Time off

As part of the Au Pair in Australia program you’ll work between 0-35 hours per week with at least 1.5 days of a week. Your host family will tell you in advance what your days off will be so that you can plan ahead. Your days off could be split over the week or during the weekend. Your days off may need to change from time to time due to changes in your host families routine ( children’s school activities, working hours etc) however you host family will communicate this with you in advance.

What you do with your days off is totally up to you! You could spend all day in bed binge watching Netflix, spend time with friends, head to one of the many amazing beaches, explore the neighbourhood, join a local sports club, volunteer - the list is endless! Typically most Au Pairs will do the following on their days off:

• Meet up with friends
• Go on hikes
• Go to the beach
• Go on a hike
• Go out for coffee
• Go your for dinner or drinks
• Go to the cinema
• Shopping
• Go visit a new town or city
• Have a weekend away
• Go to the cinema
• Have a picnic in the park
• Have a bbq
• Spend time with their host family
• Swimming
• Playing sports
• Go to the gym

Holiday Pay

Depending on the duration of your placement you will be entitled to either 1 week (6 months placements) or 2 weeks off (9 months placements). You can take this at any time during your placement and you’ll need to discuss with them when it's the best time to take your leave. During this time, you can do whatever you like. Many Au pairs will go travelling with their friends for a week sometimes within Australia or they may even venture out to Fiji, Bali or New Zealand. If you don't take time off you will be paid a week's stipend in lieu at the end of your placement.

Social Coordinators

In every type of Australian placements (city rural or outback) we have AIFS Au pairs which are social coordinators. They will regularly organise events in your area and will invite all AIFS Au pairs so that you can meet like minded people who are out in Australia doing the same thing as you. You can share stories, introduce each other to your friends, give each other recommendations etc. These events could be absolutely anything such as dolphin cruises, picnics or BBQ in the park, pool parties, activity days, surfing etc! AIFS Au Pair in Australia recruits in many different countries so its also an opportunity to meet people from all over the world and make friendships that last a lifetime.

Orientation

As part of the program you’ll attend a two day orientation at our AIFS head office in Sydney. This is a great opportunity to meet new Au pairs where you could make life long friends! All AIFS Au pairs are staying in the same hostel in 4-6 bed single sex dorms. If you are departing at the same time as other Au Pairs in the UK, we will introduce you via email before you depart so you can arrange to meet up and explore Sydney in your free time! In our orientation, we have lots of games and ice breakers which will encourage you to mix with all the other Au pairs. You might find other Au pairs who are going to live in the same area as you, have similar travel plans to you etc.

Community Counsellor

AIFS Au Pair in Australia is the only organisation that offers a community counsellor! The community counsellor is there to provide support for you and your host family, acting as a mentor to you during your entire placement as an Au Pair. You can contact the community counsellor anytime you like for absolutely anything including how to meet new people!

Exclusive social media groups

We have an exclusive facebook group just for AIFS Au pairs in Australia which you will be added to once you land in Australia. This gives you a great opportunity to talk to current and previous Au Pairs for advice, organise meet ups or just to tell everyone what an amazing time you are having. Many of our Au Pairs will use this as a platform to invite people to go travelling with them, share ideas of where to go (and sometimes places where not to go). Many Au pairs will even post when they are visiting for a weekend and want to meet up with other Au Pairs to show them around! It’s so easy meeting people in Australia that by the time you come home your facebook friends will be in the thousands!

Instagram

We often have Au pairs in Australia take over our Instagram account. It’s a great way for you to see what its like to be an Au pair before you depart as well as a platform to meet other Au pairs who are already in Australia. When an Au pair takes over one of our accounts you can contact them and ask as many questions as you like.