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

5 reasons to become an Au Pair in Italy

Dreaming of doing your au pair placement in the sun, surrounded by art and culture and eating some of the most amazing food in the world? Becoming an au pair in Italy and your dream can come true!

More and more Italian families are now looking for an au pair to come and live with them and mind their children. And luckily for you the demand is growing by the day! So let’s find out the top 5 reasons to become an au pair in Italy and the requirements needed to do so.

1. Cultural enrichment. The au pair experience is already an enriching life experience in itself, but in Italy it just reaches a whole new height! Being an au pair in a foreign country means you get to know a different culture, different traditions, a different language and lots of new people. For this very reason, the au pair placement is usually considered a life-changing experience. Italy is such a varied country that every time you travel to a different region, you’ll feel like you’re visiting a different country!


2. Italian families. Fancy, spending the afternoon on the beach while speaking English to your host children? Unlike the au pair placement in other countries where families are looking for an au pair mainly to get some help with the children and to expose them to a different culture, more and more Italian families look for au pairs who can teach a new language to their children. This means the au pair placement is usually very pleasant and easy and more focused on the language and cultural exchange than on any household chores. Also, Italians families are very friendly, welcoming and love to spend time together and talk. You’ll feel part of the family straightaway!


3. Arts & History. Anywhere you go in Italy, you’ll be surrounded by art and you’ll feel like you’re going back in time. From the Colosseum and St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, to the Dome in Milan, the beautiful museums and churches in Florence, the breath-taking Five Lands (Cinque Terre) in Liguria, the ancient Greek temples in Sicily, or the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The list is endless, so if you love art, you won’t be disappointed.


4. Outdoor activities. Thanks to its great longitudinal extension, Italy’s climate and landscape is very diverse. The North of Italy is the perfect choice for those who love skiing, trekking or cycling and for those who don’t like temperatures that are too hot. The Centre-South is perfect for the sea and heat lovers, giving you the chance to practice sports such as sailing, surfing, windsurfing, etc. In the summertime temperatures can go as high as 40 degrees, but if this is too hot for you, you can take a refreshing dipping in the sea.


5. Food. Needless to say the Italian cuisine is one of the best in the world. Even in this case dishes can vary a lot from North to South and there’s something to suit every taste. Italians love food and love to spend time at the table, so a nice way to interact with your host family and their children would be to cook for them some typical dishes of your country. This way they can learn a bit about your own culture and traditions.

Au pair working hours and pocket money in Italy.

Au pair placements in Italy are partially regulated by law. Au pairs’ have to be between 17 and 30 and they cannot work over 30 hours per week (ideally no more than 5 hours per day for 6 days a week). The amount of pocket money is around €300 per month, but can vary according to the amount of working hours and the number of children.

For more detailed information about the au pair programme in Italy, we advise you to check our Au Pair Programme in Italy and to check out the video of one of our Italian host families.