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.

Au Pair Pocket Money - The Top 10 Countries

One of the questions that au pairs regularly ask us, is how much pocket money they can expect from their host family. We have compiled this list of the 10 countries worldwide that offer the most au pair pocket money. 

This list is based only on the amount of pocket money offered to au pairs but it's worth remembering that in some countries, a host family will also make contributions towards other au pair expenses such as language classes, insurance and even flights to and from the au pair's home country. 

It's also worth noting that in host countries the cost of living varies greatly. For example, an au pair in Norway can expect to receive pocket money of 5,400NOK before tax (€625) but in China, an au pair can expect to receive ¥1000 (€150) per month. The cost of living in Norway is very high and an au pair can expect to pay 100NOK (€11.66) for a McDonald's meal whereas an au pair in China can expect to pay 29.00 ¥(€4.40) for the same McDonald's meal. Chinese pocket money may seem low, but in China this money will go a very long way. The host family will also pay for Mandarin classes, return flights to your home country as well as mobile phone and public transport card. 

It is worth noting that some countries have official regulations governing au pair pocket money, but others don't. In countries where there are no official regulations governing au pair pocket money there are national au pair associations that make recommendations regarding the amount of pocket money a family should pay their au pair. Some countries recommend a weekly pocket money whereas other countries recommend a monthly au pair pocket money. In the below list all pocket monies are quoted, in euros, as monthly pocket money based on 4.33 weeks in a month. We have done our best to be as accurate as possible in compiling this list.

Here is our Top 10 list of au pair pocket money 

10. Netherlands - €300-340 Au pairing in the Netherlands is regulated by law. The amount of pocket money paid to au pairs is between €300 to €340 per month and the au pair can work for no more than 30 hours per week. Host families will also contribute €320 per year to the au pairs’ language course. 

9. United Kingdom - €395-480 /£286-347 In the UK au pairing is not regulated by law but the BAPAA recommends a minimum of £70 for a 25 hour week and a minimum of £85 for a 30 hour week. 

8. Denmark- €440 /3300DKK Au pairing in Denmark is regulated by law and the amount of pocket money paid to au pairs is reviewed annually. The amount for 2015 is 3300DKK per month (around €440 per month). Host families pay for au pairs’ taxes, insurance and, if the au pairs come from outside Europe, they will also pay for their trip back home. 

7. Ireland- €408-490 In Ireland there is no law regulating au pair placements, but Kangaroo Au Pair recommends that their host families pay between €100 and €120 for 30-35 hours per week.

6. Belgium - €450 Au pairing in Belgium is regulated by law. The minimum amount of pocket money paid to au pairs is €450 per month for a maximum of 20 hours of work per week.  In addition, host families will bear the costs for their au pairs’ insurance.

5. New Zealand- €480-658 /NZ$693-953 New Zealand has no official au pair programme, therefore au pairs' pocket money can vary. Usually au pairs would be paid between NZ $160 and $220 (€111-€152) for 30-45 hours per week. All other expenses (language classes, travel, etc.) are paid by the au pair. 

4. Norway- €625 /5,400NOK (before tax) Au pairing in Norway is regulated by law and the current amount of pocket money given to au pairs is 5,400NOK (before tax). Norse host families also pay the costs of their au pairs’ insurance, their return flight and part of their language course fees for a total amount of 8,100NOK (before tax) that corresponds to around €938. Please bear in mind, though, that the cost of living in Norway is equally expensive.

3. Australia- €592-740 / AUD$866-1083 There is no official programme for au pairs in Australia, but usually au pairs would receive between $200 and $250 AUD (around €107 and €179) for 30/40 hours work per week. All other expenses (travel, language course and insurance costs) are borne by the au pairs themselves.

2. USA- €800 / $845 Au pairing in the United States is regulated by law. There is a special program au pairs have to apply for and it's called the J-1 Visa program. According to this program, au pairs are supposed to work no longer than 45 hours per week and are entitled to receive $195,75 per week (that's around €184) plus $500 for their academic course work, a child development training program, and the costs for their trip to and from the USA covered.

1. Canada- €977-1300 / $1300-1732 Au pairs in Canada are treated like regular employees (live-in caregivers), therefore they're entitled to receive at least the minimum wage, but on the other hand they will have to subtract from their wages the costs for employment insurance, Canada Pension Plan and income tax. Working hours are not regulated, but usually au pairs would work between 30 and 40 hours per week. Au pairs should bear in mind that each province has different minimum wage rates. On average au pairs might get around $10 CAD per hour, so if you work say 30 hours per week, you should get around $300 CAD per week minus taxes. These taxes can be claimed back at the end of the au pair stay. 

Other popular countries that did not make the top 10 list of au pair pocket money include Germany, Italy, France and Spain. 

• In Germany au pairs receive €260 pocket money per month. A host family in Germany will also contribute €50 towards language classes as well as paying for an au pair's health insurance. 

• In Italy, au pair pocket money is not regulated but an au pair can expect to receive €250-300 per month pocket money.

• In France, au pair pocket money is €264-314.80 per month. Au pair pocket money is fully regulated in France and corresponds to 75-90% of minimum wage. Host families also pay for an au pair's social contributions. 

• In Spain an au pair can expect €285-327 per month.

We hope that this information has been informative. If you would like any other information about au pair pocket money please contact us in Kangaroo au pair and we will be happy to answer your questions.

Other related stories:

Au pair pocket money 

Au Pair pocket Money Survey

Being an Au Pair in France

Have you ever dreamt of going up to the top of the Eiffel Tower, having a fresh baguette with cheese for lunch, wandering around the wonderful fairy-tale castles in the Loire region, getting lost in time in Mont St-Michel, sunbathing in the French Riviera or skiing in the French Alps? These are just a few of the reasons to become an au pair in France!

Nowadays more and more French families are looking for au pairs. Becoming an au pair in France is a great chance to learn a beautiful language spoken in many countries throughout the world (including Canada, Belgium, Switzerland and most African countries). 

France is one of the few countries in Europe where au pair placements are regulated by law. This means that young people au pairing in France have less chances of being exploited by families and have officially recognized rights and duties.

What do you need to become an au pair in Fance?

Au pairs in France are called ‘stagiaire aide familial étranger’. The age range to apply to be an au pair is between 17 and 30 years of age. Exceptions are made for people over 30 who are about to finish their studies. A minimum knowledge of French is required to be able to communicate with the host family and au pairs are required to enrol to a French course for foreigners during their placement.

The length of the au pair placement can be from 3 months up to  12 months with a possibility of extending it to 24 months. A contract signed beforehand by both parties is mandatory, this way both au pairs and families already know what to expect from each other and can avoid future disappointments.

Working hours and pocket money. The amount of working hours for au pairs can’t exceed 5 hours per day for a maximum of 30 hours per week and the family must ensure the au pair can attend her language classes. Au pairs in France are entitled to receive free board, free accommodation and between €264 and €316.80 pocket money per month (this amount is re-evaluated every year as it corresponds to 75%-90% of the current minimum wage). On top of that, the host family will have to pay social security contributions (like illness, maternity, etc.) to the au pair.

Sounds too good to be true? Find your ideal French family on www.kangarooaupair.com and start planning your au pair stay in France!

For more detailed information, please visit the French administration official website and the French social security website. 

Au pair and host family support

Here at Kangaroo Au Pair, the safety and well being of our au pairs and host families is our primary concern. If you have any issues or concerns that your host family or au pair is not treating you in a way that is acceptable, please get in touch with us and we can advice you. You can contact us at support@kangaooaupair.com or on 01-6966036(Ireland) or 020 7060 4877 (UK). Below is a list of the main conditions and guidelines of an au pair placement.

1. The au pair arrangement is first of all a cultural exchange rather than an employment. Au pairs are young foreigners who decide to move to a different country to learn and experience a new culture and language and that’s why they decide to live with a host family. As such, au pairs have to be treated as part of the family during their stay. They will have meals together with the family and will take part in some family activities. Au pairs will look after the host family’s children and will take on a share of the family’s household duties, primarily childcare, in exchange for free board and lodging and an appropriate amount of pocket money paid weekly on an arranged day. An au pair must be provided with all their meals and should have their own bedroom.

2. The amount of pocket money can vary slightly from au pair agency to agency. Kangaroo Au Pair recommends pocket money between €100 and €120 per week in Ireland and between £70 and £100 in the UK for a standard au pair.

3. Working hours- A standard au pair can work between 30 and 35 hours per week as well as 1 evening of babysitting (consisting of up to 5 hours) in Ireland. In the UK a standard au pair can work between 25 and 30 hours per week and 1 evening of babysitting. Babysitting consists of an evening, minding children when they are either in bed or will be going to bed within an hour or 2 of the host parents going out. 

4. Days off- Au pairs should have no less than 1 full week-end off per month and a minimum of day and a half off per week. Au pairs are entitled to 1 week of paid holidays for every 6 months placement and holidays should be agreed upon commencement of the au pair stay. Should the family decide to go on holiday without bringing their au pair, they cannot ask the au pair to leave their house* and must ensure that suitable arrangements are made for the au pair during this time. Many families organise for their au pair to stay with a friend or relative while they are on holidays.

4. When it comes to the type of housework required from an au pair, the au pair’s main duty is to look after the children and that the au pair should only carry out housework that is related to the children or everyday tasks such as filling the dishwasher, sweeping the kitchen floor after meals, tidying up after the children and giving the children snacks and light meals etc. 

5. Au pairs hours, working schedule and duties should be listed in an au pair contract and agreed to by both the host family and the au pair at the beginning of the placement.

6. If things are not working out and an au pair or family chooses to end an au pair stay. A 2 week notice period is required. During this time an au pair must be allowed to stay in the family's home. If the family do not want the au pair to continue to stay in their home during the notice period, they must provide alternative accomodation for the au pair. The only time that no notice period is acceptable is in the case of gross misconduct by either the family or au pair. In this case the au pair placement can be broken without any notice period.

7. An au pair must be paid every week on an agreed day. An au pair should still be paid weekly pocket money, even if she has been sick for 1 or 2 days of a given week.**

8. Lastly, being the au pair placement a cultural exchange programme, au pairs should always be granted enough time off to attend their language classes. Host families are not required to pay for the language course as au pairs should bear this cost themselves, but they must ensure the au pair will be able to attend all classes if they so wish. Families cannot ask an au pair to babysit on an evening when she does her English classes.

If you feel that your host family or au pair are not abiding by the guidelines of an au pair placement, please do not hesitate to contact us and we can advice you what to do. We are here to support and we are happy to help you with any of your concerns. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.

* Unless the host family and au pair have agreed that the au pair will take their holidays during this time. 
**An au pair should provide a family with a doctor's letter, at the beginning of the au pair placement, stating that she/he is in good health and that she/he has no underlying condition which would ensure that she/he is not capable of minding children or entering into an au pair placement.

For other related stories see:

 what is ‘light housework’?

au pair stay in the UK

au pair contract

 au pair pocket money 

Kangaroo Au Pair News

WHAT SHOULD BE IN MY AU PAIR CONTRACT?

Au pairs and host families regularly contact us to ask about an au pair contract. Do I need an au pair contract? And what should be in an au pair contract?

We always recommend that au pairs and host families have a number of Skype calls before agreeing to an au pair stay. During these skype calls you should discuss, hours of work, light housework, working schedule, English classes and holidays. It's really important that you discuss and agree on everything from hours to agreed light housework, working schedule etc. This way you can both talk about your own expectations and iron out any potential issues. This is an invaluable opportunity for you to understand if you and your potential host family/au pair will be a good match for each other or not. 

Do I need an au pair contract?
We recommend that every family and au pair sign an au pair contract before agreeing to an au pair placement. An au pair should not book their flight before this contract has been signed and agreed to by both the au pair and the family.

In the au pair contract you should include all aspects concerning the au pair placement. These include:

1. working hours and time off
2. weekly pocket money including the day that this will be paid
3. working schedule
4. paid holidays (an au pair should receive 1 week of paid holidays for every 6 months)
5. required notice if the placement needs to be terminated* 
6. the date of commencement and end of the au pair placement

These are the most important conditions of your placement, so you should make sure that you and your family/ au pair agree upon them from the beginning. For example, if the au pair chooses to attend English classes, they mist be given enough time off to attend these. An au pair should never be asked to mind the children when they have to attend English classes.

Time off

Discussing the days you are available and your time off is very important too. Usually au pairs are entitled to a full weekend off per month, one full day off at the weekends and 5 free evenings per week. Anything different than this should be agreed upon in advance and it should be written down in the contract.

Pocket money

Once you have agreed on the number of hours you are available for your family, then you should discuss the pocket money with them. We recommend that you check beforehand what the average pocket money is in the country that you chose to move to, so that you have an idea whether your family is offering you a fair amount of money or not. Please see our recommended pocket money here.....

Duties & responsibilities

Au pairs main priority is to mind the family’s children. This could mean picking them up from school, helping them with their homework, playing with them in their spare time and generally anything that related to the children. Au pairs would usually help the family and stay with the children during the day, but families are allowed to ask for 1 or 2 nights babysitting per week depending on the au pairs hours. Again if you need babysitting, this should go into the au pair contract.

In addition to minding the children, au pairs are usually required to help their host families with a few household chores, such as: making snacks and ironing for the children, vacuuming the children’s room, washing dishes, etc. Even in this case, if there is any particular light housework that you have agreed to do with your host family, you should include it in the contract.

Start and end date of the placement

These dates have to be discussed in advance and have to be included in the agreement. Should the au pair or the family terminate the placement before the agreed terms, both parties are due to give at least a two weeks’ notice. Also, the contract should state the family’s right to end the agreement immediately in case of gross misconduct (such as theft, forgery, deceit, violence, etc.).

Terms & conditions

Other important details that should be made clear on the agreement are:

• Travel costs: au pairs have to provide for their own travel expenses
• Behaviour: host families should clarify how they expect their au pair to behave (be punctual, respectful, etc.) and what is not acceptable behaviour for them (such as what time the au pair needs to be home if they are minding the children the following day)
• Language spoken in the house: the au pair will participate in the family’s life and speak their language with the kids, unless otherwise required (for example, the family might request that the au pair teach her own language to the children, because they want them to learn a second language).

To see Kangaroo au pair's au pair contract, please click the following  link. Please feel free to download and print off.

*There are certain specific occasions when an au pair placement can be terminated without notice.

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

Au Pair Placement Service- KA Au Pair Agency

Let us do the work of finding your next au pair for you!
Kangaroo au pair are now doing an au pair placement service! With this service we will take your family's details and then send you, only the au pairs that best suit your needs. In conjunction with our partner agencies across Europe we can offer au pairs from Spain, Germany, Austria, Italy and France. Y6u will then get the opportunity to Skype/phone the au pairs who are of most interest to you.
With all our placement au pairs we will provide the following:
Criminal record check
Medical check
reference checks
au pair form
copy of drivers licence (if available)
*Placement fee €250 (including €50 registration fee) or summer au pair placement €150 (including €50 registration fee).
For more information please call Marta on 01-8870310 or see www.KAaupairagency.ie