Online Babysitter Websites - CareforKids.com.au®

Online Babysitter Websites
Are you taking a risk with your kids and their carers in order to cut costs?

Recently we received a message from one of our nanny / babysitter agencies with a note regarding how some clients have been taking advantage of their trust, particularly over the Xmas holidays, and booking their babysitters direct behind their backs. While we of course understand that some people find agencies' fees high and are tempted to avoid them, once again this month the downside of booking babysitters through un-vetted sources has reared its head and only serves to underline the importance of the role agencies play in keeping our children safe and ensuring carers' safety is not compromised…

A few weeks ago CareforKids.com.au was contacted by police in Queensland who were looking for the website source following a report from a parent who had used a DIY babysitter-finding website, but couldn't remember the name. The parent reported that the nanny they had hired from the website was involved in activities of a sexual nature with the children.

This website wasn't CareforKids.com.au as we only use vetted nannies and sitters booked through reputable agencies.

However the call did once again reiterate that despite warnings from organisations, media and the police, people are still happy to employ babysitters and nannies through websites that are un-protected or un-vetted, where listed carers could be anyone or unscrupulous people posing as parents could be preying on innocent babysitters.

We've previously run stories on nannies and babysitters being harassed by unscrupulous men using online babysitting adverts as a way of contacting women for other reasons, highlighting the importance of using agencies to avoid the risk of unscrupulous attention to babysitters and nannies and also under-experienced or non-screened child carers.

As well as potential danger to child carers, the fact these sites are not secure also means many parents are taking a risk with unscreened nannies in order to cut costs.

Websites offering free postings for babysitters and "nannies" with direct links to their details and contact information are not only encouraging unscrupulous individuals to contact nannies and babysitters advertising their services, they are also encouraging anyone to put up their details, undermining and undercutting those who are experienced and professional.

Agencies listed on CareforKids.com.au have spent a lot of time and effort over the years to help nannies and babysitters be accepted as professionals and for their commitment to caring for children (either due to their years of experience working with children or extensive study in child care and related fields) to be taken seriously.

While most of the nannies and babysitters on online babysitting service websites may well be trustworthy, the vulnerability of those with details on the sites and the risk some parents are taking in trusting the information on these sites is a very real issue that needs to be addressed.

For more info read our article Security - reference & background checks.

For more information on security reference and background checks which outlines the various legal requirements and resources available in each state and territory click here.