How to become an au pair in Australia?
Australia has 43 different programs for the different au pair citizenships.
Choose here which programs you want to see and compare.
step by step to get to Australia
Working Holiday United Kingdom | Student World | Free Movement New Zealand | Work and Holiday Vietnam |
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find family / au pair, sign contract | Follow our tips on how to find the perfect au pair / the perfect host family with connectAuPair. | |||
invitation letter | not relevant | The au pair must be accepted for full-time study in a registered course offered by an Australian education provider registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).. Such an acceptance for a full-time study in a registered course
More information can be found in section "Student visa (subclass 500)" on the website of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. | not relevant | |
insurance | The au pair is responsible for all of her / his health costs. The au pair has to provide a certificate of private medical insurance unless the au pair's home country has a reciprocal health care agreement with Australia. For more detailed information, please see "rules & regulation - health, accident and liability insurance". | The au pair is responsible for all of her / his health costs. The au pair has to provide a certificate of private medical insurance unless the au pair's home country has a reciprocal health care agreement with Australia. Important: For an au pair entering Australia with a student visa, it is mandatory to have health insurance. Health insurance can be provided by obtaining Overseas Student Health Coverage (OSHC). For more detailed information, please see "rules & regulation - health, accident and liability insurance". | The au pair is responsible for all of her / his health costs. New Zealand and Australia have announced a new bilateral social security arrangement between the two countries on February 26,2001, also recognising the right of each country to determine access to social security benefits not covered by the arrangement. For more information about the social security entitlements of New Zealand citizens in Australia please see section "New Zealand citizens claiming payments in Australia" on the website of the Department of Human Services. For more detailed information hereabout please see also "rules & regulation - health, accident and liability insurance". | The au pair is responsible for all of her / his health costs. The au pair has to provide a certificate of private medical insurance unless the au pair's home country has a reciprocal health care agreement with Australia. For more detailed information, please see "rules & regulation - health, accident and liability insurance". |
visa | The au pair has to provide the following information / documents:
1. family book showing both parents' name 2. identification document issued by the government 3. court-issued documents that verify the au pair's identity
For more information please see the "Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) document checklist" and / or the "Working Holiday visa (subclass 417 - features) " on the website of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. | The au pair has to provide at least the following information / documents:
1. family book showing both parents' name 2. identification document issued by the government 3. court-issued documents that verify the au pair's identity
Important: Due to the fact that each visa may have different conditions depending on
it is important to the future au pair to visit section "Studying in Australia" provided by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. | The au pair has to provide the following information / documents on arrival to Australia:
| The au pair has to provide the following information/ documents:
For more information please see the "Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462 - features)" and / or the "Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) document checklist" on the website of the Australian Border Force |
further documents | Note:
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organize trip | It is the au pair's responsibility to organize the trip taking into consideration the needs of the host family regarding dates. Even when everything is clear and all questions are asked, it is good to stay in touch until the journey starts - it is important that also the children of the host family get to know that a new au pair is coming and communicating from time to time through Skype is a good way to get used to get to know each other. | |||
start journey | What to take with you as au pair? In our community you can find tips from other au pairs! Please note: Border authorities may examine whether the prerequisites for entry continue to apply. This examination is international practice. The au pair might be refused entry even though (s)he is in the possession of a valid visa, if the prerequisites for entry no longer apply. Therefore the au pair should carry with him/her documents giving evidence to the purpose of the stay - in particular proof of sufficient funds (au pair contract) and health insurance. |
step by step once you're in Australia
Working Holiday United Kingdom | Student World | Free Movement New Zealand | Work and Holiday Vietnam |
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arrive | Although it's not mandatory, normally the host family picks up the au pair from the airport or train station (or organizes a pick-up). The first days should then be reserved for getting to know each other and introducing the au pair to the family's daily routines. You are not sure how to welcome your au pair and which rules you should define? Have a look at our tipps and discuss with other families in our community! You are feeling homesick, the kids don't seem to like you and you just feel like returning home asap? Get comfort and tipps from other au pairs in our community! | |||
residence registration | not relevant | An au pair entering Australia holding a Student visa has to inform her / his education provider of
For more information please see section "Student visa (subclass 500)" on the website of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. | not relevant | |
work permit | Even though the Working Holiday visa, the Work and Holiday visa and the Student visa come with work rights, it is mandatory for the au pair to hold a valid "Working With Children Check" (WWCC) Notice before commencing her / his job as an au pair. Depending on the Australian State or Territory the host family is living in, there are different legal requirements the au pair has to comply with: 1. Australian Capital Territory
2. New South Wales
(WWCC) 3. Northern Territory
4. Queensland An approved Working with Children Check (= blue card check) is resulting in
5. South Australia Under the Children's Protection Act (1993 Act, 2010 Regulations) a person in a position where he / she has
(Child-related Employment Screening) 6. Tasmania Under laws which took effect in 2014 (three year guideline) people working / volunteering with children are required to apply for a Working with Children Registration before they start working. (Working with Children Registration) 7. Victoria
need a WWC Check. (WWC Check) 8. Western Australia & the Christmas and Cocos Islands A Working with Children Check is compulsory for people working / volunteering with children. Recommendation: It is recommended that the host family assists the au pair in the application process for the Working with Children Check. Note: A penalty will apply if commencing to work with children without holding a valid WWCC. | Even though the Special Category visa allows the au pair to work in Australia it is mandatory for the au pair to hold a valid "Working With Children Check" (WWCC) Notice before commencing her / his job as an au pair. Depending on the Australian State or Territory the host family is living in, there are different legal requirements the au pair has to comply with in prior. 1. Australian Capital Territory
2. New South Wales
(WWCC) 3. Northern Territory
4. Queensland An approved Working with Children Check (= blue card check) is resulting in
5. South Australia Under the Children's Protection Act (1993 Act, 2010 Regulations) a person in a position where he / she has
(Child-related Employment Screening) 6. Tasmania Under laws which took effect in 2014 (three year guideline) people working / volunteering with children are required to apply for a Working with Children Registration before they start working. (Working with Children Registration) 7. Victoria
need a WWC Check. (WWC Check) 8. Western Australia & the Christmas and Cocos Islands A Working with Children Check is compulsory for people working / volunteering with children. Recommendation: It is recommended that the host family is assisting the au pair in the application process for the Working With Children Check. Note: A penalty will apply if commencing to work with children without holding a valid WWCC. | Even though the Working Holiday visa, the Work and Holiday visa and the Student visa come with work rights, it is mandatory for the au pair to hold a valid "Working With Children Check" (WWCC) Notice before commencing her / his job as an au pair. Depending on the Australian State or Territory the host family is living in, there are different legal requirements the au pair has to comply with: 1. Australian Capital Territory
2. New South Wales
(WWCC) 3. Northern Territory
4. Queensland An approved Working with Children Check (= blue card check) is resulting in
5. South Australia Under the Children's Protection Act (1993 Act, 2010 Regulations) a person in a position where he / she has
(Child-related Employment Screening) 6. Tasmania Under laws which took effect in 2014 (three year guideline) people working / volunteering with children are required to apply for a Working with Children Registration before they start working. (Working with Children Registration) 7. Victoria
need a WWC Check. (WWC Check) 8. Western Australia & the Christmas and Cocos Islands A Working with Children Check is compulsory for people working / volunteering with children. Recommendation: It is recommended that the host family assists the au pair in the application process for the Working with Children Check. Note: A penalty will apply if commencing to work with children without holding a valid WWCC. | |
bank account |
More information and advice can be found on the Australian Government's "Moneysmart" website. Important: Most host families want to have proof of the payment of the pocket money. So opening up a bank account is one of the first tasks on the 'to-do list" of the au pair. |
More information and advice can be found on the Australian Government's "Moneysmart" website. |
More information and advice can be found on the Australian Government's "Moneysmart" website. Important: Most host families want to have proof of the payment of the pocket money. So opening up a bank account is one of the first tasks on the 'to-do list" of the au pair. | |
driving a car | The laws and driving regulations in Australia differ from state to state.
Please see section "Driving with an overseas licence" provided by the Australian Government to find out about the specific laws for driving with an overseas licence. | |||
elongate visa / apply for residence permit | The Working Holiday visa lets the au pair stay in Australia for 12 months from when the au pair first enters Australia. Any time outside Australia after the 12-month stay visa has started does not extend the length of the visa. Option: The au pair has the option to apply for a Second Working Holiday visa in case the au pair has
In case a Second Working Holiday visa is granted, the au pair can stay in Australia for up to 24 months from the date the au pair entered Australia on her / his first Working Holiday visa. For more information about this option please see the "Working Holiday visa (subclass 417 - features) " on the website of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. | An au pair holding a Student visa with Assessment Level 3 undertaking a course or courses of 10 months duration or less generally is subject to a "Further Stay Restricted' condition. In case the au pair can provide evidence of funds to cover a further 12-month stay, this condition is no longer mandatory. For more information please see section "Student visa (subclass 500)" on the website of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. |
Note:
For more information please see the "Special Category visa (subclass 444 - features) " on the website of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. | The Work and Holiday visa lets the au pair stay in Australia for 12 months. Any time spent outside Australia after the 12-month stay on the visa has started does not extend the length of the visa. Option: In case the au pair's visa is not granted with a 'no further stay' condition the au pair can apply for a different visa. For more information about this option please see the "Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462 - features)" on the website of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. |
step by step to change family in Australia
Working Holiday United Kingdom | Student World | Free Movement New Zealand | Work and Holiday Vietnam |
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find new family |
For more information have a look at our tipps, how to change family! | |||
insurance | Recommendation: The au pair should notify her / his insurance providers of any change of address to be able to have immediate access to the benefits in case of need covered by
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residence registration | not relevant | An au pair changing the host family holding a Student visa has to inform her / his education provider of
For more information please see section "Student visa (subclass 500)" on the website of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. | not relevant | |
work permit / residence permit | Important: In case the new family is living in another State or Territory, the au pair has to apply for a new WWCC in this State or Territory before commencing to work. |
step by step to leave Australia
Working Holiday United Kingdom | Student World | Free Movement New Zealand | Work and Holiday Vietnam |
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other | Also consider the following, especially when the au pair leaves earlier than planned:
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Hi, my name is Sabrina Tonon
and I’m responsible for this country information
I have thoroughly researched the information on this page, still I can’t give a guarantee that everything is correct and up-to-date.
If you should find any mistakes, please send me a message.
If you have any questions regarding the information on this page, you can ask them in the community.