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| Why use a reputable au pair agency |
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This opinion piece has been contributed by Michelle Hunder, from the Cultural Au Pair Association of Australia and JCR Au Pairs and Nannies
Would you hand over your children, house and car keys to a stranger you only shared a few emails with? Would you let your young adult daughter pack her bags and move in with someone on the other side of the world she just met online? Of course not! You can organise almost anything on the internet, but an au pair placement should always be done with help from the experts.
Au pair agencies provide an experienced, third party oversight of placements between a family and au pair. They will ensure both are screened, check references, provide support throughout the placement, and arrange a replacement if it's just not working out.
Without a reputable agency to turn to, families and au pairs are putting themselves at unnecessary risk.
Au pair numbers are growing in Australia, as families look at wider options to meet their child care needs. However, the increase of ‘d-i-y' online options for families and au pairs to find each other is creating a growing challenge for the industry. Stories of dissatisfaction, exploitation and worse seem to abound lately in the media and over water-coolers. While these online options may seem time and cost-effective, the resulting risks aren't worth it.
Families and au pairs should use an agency that is a member of the major industry associations – CAPAA (Cultural Au Pair Association of Australia), or IAPA (International Au Pair Association). This ensures the agency's commitment to the highest industry standards, and that everyone has someone to turn to for help when things might not be going as planned.
Reputable agencies generally provide the following benefits:
Safety - screening both au pairs and families, such as references, skills assessment, identity and police checks.
Support – checking to make sure the placement is working for both au pair and family, and providing a contact person to turn to during the placement. Support can include helping an au pair to make new friends, overcome homesickness, or arranging a replacement if things are not working out.
Expert knowledge – visas, any regulatory requirements, advice on duties, hours and pay, and plenty of other tools to help families and au pairs manage their placement together.
Peace of mind - everything is put in writing between family and au pair to cover their placement. Au pairs sourced through agencies tend to show a greater commitment to their host family, and are willing to consider longer stays which is better for bonding with the children.
Cultural exchange – a reputable agency will help guide families through the cultural exchange aspects of hosting an au pair, with practical ways to include your au pair as a member of the family.
Taking your au pair to a wildlife park on the weekends, sharing favourite dishes, or celebrating your au pair's birthday creates lasting memories. Helping to create a rich and rewarding placement that ends with a lifelong friendship between family and au pair, is the goal of every reputable au pair agency!
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