Au pairs are typically young women recruited to assist with child care and light housework in exchange for free housing and a small stipend. Au pairs in Australia can stay with their host families for as long as they want and are given a 12-month Working Holiday Visa. Many au pairs, however, travel the world after their visas expire.
Remember that au pairs are not professional babysitters and may lack experience with children. Never leave a baby under the age of 12 months with them. Those with children over 12 months may take turns caring for them as long as both the parents and the au pair are happy with the arrangement.
Hannah Holt
After children reach school age, au pairs are frequently used for before and after-school care. Depending on the family's circumstances, the au pair may work during the day while caring for the children. This article answers the question of how much an au pair costs. Continue with the reading to learn more about the au pairs!
What Does An Au Pair Do Daily?
The au pair's responsibilities will shift as the children grow older and the family dynamic changes. Communicating your requirements and developing a routine that works for everyone is critical. The au pair should spend more than 80% of her time caring for the household's children, while the remaining 20% is spent on light housework.
Although each family has its rhythm, the following general outline of what an au pair's day might entail.
- Wake up the kids for school!
- Their help is needed to get the kids ready for school or childcare.
- Assist the children by making their beds and cleaning up their rooms.
- Make a filling breakfast for the kids.
- Make lunches for children and transport them to and from school or childcare.
- While the kids are at school, complete some minor chores such as laundry or weekly vacuuming.
- Organize the students
- Make a nutritious snack.
- Transport the kids to and from their after-school activities.
- Assist the students with their homework.
- Prepare the kids for bed.
Every au pair requires daily time to unwind, recharge, and pursue their interests. They should be guaranteed a certain amount of vacation time each week. Au pairs in Australia work 30 to 35 hours per week and have weekends off.
If a family requires their au pair to work on a Saturday, they should compensate the au pair with an extra day off during the week.
How Much Does An Au Pair Cost?
You can find Au pairs through a variety of government-sponsored programs. A student enrolled in these courses will typically pay around $10,000.
This hefty fee is frequently paid upfront, though payment plans can be arranged if requested. The host organizations for au pairs agree for visa sponsorship, conduct background checks and interviews, book their flights, and provide them with an orientation and training program upon their arrival (au pair meetings, events, help with transitions, and questions for both the family and the au pair, etc.).
The minimum amount each host family must pay their au pair is $195 and 75 cents per week (though more is always appreciated). Furthermore, host families must provide food and housing for their au pairs, adding $50-$150 to the weekly budget. (Expenses for feeding her and yourself, extra cleaning supplies and electricity for an additional adult, and so on.)
Your host family will pay $500 to cover the cost of the educational component of the program. You may give them extra if you want them to take more classes or a specific class that counts for credit and costs more money.
You will also be driving them to and from these events (on weekends, nights, or when your kids are at school). You can pay cash for an Uber or Lyft, drive for the company, or use your vehicle. After all, you're the one who has to drive them to and from school.
- The program costs around $10,000 per year.
- A year's salary for an au pair is $10,179. (After 52 weeks on the job, they get two weeks off for free.)
- Room and board range from $2,500 to $7,500 per year.
- $1,200.00 per year Budget for Travel
- Nowadays, the average price of a mobile phone is $850. $1,000 bonus or annual gift
The sum is estimated to be between $23,729 and $30,729.
The lower and upper bounds of this range will be determined by your location and the generosity with which you shower others. People usually spend about $1,000 per year on transportation for the au pair.
This includes Uber credits for her to get to and from lessons (mandatory), au pair program events/meetings, a local bus/train ticket (a bonus), and some other things she might need to do to help the family when all went together.
When you factor in extra fees, insurance premiums, and gas money, the costs of providing transportation for your au pair rise; some families will pay for a few weeks of driving lessons if the au pair agrees to transport the children.
Taking your au pair on vacation will raise your overall spending. All expenses are covered, including food, housing, and transportation.
If your au pair becomes ill or goes on vacation, you must pay for a babysitter or drop-in daycare, pay her more than the weekly stipend, and ensure she has necessities such as a cable box and toilet paper.
It's common knowledge that au pair programs offer the best value for money regarding child care in the Bay Area and other high-cost areas, but this may not be the case for every family.
It is not the most cost-effective option for a single child. Spending $25,000 to $35,000 on the au pair program, including salary and living expenses, is more expensive than putting your child in daycare.
Conclusion
Interacting with an au pair is similar to welcoming a new family member. If you take the time to get to know your au pair, she will become a valuable member of your family and your children's lives.
Au pairs become immersed in their host culture, learning the language and traditions.
Sharing housing with someone from a different country is a natural way to provide this for your children (and maybe with a foreign language skill level). Having an au pair assist you in this way is a fantastic perk.
