Au Pair in Australia: Costs, Rules & How to Host One

Au Pair in Australia – What Families Need to Know

Hosting an au pair in Australia means welcoming a young person from overseas into your home to help with your children, in exchange for a private room, meals and weekly pocket money. It is a flexible, live-in form of childcare, and it gives your children the chance to learn about another country and culture without leaving home.

This guide explains what an au pair does, what it costs, the rules for host families and how the process works, so you can decide whether it is right for your family. Au Pair Australia is a family-run agency based in Sydney. We have matched au pairs with Australian host families since 2008, we charge no registration fees or deposits, and you only pay our placement fee once you confirm a placement.

For Australian families, welcoming an au pair provides flexible childcare support while giving children the opportunity to learn about another culture, language and way of life. The experience benefits both the family and the au pair, creating friendships that often continue long after the placement has finished.

Since 2008, Au Pair Australia has been helping international au pairs and Australian host families find compatible matches. With more than 18 years of experience, we understand that every successful placement begins with careful matching, clear communication and ongoing support. Our goal is to help every au pair in Australia and every host family enjoy a safe, rewarding and memorable cultural exchange experience.

Trusted Australian Au Pair Agency

We have helped connect Australian host families with au pairs for many years. Our experience in the au pair industry has also been recognised by the media, including the Australian Financial Review, which featured our insights into the realities of hiring an au pair. Register as a family

Whether you are hosting your first au pair in Australia or looking for a better childcare solution for your family, this complete guide answers your questions and walks you through every stage, from choosing an au pair in Australia to welcoming them into your home.

Au pair in Australia at a glance

Who: young adults from overseas, usually aged 18 to 30
How long: usually 6 to 12 months
Hours: up to 40 hours per week, not including babysitting
Pocket money: at least $250 AUD per week (most au pairs receive $250 to $300)
You provide: a private bedroom and all meals
Agency fees: no registration fee and no deposit. One-off placement fee, payable only when you confirm a placement

What does hosting an au pair in Australia involve?

Hosting means sharing your home with a young adult from overseas who helps look after your children as part of a cultural exchange. Au pairs are usually between 18 and 30 and stay for around 6 to 12 months. They live as part of your household: they share meals, join your family routines and see everyday Australian life up close, while improving their English and exploring the country in their free time.

For your family, the value is flexible help around the school day and a friendly presence at home. For your au pair, it is a home base and a real taste of everyday Australian life.

Au pair, nanny or childcare centre? An au pair lives with you and becomes part of the household. A nanny is a professional carer who usually lives elsewhere and works set hours, and a childcare centre looks after children outside the home on fixed days and hours. Each suits different families. You can read more about the difference between an au pair and a nanny.

What your children gain from having an au pair

Beyond the practical help, an au pair brings something different into your home. Children get a friendly older companion who plays with them, helps with homework and takes an interest in their day. They meet someone from another country, hear a different accent or language, and learn about food, traditions and places they might not otherwise come across. A consistent, familiar person at home before and after school can also make daily routines easier. Every child and every placement is different, but a good match can leave a lasting impression on the whole family.

Is an au pair right for your family?

An au pair often suits families who:

Need flexible help around school, work and after-school activities
Have a spare bedroom and are comfortable sharing family life with a young adult from another country
Want their children to experience another language and culture
Have two or more children, because the cost does not rise with each extra child

An au pair may not be the right choice if you need a qualified nurse or carer for a child with specific care needs, if you do not have a spare bedroom, if you need more than 40 hours of care a week, or if you are looking for a housekeeper. If you are not sure, talk to us before you register. We would rather tell you honestly whether an au pair fits your situation.

Questions to ask yourself before you register

– How many hours of help do I need, and at what times of day?

– Do I have a private bedroom to offer?

– Am I comfortable with someone living with us for 6 to 12 months?

– What do I want my children to gain from the experience?

– What is my budget for pocket money, food and the placement fee?

– Do I need an au pair who drives?

– Which tasks would I not be comfortable asking for?

– If you can answer most of these, you are ready to register. If not, we are happy to talk it through with you.

What you can ask of your au pair

Your au pair’s role centres on your children and their daily routine. Depending on their ages, families commonly ask for help with:

– The morning routine, and the school run in both directions
– Playing with the children and keeping them busy after school
– Helping with homework
– Preparing simple meals and snacks for the children
– Helping with bath and bedtime routines
– Washing the children’s clothes and keeping their rooms and play areas tidy

The tasks depend on the ages of your children and your au pair’s experience, so tell us what you need when you register. Your au pair is not a full-time cleaner or housekeeper. The focus is childcare and light, child-related household tasks, and any other expectations should be agreed before your au pair arrives.

Hours and time off. Your au pair can help up to 40 hours per week, not including babysitting, and the schedule is arranged around your family’s routine. Some families set a weekly roster that covers the school run and the after-school hours. Others prefer split shifts. Your au pair also has one or two days off each week, time for English classes and a social life, and one week of paid holiday after six months with your family. If you would like your au pair to babysit in the evenings or on weekends, agree this in advance, including how the hours will be counted or paid.

A typical week with an au pair

Every family is different, so the schedule is agreed to suit yours. These two examples show how the hours can be arranged. They are illustrations only, not fixed packages.

A family with two school-age children. Your au pair helps with breakfast and the school run in the morning, has a free block in the middle of the day for English classes or study, and returns for school pick-up, homework, the children’s dinner and bath time. Weekends are free, and your au pair can join family outings if they wish.

A family with a preschooler. Your au pair takes care of the morning routine, plays with your child and goes with them to activities, helps with lunch and quiet time, and covers the late afternoon while you finish work. Because the hours are spread across the day, this pattern often includes a longer break in the middle.

In both examples the total hours stay within the agreed weekly limit, and your au pair has time off each week. Write the schedule down and review it together after the first month.

How much does it cost to host an au pair?

Hosting an au pair is priced differently from most childcare. The cost is made up of three parts:

– Weekly pocket money: at least $250 AUD per week. Most au pairs receive between $250 and $300 per week, depending on the hours worked.

– Room and board: a private bedroom and all meals.

– Placement fee: Placement fee: a one-off fee payable only when you confirm a placement.

– What it adds up to. Pocket money of $250 to $300 per week comes to roughly $6,500 to $7,800 over a 6-month stay and $13,000 to $15,600 over 12 months. This is before the placement fee and the everyday cost of feeding and housing your au pair, so add those to your own budget.

How it compares with childcare. Childcare in Australia commonly costs between $120 and $200 per day for each child, which is $600 to $1,000 a week for one child in full-time care. An au pair’s pocket money does not rise with the number of children, so the comparison can look very different for families with two or more children. An au pair is not a like-for-like replacement for a childcare centre, since the help is live-in and flexible rather than fixed hours, so it is worth running your own figures.

See our family fees and au pair pocket money pages for more detail.

The rules for host families

Hosting an au pair is a cultural exchange, so both sides have responsibilities. As a host family, you agree to:

Provide a private bedroom (the bathroom can be shared)
Provide all meals
Pay weekly pocket money of at least $250 AUD
Give your au pair one or two days off each week, plus enough free time for English classes and a social life
Give one week of paid holiday after six months with your family
Treat your au pair as a member of the family, and agree on house rules, working hours and expectations before they arrive

Visas. Most au pairs arrive on a Working Holiday (subclass 417) or Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa. Visa conditions, including how long an au pair may stay with one family, are set by the Australian Government and can change. Au Pair Australia cannot give immigration advice, so your au pair should check the current rules with the Department of Home Affairs before travelling. You can read more on our visa information page and our host family requirements page.

Preparing your home for an au pair

Your au pair will be living with you for several months, so a comfortable, private space makes a real difference. We recommend:

A private bedroom with a bed, storage space and somewhere to sit or work
Clear arrangements for the kitchen, laundry and bathroom, so your au pair knows what they can use and when
Access to the internet, so your au pair can stay in touch with family and friends overseas
A short written summary of the house rules, such as quiet hours, visitors, and how you would like meals and shared spaces handled

Small details, like clearing some wardrobe space and leaving a welcome note, help your au pair feel at home in the first days.

How to host an au pair: step by step

Register as a family. Tell us about your children, your routine and what you are looking for, including working hours, whether you need someone who drives, and any special requirements. Registering is free.

We find suitable candidates. We select and screen au pairs who match your requirements, and we do not present candidates who would not suit your family.

You review profiles and interview. You speak with candidates before you decide, so you can choose the person who feels right for your household.

You confirm the placement. You pay the one-off placement fee only at this stage.

Your au pair prepares. We offer an online course before arrival covering topics such as child safety, discipline and preparing children’s lunches.

Arrival and support. We follow up during the placement and are available if you have questions or if any problems come up.

How long the process takes depends on your requirements and the candidates available. Read more about our placement process.

Choosing the right au pair

The interview is your chance to find out whether an au pair will fit your family. When you review profiles, look at:

Experience with children of your children’s ages
Whether they hold a driver’s licence, if you need one
Whether they hold a current first aid certificate
Their reasons for wanting to be an au pair, and how well their expectations match what you can offer
How comfortable they are with your household, for example pets, routines and the size of your family

A video call works well for the interview, and it helps if your children join for part of it. Some questions that give you a good sense of the person:

What did you enjoy most about your previous experience with children?
How would you handle a child who refuses to do something?
What would a good day in our house look like for you?
What do you hope to do in your free time in Australia?
Is there anything you would find difficult about living with a family?

Explain your expectations clearly during the interview, including hours, house rules and how you like to communicate. Most problems in au pair placements come from unclear expectations, so it is worth being open at this stage.

How we screen our au pairs

Our au pairs are fully screened, reference-checked and personally interviewed before we present them to you. Candidates provide police clearance and childcare references, and most hold a current first aid certificate. We work with partner agencies overseas that carry out detailed screening and preparation, and we check criminal records overseas through our partners before accepting an applicant. We only include au pairs who are eligible for a working holiday visa.

Getting ready before your au pair arrives

A little preparation makes the first weeks much smoother. Before your au pair arrives, we suggest you:

Agree the weekly schedule, days off and how babysitting will be handled
Write down the children’s routines, allergies, school details and emergency contacts
Share your house rules and expectations in writing
Prepare the bedroom
Talk to your children about who is coming, where they are from and how they can help their au pair feel welcome

House rules to agree before arrival

Clear rules protect both sides. Agree these topics in writing before your au pair arrives:

Working hours, days off and how babysitting is arranged
Use of the kitchen, laundry and living areas, and how meals will work
Visitors and overnight guests
Quiet hours, and what to do if your au pair will be home late before a working day
Use of your car, if any, and who pays for petrol and insurance
Phone and internet use, and who pays for your au pair’s phone and transport
Screen time and other rules for the children
How you would like your au pair to handle misbehaviour

Review the list together after a few weeks and adjust it if something is not working.

Keeping children safe at home

You remain responsible for your children’s safety, and clear instructions help your au pair look after them with confidence. We suggest you:

Give your au pair a written list of emergency contacts, including 000, your doctor, both parents and a nearby neighbour
Explain any allergies, medications or medical plans, and show where the first aid kit is kept
Set clear rules for supervision around water, roads, the kitchen and any pool
If your au pair will drive, check that they are comfortable with your car and local roads, that your car insurance covers them, and that car seats are fitted correctly
Decide who may collect the children from school and activities, and tell the school
Agree what is acceptable when it comes to sharing photos of your children online

Au Pair Australia screens every candidate, and our online course covers safety when caring for children. The instructions that matter most, though, are the ones specific to your home and your children.

The first weeks: building a good relationship

Moving to a new country is exciting and tiring at the same time, so give your au pair time to settle in. In the first days, show them around the house and the neighbourhood, explain how to use public transport, and introduce them to the children’s routines gradually rather than all at once.

Regular conversation is the best way to keep the placement healthy. Many families set aside a short time each week to talk about what is going well and what could change. Give feedback early and kindly, and encourage your au pair to do the same. It also helps to include them in family life, such as meals and weekend outings, and to encourage English classes and friendships with other au pairs, so they feel connected and confident.

Living with someone from another culture

Your au pair will have different habits, foods, humour and ways of communicating, and that is a big part of what makes the experience special. It also means small misunderstandings are normal. Explain things that seem obvious to you, such as meal times, how to use appliances or how Australians tend to ask for things, and ask your au pair to do the same about their own culture. Be patient, ask questions and stay curious. Families often find that these small exchanges are what their children remember most.

Common challenges and how to solve them

Different expectations. Put hours, tasks and house rules in writing before arrival, and review them together after the first few weeks.
Language misunderstandings. Speak clearly, avoid slang at first, and check understanding with simple questions instead of assuming.
Hours slowly increasing. Keep to the agreed schedule, and talk about any extra help before you ask for it.
Feeling like a guest or an employee. Treat your au pair as a member of the family, with the respect, privacy and free time that come with that.

If a placement is not working, the first step is open communication between you and your au pair. We can give guidance and help both sides work towards the best solution.

Why choose Au Pair Australia

Family-run and experienced. We are a Sydney-based, family-run agency, placing au pairs with Australian families since 2008.
No upfront costs. No registration fees, no deposits, a one-off placement fee payable only when you confirm a placement, and no extra payment if you need a driver.
Personal matching. We agree the selection criteria with you and present only candidates who fit your family and your routine.
Featured in the media. Our work has been covered by the Australian Financial Review, ABC News and The Daily Telegraph.

What host families say

“We were looking for someone who would become a positive part of our family, not just someone to help with childcare. Au Pair Australia helped us find a wonderful match and provided support throughout the process.”

The Smith Family, Sydney

“Having an au pair has been a fantastic cultural experience for our children. They have enjoyed learning about another country while building a special relationship with their au pair.”

The McLaren Family, Brisbane

Where families host

We place au pairs with families in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and other cities and major towns across Australia. Find out more about hosting an au pair in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, or read our guide to becoming a host family in Australia.

Frequently asked questions for families

How much does it cost to host an au pair in Australia?

You pay weekly pocket money of at least $250 AUD, provide a private room and meals, and pay a one-off placement fee once you confirm a placement. There are no registration fees or deposits.

How many hours can an au pair work?

Up to 40 hours per week, not including babysitting. The schedule is agreed with you before your au pair arrives.

Do I need a spare room?

Yes. Your au pair needs a private bedroom. The bathroom can be shared.

How long does an au pair stay?

Usually between 6 and 12 months, depending on the au pair’s visa conditions and your agreement.

Can I choose my au pair?

Yes. We present candidates who match your requirements, and you review their profiles and interview them before you decide.

Can my au pair drive the children?

Many families prefer an au pair who drives. Tell us when you register and we will look for candidates who do. There is no extra payment if you need a driver.

Is an au pair the same as a nanny?

No. An au pair lives with your family as part of a cultural exchange. Read how an au pair differs from a nanny.

Are your au pairs screened?

Yes. They are reference-checked, interviewed and provide police clearance. See how we screen au pairs.

What if the placement does not work out?

The first step is open communication between you and your au pair. We can give guidance and help both sides work towards the best solution.

Can an au pair look after babies?

It depends on the au pair’s experience and your needs. Tell us the ages of your children when you register, and we will look for candidates with suitable experience.

Can I host an au pair if I work from home?

Yes. It helps to agree when you are available to the children and when your au pair is responsible, so everyone’s role stays clear.

What happens if my au pair wants to travel?

Your au pair has one or two days off each week and one week of paid holiday after six months. Any extra time off should be agreed in advance so you can plan around it.

How long does it take to find an au pair?

It depends on your requirements and the candidates available. Contact us and we can give you a realistic idea based on what you need. The process takes between 1 and 2 weeks in general.

Will my children learn a language from the au pair?

Many children enjoy picking up words and phrases from their au pair’s language. You can agree in advance whether you would like your au pair to speak English with the children, or to use their own language at certain times.

More questions? Visit our full FAQ page.

Ready to host an au pair in Australia?

Register as a family today. There are no registration fees or deposits, and we will start looking for candidates who suit your children and your routine.

Are you an au pair looking for a host family? See how to become an au pair in Australia.

Au Pair in Australia: Costs, Rules & How It Works