If you dream of the great Australian outdoors, surfing the waves or pampering kangaroos and in addition you enjoy taking care of little darlings, then go ahead: apply for a working holiday visa and find a family host for which to work as an Au Pair.
What are the official criteria for becoming an Au Pair in Australia?
There is no special Australian government program to come as an Au Pair to the country. The conditions for becoming an Au Pair are therefore quite flexible, unlike in the United States for example. However, you need a visa to enter Australia. You can therefore apply for a working holiday visa which will allow you to work and travel in Australia for 1 year.
Conditions related to the working holiday visa
Age: Be between 18 and 30 years old
Length of stay: Under the working holiday visa, you are not expected to work for more than 6 months for the same employer. However, it is possible to request authorization from the Australian government to extend this period if you do not want to change families.
Your working holiday visa is valid for 1 year. You can apply for a second working holiday visa. For this to be accepted, you must have completed at least 3 months of “specified work” in agriculture, construction or the exploitation of natural resources during your 1st working holiday visa. In other words, if you plan to stay 2 years in Australia doing Au Pair missions, don't forget to allow 3 months with another professional activity to be eligible for a second year in Australia.
Number of hours per week: An "Au Pair" in Australia works between 25 and 40 hours per week with his host family, with one day off.
Visa Requirements: One of the peculiarities of getting an Australian Working Holiday Visa is that you have enough resources to support yourself in the country and be able to pay for transport to you out of the country. The indicative amount is set at AU $ 5,000, or approximately € 3,100.
Family situation: The working holiday visa is only issued to one person at a time. In addition, if you go as an Au Pair, you cannot impose your spouse or your children on your host family.
What are the additional criteria put in place by Au Pair agencies?
Au Pair placement agencies usually have additional requirements, often imposed by the selection criteria put in place by Australian host families. We find in particular:
1. Level of English: A minimum level of English is essential to go as a young Au Pair in Australia. You should be able to introduce yourself to the family in English but also understand their requirements and discuss them if they are not suitable for you.
If your level is really low, it may be difficult to bond with your Australian host family. In addition, some agencies test your level before placing you in a family. Don't panic, they also offer courses to upgrade you before starting your mission.
2. Behavior and appearance: Smoking is almost eliminating for all families. Having a criminal history is also a point that can make your file difficult to accept. You must also leave with an extract from your criminal record. If you have facial piercings, you may be asked to remove them.
3. Personality: Some agencies turn the selection on the personality of the candidate. They are looking for open and enthusiastic people, which fits the Australian character. Indeed, Australians are not fond of introverted people.
4. Specific skills: Having the license is not compulsory but is highly appreciated by families especially with young children. To be able to drive on Australian territory, you must have an international license or, failing that, an official translation of your license into English.
You will be asked to justify your childcare experiences, especially if you present the BAFA diploma. Certain agencies impose a justification of 200 hours of care with a special mention indicating that these hours were not carried out within the family framework.
Awareness of first aid or the PSC1 diploma (Prevention and civic assistance level 1) will give you an advantage in finding a host family. Parents are primarily looking for someone capable of handling the situation in the event of an accident or a sick child.
5. Health examination: Some agencies require a medical certificate attesting that you are physically and psychologically fit to babysit.
Translated from etudionsaletranger dot fr
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