Have you been thinking about going to Australia to be au pair? Endless beaches, extraordinary animals, and magnificent nature await! Australia is the choice destination for lots of people around the world — and especially for those who have a passion for working with children or who are looking for lucrative jobs abroad. Plus, finding Australia au pair jobs is the cheapest and best way to start your time in ‘Straya! Let’s find out what you need to know about being an au pair in Australia.
Finding Australia au pair jobs will pair great with your adventures!
Am I eligible to be an au pair in Australia?
Before you book a plane ticket, you should ask yourself: Am I eligible for being an au pair in Australia? Au pair in Australia requirements aren’t too difficult to meet. Here’s how to become an au pair in Australia on a working holiday visa:
- Between 18 and 30 years old
- Single and without children
- Basic knowledge of English (although this may depend on your program or placement)
- Can afford travel expenses
- Can prove they have at least 5000 AUD in their bank account with immediate access
- Be a first-time applicant
If you can check off every point, congratulations — you meet au pair in Australia visa requirements!
How to become an au pair in Australia
Being an au pair in Australia means adventure! But before you start your trip, you should iron out a few details.
1. Choose your city
Once you decide to go to Australia in the first place, it’s time to decide between all those attractive cities! We’re talking Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Canberra, Perth, and the list goes on….
Choose a coastal city and you’ll have endless access to the ocean.
Sydney is not the capital of Australia, but it is the biggest city in the country, and is home to one of the most famous performing arts venues — the Sydney Opera House. You will never ever get bored because Sydney is an all-inclusive city for your senses. It has everything you need!
Melbourne is another great choice. Nearby is the famous landmark, the 12 Apostles. But don’t forget there are a few more options like Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast. There’s also Perth way over on the west side of the country, and Adelaide in South Australia.
Do your research on which city will be the best fit for you, and then you can move forward with how to be an au pair in Australia!
2. Find an au pair agency
The easiest way to find an agency is through the good ol’ Internet (and websites like GoAbroad, of course)! If you do not have any friends who have been to Australia as an au pair already, you’ll still be able to find agency recommendations through websites dedicated to finding au pair work around the world.
On many websites, you can register for free and receive job suggestions according to your personal search criteria. After you’re matched, you can get in touch with your favorite candidates. Once you and a family agree on conditions (don’t forget to ask about your salary!), you can sign the au pair contract and start preparing for your placement.
This means sorting out your visa, flight, etc. If you au pair through a work and travel program, many logistics will be taken care of for you.
3. Explore other program options
If you want to cut back on costs, you could also find your future host family through internet portals like Gumtree. Gumtree is not an au pair website specifically; instead, it’s designed to help backpackers and other short term works traveling to Australia find jobs and housing.
Your au pair job is down there somewhere.
There is also the Backpacker Job Board, where you can find au pair ads as well. And don’t forget about Facebook! Facebook has dozens upon dozens of au pair groups where host families and au pairs can find each other. However, it can be challenging to find a host family via Facebook, as it seems there are more au pairs looking for work than families trying to find au pairs.
These portals don’t guarantee work, but they’re popular alternatives to becoming an au pair in Australia through paid programs and job agencies. Just keep in mind that without a reputable program or agency that everything you do will be at your own risk — so don’t cut corners on research!
4. Apply for a visa
Editor’s note: This information on Australia working holiday visas was accurate at the time of publishing in January 2020. Please refer to the Australia Immigration & Citizenship website for current information.
One of the final steps of how to become an au pair in Australia is to apply for your visa. First thing’s first — check your passport for validity. You should also be aware that there are two different subclasses for working holiday visas in Australia, so it’ll be vital to know which one to apply for. Both are valid for 12 months; if the application was made from outside of Australia, the granted year begins on the day the au pair enters Australia.
- Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417). This working holiday visa is for au pairs from Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Finland, France, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, South Korea, and Taiwan. For subclass 417, there are three ways to apply: in person, online, or by post.
- If you apply by post or in person you should send your visa application in written form to the respective Australian Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence. To ensure that you sent the right documents, you must include the application form for a working holiday visa, as well as a certified copy of your passport.
- If you want to apply online, you have to provide all documents and pay the visa fee by credit card. After your application is submitted, the authorities will review it; if it is approved, you will receive a notification by post or email. Your visa will be electronically connected to your passport. Easy!
- Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 462). This working holiday visa is for au pairs from Argentina, Bangladesh, Chile, China, Ecuador, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Peru, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, Uruguay, the USA, and Vietnam. For subclass 462, application methods are similar to subclass 417.
- You have the option to apply by post or fax, and sometimes you need to submit your application in person. U.S. citizens can apply online. With your application form, you will need to include all required attachments and pay the application fee. Additionally, citizens of Bangladesh and Malaysia have to provide biometric data.
As for citizens from countries not listed above, they may be able to apply for a student visa to become an au pair in Australia. For more information, check out the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship website.
5. Pass your Working With Children Check
Let us point you in the right direction for your next adventure!
Last but not least, au pairs in Australia need a Working With Children Check. Every state in Australia has different names and procedures for the Working With Children Check, which you can find by searching online. You will have to register on the corresponding website for application, and provide your personal information and identity documents.
Let’s go! Get Matched with 5 Au Pair Jobs in Australia for FREE
Now you know how to be an au pair in Australia!
Do you feel like you know a lot more about how to be an au pair in Australia now? There’s still more to learn about work and travel in Australia, so don’t stop researching yet.
To become an au pair in Australia, it’s important to know from the beginning whether you want to organize your stay with an agency or go it by yourself. After that, you know exactly what to do!