Your Requirements
Your Au Pair must have a dedicated and separate bedroom as well as suitable access to a bathroom. Access to a computer, TV, books etc is preferable. Your Au Pair must have at least three meals per day (free of charge) as well as uninhibited access to all food and typical household amenities. You can not expect your Au Pair to share a room with your child or children – there must be sufficient space in your home to accommodate an Au Pair.
When your Au Pair arrives in New Zealand, we ask that you take two full days off to help them with the children as well as teach them about your routines, community and local amenities. It is important for you to show your Au Pair where they can find your children's medication (if applicable), where the closest hospital or doctor is and any other information that is vital to know about your family. We will provide your family with a handy welcome pack, full with useful and practical hints to help make the initial weeks with your Au Pair a breeze.
We ask our Host Families to be considerate toward their Au Pair and to make sure that an open and honest line of communication is established. We ask you to respect the privacy of your Au Pair and to be mindful of their safety. Please remember that your Au Pair will be jetlagged and exhausted after lengthy international travel - so initial rest is essential.
It is important to remember that your Au Pair is a long way from their home and family. Therefore, we ask our Host Families to help ensure that their Au Pair is able to (where possible) easily contact their loved ones back home e.g. through providing internet access, phone cards etc.
It is also a requirement that you and your family fully participate in our programmes where required – such as monitoring and commenting in the Communication Book that we provide. We also provide written contracts for you and your Au Pair outlining the nature of their employment with you (hours to be worked etc). This agreement also reinforces our policies and requirements for you and your Au Pair.
Host Family requirements include:
- You must provide an appropriate and private bedroom for your Au Pair
- You must provide three meals a day for your Au Pair
- You must be a New Zealand citizen or legally residing in New Zealand
- You must speak fluent English
- You must comply with our healthy and safety policies – as per Ministry of Education guidelines and the Health and Safety in Employment Act
- You must sign and adhere to our Host Family agreement
- You must sign an individual employment agreement between you and your Au Pair
- You must pay your Au Pair’s wage in accordance with our guidelines
- You must provide your Au Pair with at least two consecutive days off per week and one weekend off per month
- You must endeavour to include your Au Pair in family outings, gatherings and other events
- You must provide your Au Pair with transportation from the orientation course to your home
- You must provide your Au Pair with access to a vehicle if you live rurally.
- You must organise insurance cover on your car for your Au Pair if appropriate
- You must cease to employ your Au Pair after the maximum 12 month term as per their visa conditions and our programme conditions
- You must ensure that your Au Pair attends monthly meetings
- You must fully participate in our programmes and maintain communication with us
- You must be at home (only one parent) during the first 3 days when your Au Pair arrives
- You must make sure that you comply with all relevant New Zealand tax regulations