Hiring an au pair

Ever thought you need an extra pair of hands? Perhaps hiring an au pair could be your answer.

An au pair can look after your children, take care of some of the household chores and cleaning, laundry and cooking and babysit so you can have a night out.

There’s no need for a large house and it needn’t cost the earth. An au pair will fit in with your family - all you need is a small bedroom. You may also be eligible for subsidies to cover the cost of their wages.

When you are considering getting an au pair, it would pay to work with an agency with a few years’ experience in matching au pairs and host families. Look out for professional memberships like New Zealand Au Pair Association or International Au Pair Association. This will mean the agency must adhere to strict international standards.  

Choose an Agency licensed with Ministry of Education and Ministry of Social Development, that way you’ll be able to access subsidies and a home based education programme for your children too.

Have a read of this article by Dream Au Pairs about ‘Hiring my first au pair’ - a mother’s first-hand experience and the sort of things that you can expect.

Source: Article written by Under 5s. Don’t forget to check out the Nannies & Au Pair Services we have on offer too!