I am currently doing an au pair in Australia, and I am enjoying it a lot.
I will tell you about the general process, but will get more into detail about my experience in Australia because I can’t exactly tell you what it is like in other countries.
https://whatconnectsworldwide.com/what-i-like-about-au-pairing/
In that post I talk about why I like being an Au pair, but here I want to talk about how you can get started first.
Au pair: “A young foreign person, typically a woman, who helps with housework or childcare in exchange for food, a room and some pocket money.”
The first step should be finding a host family.
You should have decided what country you want to do your au pair in.
I was lucky and got a great family through a friend who stayed with my host mums sister a few years ago.
I informed myself on ways to get a host family before getting that family though and hear a lot from other Au pairs, how they got their host families.
These are some ways to get a host family.
- Look in Au pairing Facebook groups
In Australia, it is really common to use Facebook for everything.
If you plan on doing an au pair in Australia, I can definitely recommend to look for a host family on there.
You can look for groups like “Au pairs Australia” or “Au pair and put in a concrete region you want to live in” and twist those words around to find some groups to join.
Families put posts up to look for an Au pair, and you can write them, or you can put a post up that you are looking for a host family.
You might want to text more than one family to see which one is the best fit for you.
(When you know your area, those groups are also great to put a post up that you are looking for friends that are also au pairs in the area)
- Search on websites
There are websites that work like on Facebook where you and the family can post about themselves, and you can text each other.
Some websites might also search for similar interests.
The website I had a look on when I was searching for a host family was
I didn’t end up posting or texting anybody on there.
There is another website for general jobs with free accommodation that I am using for farm work, where I just work for accommodation.
There are also some families that are looking for Au pairs on there, and it might be worth a shot having a look at the families on there.
The website is called
- Go through an organisation
I know that in some countries like the US you can only do an au pair through an organisation.
They are helping you with your visa and formal things, and you have a bit more security if there are any problems.
It will be more expensive than doing it private because you will have to pay them for their work.
Sometimes they are looking for host families for you and help you if you want to change host families.
I have never had any moment though where I wish I would have gone through an organisation.
I am quite happy I did it private.
When you are in contact with some families, you should have video chats with them to see which one you would get along with the best.
https://whatconnectsworldwide.com/questions-to-ask-your-future-host-family/
This a blog post about questions you can ask in your “interview”.
You can have multiple video chats with families you feel good with and make a decision what family you like the most.
The families might be talking to other Au pairs too, so let them know you are seriously considering them.
Also, it would be good if you have a first aid certificate that you can show your final host family.
When you found your host family, the most exciting part is over and the rest is formal stuff you have to organise.
These are the things you should think of.
- Have a contract with your host family
This is for your own security.
Make them write down your working hours, your wage, and some general information about their family.
It might be good to write down that if you are to change your host family you are able to stay at their house until you find a new family, so you don’t get kicked out and have to find hostels to sleep at.
That just ruins a good au pair experience.
Make them sign that contract and also sign it yourself
- Get a visa for that country
You will have to get a visa that allows you to work in that country.
In Australia, it is a working holiday visa.
That visa should be issued in a few hours to some days.
Be sure you fulfil all the requirements for that visa.
Sometimes you have to have certain vaccines and a certain age.
- Get a travel insurance and international health insurance
That point is really important.
I had to use my travel insurance multiple times and am really happy I have a good one.
A health insurance is super important as you never know if you are going to be involved in any accident where you need urgent care and that can get pretty expensive without a health insurance.
There are other insurance types you could get if you want to, that could come in handy, that are not necessary though, like a baggage insurance or a cancellation insurance.
- Get a flight to your destination
When getting a flight to your destination, make sure it is at a time when you can get picked up from the airport, or you are able to get to your final destination.
Sometimes you also have to be able to show that you have enough money to fund a flight out of the country, or you already have one.
When I book flights, I like to have a look at these websites
https://www.skyscanner.com
https://www.opodo.com
This should be all the steps you have to think about before going abroad as an Au pair.
The last steps are packing your bags and saying goodbye to family and friends.
This is so exciting, and you will have a great time with another family, new friends and getting to know another country and culture.
If you have already done an au pair and have more tips and websites you can recommend, you are more than welcome to comment them!