Au Pair - qu'est-ce que c'est?

Many New Zealand families are unaware of the positive impact employing an au pair can have on their family, what an au pair is, or that it is a child care option available to them.

An au pair provides families with live-in childcare support. They come from around the world, particularly Europe, and will often live with their New Zealand host family for up to a year.

Employing an au pair is a great childcare solution as it gives your children full-time care - not to mention an additional pair of hands around the home!

A common misconception about au pairs is that hiring one is expensive. Having someone live in and provide childcare is surely something reserved only for the affluent?

Casey Muraahi from Au Pair Link, a Ministry of Education-licensed company which matches and supports families with au pairs, says this is not so.

“Au pairs provide a flexible form of child care on a very cost-effective model. For up to four children, host families can have live in, home-based early childhood care for as little as $190 plus tax per week. Parents with children at day care centres pay per child, which can work out to be a lot more expensive,” she says.

And not just anyone can become an au pair. Screening processes include character and childcare reference checks, a personal interview to assess suitability and personality, as well as police and medical checks.

Childcare experience is also essential. Au Pair Link require their au pairs to have a minimum of 200 documented hours of childcare to be eligible for placement, but the reality is that they usually have much more experience than this.

Au pairs are a great childcare option to consider and provide a strong support system as your young ones develop and grow.

www.aupairlink.co.nz