Au Pair Trip in Ireland 26th February 2017

Calling all our au pairs in Ireland:

OUR NEXT AU PAIR TRIP TO WILD WICKLOW

Our next au pair trip is on Sunday 26th February going to Wild Wicklow

Itinerary for the day: 
We leave at 8.45am from Stephen's Green Shopping Centre, Dublin
* Short Dublin City tour
* Coastal drive past DunLaoghaire Harbour, Dalkey and Killiney,
* Avoca Handweavers - Morning Coffee* and craft shopping
* Glendalough - We personally guide you through this enchanting 6th Century Monastic Settlement
* Pub Lunch - Home cooking in a traditional Irish Pub*
* Sally Gap Adventure - mountain lakes, wild heather and barren boglands (location for Excalibur, Braveheart and P.S. I Love You)
Arrive back at Trinity College at 5.30-6pm
Cost of the trip is €28 for Kangaroo au pairs and their friends. Please contact us at info@kangarooaupair.com to book your place before the 22nd February.
We are looking forward to seeing you then!

What does Brexit mean for au pairs?

Last Thursday, the referendum for Britain to leave the EU took place. As a result of this referendum many British host families and au pairs from the EU have asked what this means for the au pair programme. Up until recently young people from the EU could travel freely to the UK to participate in the au pair programme. For many years, they have been coming to the UK to enter into the au pair programme. The UK has long been a popular country for au pairs as they can improve their English, they have the opportunity to visit the many cultural sites and monuments throughout the UK and they can get to experience all that London city has to offer. For more information regarding the regulations and requirements for au pairs and host families in the UK see here.
There is a list of conditions and most of these conditions must apply in order for someone to be classed as an au pair. A central part of this list, is the requirement that the au pair live as part of the family and are here on a cultural exchange programme. The UK government sets out that an au pair lives as part of a host family and is given pocket money and the au pair is not usually considered to be an employee.
Following the result of the referendum, there has been much uncertainty as to the future of the au pair programme in the UK. Both the British au pair association BAPAA, and IAPA, the international au pair association have issued statements on the British referendum. Both have stated that they do not believe that the vote to leave the EU will affect Au Pairs for the foreseeable future.
Here in Kangaroo au pair we will also work hard to ensure that the very successful au pair programme in the UK is maintained. Currently young people from the EU, and those who have entered the UK on either a student or youth mobility visa can enter into the au pair programme in the UK. Over the years, thousands of young people have entered into the au pair programme in the UK.
We will continue to update you as more information is made available to us.

For more information regarding the au pair programme in the UK click here.

Other related articles:

Au pair visa information 

Am I eligible to be an au pair in the UK?

Au Pair Working Hours and Wages Ireland

*Au pair working hours and wages Ireland

A number of families and au pairs have asked us how many hours of work equate to a particular salaries. We have compiled the tables to help.  Please also note that the below hours have been rounded to the nearest hour and that the allowable weekly deduction of €54.13 per week has also been subtracted from the overall figure. For full information regarding employing an au pair please contact your financial advisor.

Minimum Wages for Au pairs:

From our understanding of employing an au pair the following minimum wages apply.

Au pair who is in her first year of employment: €7.32 per hour

Au pair who is her second year of employment: €8.24 per hour

Au pair who has worked for more than 24 months : €9.15 per hour

Other things to note:

1. Employments include employments in any country.

2. The majority of au pairs are young adults who have never worked before. If this is the case the minimum hourly wage of €7.32 applies.

Au pair in their first year of employment:

Salary of €100 per week equates to 21 hours of work

Salary of €125 per week equates to 24hours of work

Salary of €150 per week equates to 28 hours of work

Salary of €200 per week equates to 35 hours of work

Au pair in their second year of employment:

Salary of €100 per week equates to 19 hours of work

Salary of €125 per week equates to 22 hours of work

Salary of €150 per week equates to 25 hours of work

Salary of €200 per week equates to 31 hours of work

Au pairs who have worked for more than 24 months

Salary of €100 per week equates to 17 hours of work

Salary of €125 per week equates to 20 hours of work

Salary of €150 per week equates to 22 hours of work

Salary of €200 per week equates to 28 hours of work

For more information regarding employing a domestic worker please also see the workplace relations website publication Employing a domestic worker

*Please note that this article was published on the 16th June 2016. At the time of publication there was no au pair specific legislation in Ireland. However an au pair bill is due to be proposed to the Dail in the summer of 2016. For more information regarding the proposed au pair legislation see here.

Other related articles:

Proposed Au Pair Bill Ireland

Au pair status Ireland

Au pair programme Ireland

Template Au Pair Employment Contract

Au pair pocket money-the top 10 countries

Employers obligations and employee rights

Being an au pair in Italy

Au pair Brooke, tells us about her time as an au pair in La Bella Italia!

1    Why did you choose to go to Italy?

      I actually originally never thought I would end up in Europe.  I had many offers from Germany, France etc and then a few from Italy. The first person who contacted me was a lady from Italy and after talking with a few other families it seemed she had the best "deal" and so i thought... why not!

How long did you go for?

I went for 6.5 months- from early April 2015 to end of October 2015

Did you meet other au pairs when you were there?

In the city I lived in in Italy (Torino), there were so many Au Pairs! I met so many wonderful Au Pairs who I still keep in contact with. Torino is known for its great Au pair base. 

What did you find the most different about Italy compared to Australia?

I think the culture in general was very different to Australia. Everyone wanted to feed you with amazing food and wanted you to love Italy as much as they do. I also think that the mentality of Italian women was very different. They were very much traditional in the sense that they would be the housewife and their husband would work long hours in order to provide for their families. Everything also had to be perfect. Every household I visited, there was a specific way things were to be done- even in just setting the table. They fussed over little things that Australians would not even think twice about. 

What did you enjoy most about Italy?

The FOOD of course! I ate some of the best food in the world. It was definitely worth the few extra kilograms. Italy's architecture was absolutely incredible as well. Everywhere was beautiful, even if it was a little run down. 

What advice would you give to other au pairs thinking of going to Italy?

My advice- don't think that every day will be amazing. Sometimes it will be really hard, but its your friends you make that make it easier. Try your best to find other Au Pairs who you can relate to and even ones who you can travel with. Its more fun with friends!

 Brooke Woolley is 19 years old, from Brisbane Australia and spent 6months as a Kangaroo Au Pair in Italy.

For other related stories see the following:

au pair programme Italy

5 reasons to become an au pair in Italy

Irish au pair Siobhan's account of being a summer au pair in Spain

Spanish au pair Elena's video about being an au pair in Ireland

What is an au pair?

What is an au pair?

An au pair goes to another country to embrace both a cultural and for language acquistion while living as part of a family.  An au pair arrangement is considered to be a cultural exchange rather than an employment. An au pair will carry out some of the day-to-day duties of the family in exchange for pocket money and board. An au pair will usually eat meals with the family and go on some of the family outings.
Au pairs travel to another country to improve their foreign language skills and to gain a new cultural experience. Typically au pairs are young women between 17 and 27 years old, and up to 30 years of age in certain circumstances.
An au pair must get time off to attend English classes if they choose to do this. For more information please see Kangaroo Au Pair

Au Pair Definition:
We got this definition from the ever-brilliant wikipedia, the title comes from the French term au pair, meaning "at par" or "equal to", indicating that the relationship is intended to be one of equals: the au pair is intended to become a member of the family, albeit a temporary one, rather than a traditional domestic worker. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Au_pair

For our au pair agency service please contact KA Au Pair Agency

Other related stories:

WRC ruling on au pairs in Ireland March 2016

What to look for in an au pair?

Do I need to sign a contract with my au pair?

What is a live-out au pair?

Paghetta Au Pair. La classifica dei 10 paesi con la paga migliore

Una delle domande più frequenti che ci fanno le nostre au pair è a quanto ammonta l’importo a loro dovuto dalla famiglia ospitante. Per tale motivo tempo fa abbiamo stilato una classifica dei 10 paesi con la paghetta au pair migliore e abbiamo deciso di condividerla con le nostre au pair italiane.

Questa classifica si basa esclusivamente sull’ammontare della paghetta offerta alle au pair, ma vale la pena ricordare che in alcuni paesi la famiglia ospitante contribuisce anche ad altre spese che l’au pair deve affrontare quali le lezioni di lingua, l’assicurazione e i costi di viaggio.

Un altro fattore da tenere in conto è il costo della vita nel paese ospitante. Per esempio, un’au pair in Norvegia può guadagnare fino a 5.400 NOK (più o meno 567 €) al lordo delle imposte, mentre un’au pair in Cina guadagnerà almeno intorno ai 1.000 RMB (circa 137 €). Il costo della vita in Norvegia è molto alto e un’au pair può pagare anche 130 NOK (13 € circa) un pasto al McDonald’s, mentre in Cina lo stesso pasto da McDonald’s le costerà 30.00 RMB (4 € circa). La paghetta in Cina potrebbe sembrare troppo bassa, ma in realtà è più che sufficiente. La famiglia ospitante pagherà anche per le lezioni di mandarino, le spese per il volo, la scheda telefonica e la tessera per i trasporti pubblici.

È importante sottolineare anche il fatto che mentre in alcuni paesi esiste un programma au pair regolato dal governo, in altri non esiste alcuna regolamentazione ufficiale. In tali paesi dove l’ammontare della paghetta non è fissato dal governo, vi sono però associazioni au pair che danno raccomandazioni riguardo l’importo che la famiglia dovrebbe pagare alla ragazza alla pari. A seconda del paese, l’au pair può essere retribuita settimanalmente o mensilmente.

Ecco la nostra classifica dei 10 paesi con la migliore paghetta au pair*

10. Paesi Bassi – 300-340 € Nei Paesi Bassi esiste un programma alla pari regolato dal governo. L’ammontare della paghetta va dai 300 € ai 340 € al mese e l’au pair non deve lavorare più di 30 ore alla settimana. La famiglia ospitante dà anche un contributo di 320 € all’anno per coprire parte delle spese per il corso di lingua.

9. Regno Unito – 286-347 £ (circa 395-480 €) Nel Regno Unito non esiste un vero e proprio programma alla pari, ma l’associazione delle agenzie au pair britanniche (BAPAA) raccomanda un minimo di 70 £ - 85 £ per 25 – 30 ore di lavoro alla settimana.

8. Danimarca – 4.050 DKK (542 € circa) In Danimarca esiste un programma alla pari regolamentato dal governo e l’ammontare della paghetta è rivisto annualmente. L’ammontare per il 2016 è di 4.050 DKK al mese. Le famiglie ospitanti pagano le tasse per l’au pair, l’assicurazione e, nel caso l’au pair fosse extra-europea, pagano anche il viaggio di ritorno.

7. Irlanda 519-649 € In Irlanda non esiste un programma alla pari regolamentato dal governo, ma l’importo raccomandato da Kangaroo Au Pair va dai 120 € ai 150 € alla settimana per 30-35 ore di lavoro alla settimana.

6. Belgio – 450 € Il programma alla pari in Belgio è regolato dalla legge. L’importo minimo pagato alle au pair è di 450 € al mese per un massimo di 20 ore di lavoro alla settimana. Inoltre le famiglie ospitanti si fanno carico anche dei costi per assicurare l’au pair.

5. Nuova Zelanda – 650-995 NZD / 390-597 € In Nuova Zelanda non esiste un programma alla pari ufficiale, pertanto l’importo della paghetta au pair può variare. Di solito le au pair vengono pagate tra i 150 NZD e i 230 NZD (90-138 €) per 25-40 ore alla settimana. Tutte le altre spese (lezioni di lingua, costi di viaggio, ecc.) sono a carico dell’au pair.

4. Norvegia – 5.400 NOK (625 € lordi) In Norvegia esiste un programma alla pari regolato dal governo e al momento l’ammontare della paghetta è di 5.400 NOK lordi al mese. Le famiglie ospitanti norvegesi pagano anche l’assicurazione per l’au pair, le spese di viaggio e parte dei costi per il corso di lingua per un totale di 8.100 NOK lordi che corrispondono all’incirca a 848 €. Vi preghiamo di ricordare però che il costo della vita in Norvegia è altrettanto caro.

3. Australia – 866-1083 AUD (556-695 €) In Australia non esiste un programma alla pari ufficiale, ma di solito le au pair ricevono tra i 200 e i 250 AUD (circa 107 – 179 €) per 30/40 ore alla settimana. Tutte le altre spese (viaggio, lezioni di lingua e assicurazione) sono a carico dell’au pair.

2. USA – 847 $ (756 €) Negli Stati Uniti esiste uno speciale programma alla pari regolato dal governo. Il nome del programma è visto J-1. In base a questo programma le au pair non possono lavorare più di 45 ore alla settimana e hanno diritto a ricevere 197.75 $ alla settimana (circa 175 €) più 500 $ a fronte delle spese accademiche, di un corso di formazione in sviluppo infantile e dei costi di viaggio da e per gli Stati Uniti.

1. Canada – 1300-1732 CAD (845 -1125 €) Le au pair in Canada sono considerate come dei lavoratori dipendenti regolari (live-in caregiver), pertanto hanno diritto a ricevere almeno lo stipendio minimo garantito, a cui devono sottrarre i costi per l’assicurazione su lavoro, pensione e tasse sul reddito. Le ore di lavoro non sono regolate, ma di solito le au pair lavorano tra le 30 e le 40 ore alla settimana. È importante ricordare però che ogni provincia ha uno stipendio minimo diverso. In media le ragazze alla pari guadagnano intorno ai 10 CAD all’ora. Le tasse versate possono essere reclamate alla fine del soggiorno alla pari.

Altre destinazioni popolari che non ce l’hanno fatta a entrare nella nostra classifica sono: Germania, Italia, Francia e Spagna.

• In Germania le au pair ricevono una paghetta di 260 € al mese. La famiglia ospitante dà anche un contributo di 50 euro per le lezioni di lingua e paga l’assicurazione dell’au pair.
• In Italia l’importo della paghetta non è regolamentato, ma in linea di massima un’au pair riceve dai 250 ai 300 € al mese per un massimo di 30 ore di lavoro alla settimana.
• In Francia l’ammontare della paghetta au pair per il 2016 è di 264-316.80 € al mese. La paghetta au pair in Francia corrisponde al 75-90% dello stipendio minimo. Le famiglie ospitanti pagano anche i contributi sociali dell’au pair.
• In Spagna un’au pair può ricevere tra i 285 e i 327 € al mese.

Speriamo che queste informazioni siano esaustive. Per maggiori informazioni sulla paghetta au pair non esitare a contattarci a info@kangarooaupair.com, saremo più che felici di aiutarti!

*Gli importi sono aggiornati a febbraio 2016.

What will I buy for my Italian au pair this Christmas?

The perfect Christmas stocking gift for your Italian au pair!

What is ‘light housework’?

This is a question that we regularly get from host families and au pairs alike. As an au pair, you know that among your duties you will have to help your family doing some light household chores, but what exactly does this entail? 

Our advice is always to discuss your duties with your future host family or au pair prior to starting your placement. It is also recommended to include this information in the au pair contract. If, for example, your host family needs you to sweep the kitchen once a day, this should go into your au pair contract. This way you know that it is expected and if you feel that you are not happy to do it, you can tell this to your host family before your placement begins.

We recommend approximately 1 hour of light housework per day. Light housework is the everyday housework that a family would undertake everyday. These are not the jobs that you might do once per week or less. Remember an au pair's priority is to help to take care of the children.

Light housework that is suitable for an au pair:

• Preparing simple meals and snacks for children
• Keeping the kitchen tidy and cleaning the floors
• Loading and unloading laundry into the washing machine
• Hanging the laundry out and taking the laundry in
• Ironing the children's clothes
• Putting clothes away
• Vacuuming children’s bedrooms and communal areas
• Keeping the children's bedrooms tidy
• Making and changing children’s beds
• Keeping your own room/bathroom clean and tidy
• Doing light shopping (not the entire household shopping)
• Walking and feeding pets (if agreed beforehand)
• Washing dishes and loading/unloading the dishwasher

Housework that is considered not suitable for an au pair: 

• Gardening 
• Window cleaning 
• Gardening 
• Spring cleaning 
• Heavy housework such as cleaning out the oven 
• Cleaning pets 
• Washing the car 
•     Weekly shopping 
• Clearing up after untrained pets 
• Pet training 
• Cleaning and tidying the parents bedroom 
• Polishing
• Cooking the family meal, unless the Au Pair enjoys cooking and has chosen to do this for the family

We always suggest that au pairs and host families get in touch by phone or on Skype to get to know each other. This is a good opportunity for you to touch this subject with them and if you think that your family is asking too much, don’t be scared to let them know how you feel about that. It could be the case that your host family is unaware of what they can expect from you and they’ll be more than happy to adjust their expectations to what is normal for an au pair. Being open with your host family is the first step to have a great relationship with them!

The au pair and the host family should always bear in mind that an au pair's first priority is to look after their children and your family can only ask you to do some day-to-day household tasks, and these should mainly be related to the children. 

Top 5 Reasons to become an Au Pair

Today’s world has no boundaries. People travel everywhere. Many people will work in a number of different countries, make friends or even settle down with a partner of a different nationality. The world is becoming a smaller place and being able to communicate with people from different backgrounds and cultures and to adapt to different environments has become an essential part of life.

Becoming an Au Pair is a great way to interact with people from different cultures and backgrounds. It is also a great way to see a new country, experience its culture, learn a language, meet new people and very importantly have lots of fun!

Here are the top 5 reasons to become an au pair:

1. Learn a different language and a different culture

As an Au Pair you will be immersed in your host family’s culture and you will be speaking a foreign language all the time. Being an au pair is such a brilliant way to learn a language. While you live with a family, the children will speak to you in their language. You will be bombarded with questions and requests from the children and with all this talk, it will be very hard for you to avoid learning their language! You might even learn some 'slang' too! On top of this, you’ll get a real insight of their culture and to their traditions too. You will get the chance to eat with your host family. So with any luck, you will get to taste the national dishes. They may listen to traditional music and maybe even play the national sports. It is true that you could go to language classes and study the language and study the culture of a country but it will never be a substitute for actually living with a family and experiencing the language in daily use and experiencing the culture of a country.

2. Learn new skills

Being an Au Pair will give you the opportunity to learn new skills that will be of great help to you when you want to find a job in the future. Organising yourself between language classes, doing your homework, looking after the kids, dropping and collecting the kids from school will require you to learn how to prioritize and manage your tasks. Interacting verbally and in writing with your host family, your teachers and the admin staff of your language school will improve your communication skills, not to mention your language skills. The whole experience itself is a great asset to have in your CV, as it shows that you are adaptable, flexible, willing to learn and able to deal with other people.

3. Travel to different countries

Au Pairing is not all about learning and minding children, it’s also great fun! If you’re eager to discover the world outside your own country, this is a great way to do it. Many au pairs travel to other parts of their host country when they have free time or at the weekends. You might have met other au pairs who would also like to travel and you can organise to do weekend trips together. There are also many travel companies who organise day trips or short trips. As au pairing becomes more popular all over the world, there are  more and more host countries from which to choose waiting including Spain, Italy, Ireland, UK, Australia, France, Germany, USA and many more!

4. Make new friends

If you want to become an Au Pair, you’re not compelled to attend a language course. However, we strongly recommend that you sign up for a language course, particularly if your language skills are not at a proficient level. Not only will you learn a language during these classes, it is a really good way of meeting new friends from all over the world. You will be sharing this whole experience with them and some of them might become lifetime friends. You could plan future travels together or you might go and visit them in their home country and share new adventures with them!

5. Personal development

If you’re young, still living with your parents and haven’t travelled much, you’re probably still trying to figure out who you are and what you want. It takes time to find out our true self and one of the best ways to do it is to embark on a journey on our own, literally and metaphorically. Being an Au Pair will be hard at times, especially at the start when everything and everybody is new, but here is your chance to see how you react in these situations and to find out your strengths. So don’t miss this incredible opportunity and find the au pair programme that best suits you!

For more information about being an au pair, please see http://www.kangarooaupair.com/ie/au-pair-information or feel free to sign up to our website on www.kangarooaupair.com

Being an Au Pair in the UK

Do you dream of waking up with an English breakfast waiting for you, calling your friends from a red phone box, having tea in the afternoon, or diving into the past in Stonehenge? Then the United Kingdom is the place for you!

Au pairing in the UK is a great opportunity to improve your English and discover English culture living with your host family. As long as you’re between 18 and 30 years of age, without children and some level of English, you can be an Au Pair in the UK. 

In the UK there is no specific programme for Au Pairs, but you would usually earn between ₤70 and ₤85 pocket money for around 25-30 hours work per week. Your main duties would be looking after your host family’s children and doing some light housework in exchange of food and lodging.

When it comes to holidays and spare time, you will be entitled to 2 days off per week, which should be a full week-end once month, and 4 weeks of paid holidays per 12-months.

Travel expenses, English classes and medical insurance are not covered by your host family, so please make sure you have enough money to bear the costs of your trip and your language school. If you’re an EU citizen and have a European Health Insurance Card, you are already entitled to receive some health treatments for free in the UK, but if you are a non-EU citizen, you should get private medical and travel insurance that will cover you for the length of your stay. 

Non-EU citizens coming from Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Korea, Taiwan, British Overseas citizens, British Overseas Territories citizens and British nationals can apply for a Tier 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme) visa which has a validity of 2 years. In order to apply for this visa you should be able to prove that you have access to at least 1,890 GBP and have already a copy of your Au Pair contract signed by you host family.

Citizens from Hong Kong, Korea and Taiwan need to have a certificate of sponsorship issued by their government. It's important that you request it in advance as the number of places and sponsorship certificates is limited. After receiving the certificate you need to apply for your visa within 3 months.

Please note that you cannot apply for a Tier 5 Youth Mobility scheme if you are already in the UK or if you have already participated in the Youth Mobility scheme or in the Working Holiday Maker scheme before.

Non-EU citizens coming from different countries than those mentioned above can still apply for other visas, such as the Tier 4 (General) Student Visa.

We suggest you contact your local UK Embassy or Consulate to check what type of visa programme you should apply for to enter the UK. 

For more information about being an Au Pair in the UK, take a look at the British Au Pair Agency Association.

Au Pair Pocket Money

We have updated our au pair pocket money information. This information comes from feedback that we have received from au pairs and families over the past year

Please see below


*From speaking to our families and au pairs, in families where an au pair is paid a higher rate of pocket money (€125+), their au pair usually stays longer (approx 1 year) than with families who pay a lower rate of pocket money (up to €100). 

A Standard Au Pair
A standard au pair is an au pair who works either 30 hours per week plus 2 nights babysitting (with a maximum of 1 of these to be at the weekend) or 35 hours plus 1 night babysitting per week. We recommend that a standard au pair receive €100 pocket money per week. 

Au pairs in cities usually receive more pocket money (average €100-120) than au pairs living in the country (average €80-100).

In cases where an au pair minds 3+ children or they care for more than 1 young child, the au pair will often receive more than the recommended €100 and may receive up to €140 particularly in cases where both parents work. 

Demi Au Pair
A demi au pair works for 15-25 hours per week and 1 or 2 nights babysitting. A demi au pair will receive between €50-80 per week. A demi au pair is the least popular option of all au pairs for Irish families as many families require an au pair for longer hours than a demi au pair can provide.

Au Pair Plus
This is an au pair who works for 40 hours plus 1 night of babysitting. An au pair plus receives between €130-150 per week in families with up to 2 children. In families with more than 3 children or very young children an au pair plus will often receive between €150-170 pocket money per week.

Mother's Help
A live-in mother's help will often have English as their mother tongue or will be a fluent English speaker. A mother's help can work up to 10 hours per day and does not attend English classes. They usually have good childcare experience and are aged 21+ years. They work up to 50 hours per week plus 1 night of babysitting. A mother's help will often progress to working as a live out nanny after 1 or 2 years. A mother's help will receive pocket money of €150-200 per week. Mother's helps are a very popular option for families but it can prove difficult to find a Mother's help.

Au Pair Responsibilities UK

 What can I expect from my au pair? 

 Depending on the country you are based in you can expect different things from your au pair. In the UK a standard au pair will usually work for 25-30 hours per week. An au pair may have some childcare/babysitting experience but does not have formal childcare qualifications. Standard au pairs cannot take sole charge of children under the age of 2.

• Au pairs are aged between 17-27 and their chief purpose for being in the country is to learn the language and assimilate the culture.
• An au pair lives with you and should be treated as part of the family. Au pairs earn board and lodging and a small amount of money each week in return for childcare and light housework.
• Many people tend to lump nannies and au pairs into the same category but they are totally different. Au pairs are NOT nanny-substitutes, and usually have no formal childcare training. R.E.C (Recruitment and Employment Confederation) stipulates that au pairs should never have sole charge of children under the age of two.
• Au pairs are often seen as the 'Cinderellas' of the childcare industry. Agencies are often faced with problems of au pairs being treated as cheap labour by people who should be employing qualified nannies. Frequently they are left alone with young children for long hours and given heavy housework duties far in excess of what they should be asked to do.
• An au pair should have their own bedroom and be allowed proper time to study English.
• Visit The British Au Pair Agencies Association for more information

Duties:
Assist with light housework, help in the kitchen and care for school age children. They should also be available for babysitting one or two evenings per week.
Qualifications:
Au pairs have no formal training in caring for children and may have little or no experience.
- See more at: http://www.bestbear.co.uk/childcare-information/au-pairs.php#sthash.f6lpfsDk.dpuf

 An au pair is often called an older sister in their host family as the au pair lives as part of the family during the time that they stay with the family, rather than being an employee.

A standard au pair can be expected to:
-Work 25-30 hours per week but au pairs from the EU can work up to 35 hours per week.
-one to two evenings of babysitting per week (with a maximum of one of these to be at the weekend).
-To have one full day off at the weekend and one full weekend off per month.
-Have 5 free evenings per week.
-A standard au pair is most suitable for a family with school going children (a mother's help is more suitable for families with very young children).

What do I need to provide my au pair with?
An au pair should have their own room and have all meals provided. An au pair will pay for their own travel expenses and language classes unless otherwise agreed with their host family. Au pairs often study English classes and should be allowed to attend these.

What  housework can I expect my au pair to do?
An au pair's main responsibility is childcare but an au pair can be expected to carry out some household duties. We usually recommend that an au pair does approximately 1 hour of housework per day. Duties include housework related to the children such as keeping the children's toys and bedrooms tidy, giving them snacks. An au pair can also be expected to keep the kitchen tidy, the children's laundry and some hoovering. An au pair is not usually expected to cook the family dinner but in some cases an au pair will enjoy cooking dinner for the family on occassion. We usually recommend that an au pair does approximately 1 hour of housework per day.

Insurance
An au pair from the EU does not require additional health insurance as they are covered under the National Health System. 

What holidays does my au pair get?
The BAPAA recommends 4 weeks holidays per year as well as all bank/public holidays. British Au Pair Agencies Association

Pocket money
Pocket money of between £75-£85 per week (depending on hours) should be paid on an agreed day each week.

For more information please contact us at info@kangarooaupair.com or call us on  0044 203 1511660

Duties:
Assist with light housework, help in the kitchen and care for school age children. They should also be available for babysitting one or two evenings per week.
Qualifications:
Au pairs have no formal training in caring for children and may have little or no experience.
- See more at: http://www.bestbear.co.uk/childcare-information/au-pairs.php#sthash.f6lpfsDk.dpuf

• Au pairs are aged between 17-27 and their chief purpose for being in the country is to learn the language and assimilate the culture.
• An au pair lives with you and should be treated as part of the family. Au pairs earn board and lodging and a small amount of money each week in return for childcare and light housework.
• Many people tend to lump nannies and au pairs into the same category but they are totally different. Au pairs are NOT nanny-substitutes, and usually have no formal childcare training. R.E.C (Recruitment and Employment Confederation) stipulates that au pairs should never have sole charge of children under the age of two.
• Au pairs are often seen as the 'Cinderellas' of the childcare industry. Agencies are often faced with problems of au pairs being treated as cheap labour by people who should be employing qualified nannies. Frequently they are left alone with young children for long hours and given heavy housework duties far in excess of what they should be asked to do.
• An au pair should have their own bedroom and be allowed proper time to study English.
• Visit The British Au Pair Agencies Association for more information

Duties:
Assist with light housework, help in the kitchen and care for school age children. They should also be available for babysitting one or two evenings per week.
Qualifications:
Au pairs have no formal training in caring for children and may have little or no experience.
- See more at: http://www.bestbear.co.uk/childcare-information/au-pairs.php#sthash.f6lpfsDk.dpuf

How to keep your au pair

There was an interesting article in the Irish Herald about au pairs and how treating them well would ensure that they will stay with a host family. Click here to see the article.
Do you think that how an au pair is treated will determine whether they stay with a family or not? Or are there other factors that matter more?
We would love to hear your opinion:
What is the most important thing for you when deciding whether to stay with a family or not?
Is it how the family speaks to you and their attitude?
Is it the amount of pocket money you receive?
Is it the number of children that they have?
Is it the location of their house?
Or is it something completely different?
Please let us know by commenting below

www.kangarooaupair.com