The rise of the modern nanny

By Lauren Brown, Vice President of the Australian Nanny Association

When most people hear the term nanny they associate the profession with icons like Super Nanny - Joe Frost, Mary Poppins or the fabulous Fran Fine but why do all the nanny icons come from the more established nanny industries in the USA and UK? There is no denying that the Australian nanny industry has had a long way to grow but for those of us working within the sector we know the Australian industry is very much on the rise, especially over the last five years.

One thing that Australia has going for it is its established and (mostly) working early childhood education and care industry. The government subsidy helps make it an affordable option for working parents. However, families experience long wait lists and educators are constantly fighting for higher pay rates, these factors (among others) are resulting in families and educators seeking alternatives.

The Australian Nanny Association is the peak body for the nanny industry, listening, speaking and advocating on behalf of our agency, nanny and family members. Over the past five years we have seen a 500 per cent increase in our member numbers, hosted a sell-out, nationwide annual convention and witnessed a rise in professional development opportunities for nannies; to further extend their skills.

From this the ANA has been able to step into the arena of government stakeholder meetings, discussions with governing bodies like Fair Work Australia and the Australian Taxation Office and at endless media opportunities, representing nannies even further.

The positive change to the industry from this progress is promising. The most recent being the changes to the In-Home Care (IHC) Rebate changes that are being implemented by the government on 1 July this year. The ANA is proud to see the government aligning nanny quality standards to a higher level for parents wanting to receive care for their children.

The biggest of these changes is the introduction of a mandatory qualification. From 1 July, for the first time ever, any nanny working under the new IHC system must hold or be working toward a minimum of Certificate III in Children's Services. While there is no denying that there are some exceptional unqualified nannies out there who have built a career out of experience, the ANA welcomes this introduction as we believe it is an important step in the right direction. Just like early childhood centres and family day care providers, we are looking forward to our industry becoming more professional and regulated.

The changes will mean more jobs, higher pay and better employment standards, which will make being a nanny a more viable career choice for those wanting to work with kids. We look forward to centre based educators making the switch for a change of scenery and to explore a new, more intimate role in supporting children and families.

It's also refreshing to know that nannies are becoming an increasingly attractive alternative for families when considering the best care options for their children.

Based on the exponential changes of the last five years, we are incredibly excited to see the evolution about to take place in our industry. We hope more Australian families explore nanny solutions in their home to truly experience the magic a nanny can provide.

Watch this space Australia…