Your Orientation

Before you meet your Host Family and embark on your Au Pair experience, we make sure you are fully prepared through our comprehensive two-day Orientation at AIFS' Sydney centre. Our face to face Orientation is designed to assist you in adapting to Australian culture, to prepare you for the time you spend with your Host Family, and offer practical advice and tips on childcare.

Our orientations are interactive so you will be doing group activities, and getting plenty opportunities to share ideas with your peers. We don’t just want to spend two days talking at you, we like to play games, talk and share experiences. Our orientation will give you the opportunity to ask questions and prepare for your amazing Au Pair experience! The Orientation schedule is packed full of important information to benefit you as an Au Pair. You’ll also attend a pediatric first aid course so they should an emergency ever occur you have the skills to be equipped in this situation.

By the time you meet your Host Family, you will be well equipped to go forward into your experience with good expectations and a clear understanding of all that it entails! Spending your first few days at Orientation is a wonderful opportunity to start making friends with all the other Au Pairs from around the world who will be sharing this exciting experience with you.

Arriving in Sydney

You and all the other Au Pairs arriving on the same day, will be met at the airport by a representative holing an AIFS sign. You’ll make your way to the hostel (which is voted one of the best in Sydney!) where you can drop your bags off and freshen up. The hostel is centrally located in Sydney so you can easily explore everything that Sydney has to offer!  If you are on a morning arrival you will need to wait until mid-afternoon to check in so use the day to get out to see Sydney and even soak up the Australia sun! 

Day One of your Orientation 

Because of jet lag we can guarantee that you’ll be up early. Our orientation starts at 8.45 and will finish mid to late afternoon. At the Orientation you will be introduced to Au Pairs who will be living in the same area as you and over the years we’ve found that many great and lasting friendships are made at Orientation. During Day One you’ll meet the Au Pair team, talk about what its like to be an Au Pair, what to do when you first arrive and what to expect from the experience. We’ll also discuss, working with children, common host family rules and expectations, what its like driving in Australia (its on the left so nice and easy!), and child protection.

On this day you will also visit the bank to get your account all set up as well as get your Sim card sorted. AIFS' centre is in the eating area of Sydney so there are lots of cheap food options for lunch including a supermarket 50 metres away. 

After lunch we talk more about how to meet other Au Pairs, the social events and opportunities we offer, what happens after your placement, travelling around Australia and explaining all our services and support we offer you. Once you finish, it is a good chance to get out and see more of Sydney, this time with all your new friends that you met at orientation!

Day Two of your Orientation

The second day of your Orientation.  Throughout the morning you’ll completed your Australia Pediatric First Aid course. After the course we break for lunch and then its time to complete your Working with Children Check. Lastly, we’ll share our experiences, and answer any last questions. We finish early afternoon to have a few more hours to see Sydney before you start to get ready for your big day tomorrow meeting your Host Family!

Heading to your Host Family

On day four you will travel to your Host Family! You don’t have to organise anything as your Host Family cover the cost of traveling to their home no matter where they are in Australia. If your family lives in or around Sydney, then they will more than likely pick you up from the hostel to a central location. Alternatively, if your Host Family lives in a different part of Australia, then you will be provided with your airline, train or bus ticket at orientation. Our Sydney team will tell you the best way to get back to the airport, which platform you might need to be on or where the bus stops are located.