chile, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Turkey (only 100 granted annually) as well as for US citizens who have graduated from High School or completed an equivalent qualification. Citizens of Iran who are currently in Australia on a Work and Holiday visa may also be eligible to apply for further Work and Holiday visas.
The work and Holiday visa allows you to stay in Australia for up to 12 months and the purpose of this visa is to allow you to work temporarily to supplement your travel. You are allowed to work as an au pair in Australia with each employer for up to six months however you are not allowed to work for longer than six months in the same position, in the same location, doing the same work. The six-month work limitation applies to full-time, part-time, casual or shift work. You are also allowed to study for up to 4 months.
Further information can be found at:
http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/working-holiday/462/
Note: You may also apply for a student visa to be an au pair in Australia, please visit:http://www.immi.gov.au/students/students/chooser/ for more information.
Citizens of New Zealand can work as an au pair in Australia without restriction, as long as they meet certain requirements.
Additional Information
We recommends the host family contact the ATO to discuss whether or not they are obliged to withhold tax from an au pair's pocket money. If they are required to do so, the au pair will need to apply for a tax file number and depending on which state the family lives in, they may also be required to pay worker's compensation insurance.
If you are an Australian family who wants an german au pair, or a german au pair who is looking for a host family in Australia, you may also want to check out AuPair-Assist.de / Aupair-Assist.com. Anja provides a great service in ensuring that the german au pair is well prepared for their time as an au pair in Australia.
Official Au Pair in Australia Program Information
There is no official program to be an au pair in Australia, however you are able to work as an au pair in Australia under the Working Holiday Visa or the Work and Holiday Visa programs. These programs allow young people between the ages of 18-30 (at the time of application) to have an extended holiday, which is supplemented by short-term employment. Citizens of certain countries qualify to participate in the Working Holiday and Work and Holiday programs in Australia (see below). There are eligibility requirements and certain conditions you must meet in order to participate in these schemes.
Au pair in Australia Mandatory criteria
- An au pair in Australia must be 18-30 at the time of application
- Be outside Australia when you apply and when your visa is granted
- Not have previously entered Australia on a Working Holiday (417) visa
- Not have previously entered Australia on a Work and Holiday (462) visa
- Be applying no more than 12 months before you intend to travel to Australia
- Not be accompanied by dependent children at any time during your stay in Australia
- Have sufficient funds
- An au pair in Australia will be paid between AUD$150.00 - $250.00 per week
Working hours, free time and holidays
- An au pair in Australia works 35-40 hours a week which may include 2 nights of babysitting
- If you have entered Australia on a student visa, please be aware that you can only work a maximum of 20 hours per week
- An au pair in Australia gets approximately 2 days off per week, but this may vary from family to family
- We recommend free time and holiday arrangements be clarified with your host family prior to departing your home country and make sure the arrangements are put into your contract
Accommodation and meals
- An au pair in Australia will have a separate bedroom in the family home and be provided with 3 meals per day
- The cost of the return airfare and visa is paid by the au pair
Language skills and course
- To be an au pair in Australia, the ability to speak basic English is advised but not a pre-requisite
- It is not mandatory to enrol in a language course as an au pair in Australia
- 12 months maximum, with a 6 month maximum per family
Insurances
- Travel and Medical Insurance is to be paid by the au pair before departing their home country, unless you are a national of a country that has a reciprocal health care agreement with Australia. Note: limited health care cover, not travel insurance cover
- The Australian Government has signed Reciprocal Health Care Agreements (RHCA) with the governments of the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Norway, Slovenia, Malta and Italy which entitles you to limited subsidised health services for medically necessary treatment while visiting as an au pair in Australia. See this link for more information:http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/public/migrants/visitors/uk.jsp
- As an au pair in Australia, job duties will vary from family to family. Some families will require only childcare, however we have found that most families will require childcare and a combination of light housework, pet care, driving duties, shopping and errands and so on. Please clarify your job duties with your host family and have it put in writing in your contract.
- You should be able to drive as an au pair in Australia provided you have a full, infringement free driver's licence. We recommend obtaining an International Driver's Licence from the relevant driving and licensing authority in your country. You must still travel with your licence from your home country
- If an au pair is required to drive the car as part of their duties, the host family will provide appropriate insurance for that vehicle. We recommend the au pair sight a copy of the insurance policy prior to departing their home country
- Discuss with your host family what happens if you have a car accident, who pays, and have your agreements put in the contract
Visa InformationWorking Holiday Visa (Subclass 417)
To be an au pair in Australia, this visa is suitable for people from the following countries: Belgium, Canada, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan and United Kingdom.
The Working Holiday visa allows you to stay in Australia for up to 12 months, however you may only stay with the one employer (i.e. a family) for up to 6 months. You are allowed to do any kind of work of a casual or temporary nature and are allowed to study for up to 4 months.
Further information can be found at: http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/working-holiday/417/
Work and Holiday Visa (Subclass 462)
This visa is suitable to be an au pair in Australia for people who have tertiary qualifications, or have successfully completed at least two years of undergraduate university study from the following countries: Bangladesh, Chile, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Turkey (only 100 granted annually) as well as for US citizens who have graduated from High School or completed an equivalent qualification. Citizens of Iran who are currently in Australia on a Work and Holiday visa may also be eligible to apply for further Work and Holiday visas.
The work and Holiday visa allows you to stay in Australia for up to 12 months and the purpose of this visa is to allow you to work temporarily to supplement your travel. You are allowed to work as an au pair in Australia with each employer for up to six months however you are not allowed to work for longer than six months in the same position, in the same location, doing the same work. The six-month work limitation applies to full-time, part-time, casual or shift work. You are also allowed to study for up to 4 months.
Further information can be found at:
http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/working-holiday/462/
Note: You may also apply for a student visa to be an au pair in Australia, please visit:http://www.immi.gov.au/students/students/chooser/ for more information.
Citizens of New Zealand can work as an au pair in Australia without restriction, as long as they meet certain requirements.
Additional Information
We recommends the host family contact the ATO to discuss whether or not they are obliged to withhold tax from an au pair's pocket money. If they are required to do so, the au pair will need to apply for a tax file number and depending on which state the family lives in, they may also be required to pay worker's compensation insurance.
If you are an Australian family who wants an german au pair, or a german au pair who is looking for a host family in Australia, you may also want to check out AuPair-Assist.de / Aupair-Assist.com. Anja provides a great service in ensuring that the german au pair is well prepared for their time as an au pair in Australia.
