Au Pairs

Au Pairs at Little Sunshines Agency

At Little Sunshines Au Pair Agency we are able to assist your family with placing experienced, reliable, dedicated and responsible au pairs who are able to commit. We assist with au pairs being placed in South Africa – Gauteng, Western Cape & Kwa-Zulu Natal. Below is information in relation to au pairs which we highly recommend that you read through.

What is an Au Pair:
Au Pairs (in South Africa) are considered someone who:

• looks after children in the home
• works with babies, toddlers, children and teenagers
• generally stays with a family for 1 to 2 years – more if you are lucky!
• assists with homework, school projects etc.
• transports children around to extra murals etc.
• runs errands like collecting the post, grocery shopping etc.
• cooks meals for the children and sometimes the family dinner
• does not do any traditional domestic worker duties
• is generally between the ages of 20 to 50
• generally has 1 to 3 years of child care experience
• has a matric qualification (at our agency it is compulsory for a candidate to have PASSED Matric)
• sometimes has done a first aid course (at our agency it is compulsory for a candidate to do one)
• sometimes has completed a childcare course
• sometimes is studying towards a degree / diploma
• sometimes has teaching experience
• sometimes has a teaching degree
• has a valid drivers license
• has their own roadworthy vehicle
• does not wear a uniform
• does not generally live-in though some do
• generally works Monday to Friday and babysits on occasion over the weekend
• is reimbursed by the family for petrol
• who earns overtime but only does overtime on occasion
• liaises with the school and teachers about the child’s progress and reports back to the parents

*Please note the above is dependent on the LEVEL of the candidate you would require (see below) which is also dependent on affordability in terms of the salary you are able to pay.

JUNIOR Level Au Pairs:
JUNIOR level au pairs are someone who:

• Has a valid drivers license
• Has their own vehicle
• Is generally 18 – 21 years old
• Has about 0 – 1 year experience
• Is able to work with children aged 4 to 16
• Generally does not have experience with babies and toddlers
• Is able to drive the children around to various extra murals etc.
• Is able to do homework with the kids
• Generally does not have any child care qualifications
• Generally does not have a first aid course
• Is realistically able to commit to a family for about 1 year at most
• MORNING Salary R7500 to R9000 OR
  • Generally 4 to 5 hours per day
• AFTERNOON Salary R7500 to R9000 OR
  • Generally 3 to 7 hours per day
  • NB – Add an additional R2000 if they need to do the morning school drop off
• FULL DAY Salary R10 000 to R14 000
  • Generally 9 to 12 hours per day

MEDIUM Level Au Pairs:
MEDIUM level au pairs are someone who:

• Has a valid drivers license
• Has their own vehicle
• Is generally 21 – 24 years old
• Has about 1 – 2 years experience
• Is able to work with children aged 0 to 16
• Is able to stimulate the children on a mental and physical level
• Is able to tend to the overall emotional well-being of the children
• Has experience with babies, toddlers, children and teens
• Is able to drive the children around to various extra murals etc.
• Is able to do homework & tutor the kids
• Is generally studying towards a degree / diploma
• May have a first aid course
• May have done some child care courses
• Is realistically able to commit to a family for at least 1 year
• MORNING Salary R9000 to R12 000 OR
  • Generally 4 to 5 hours per day
• AFTERNOON Salary R9000 to R12 000 OR
  • Generally 3 to 7 hours per day
  • NB – Add an additional R2000 if they need to do the morning school drop off
• FULL DAY Salary R13 000 to R18 000
  • Generally 9 to 12 hours per day

SENIOR Level Au Pairs and / or a Governess:
SENIOR level au pairs are someone who:

• Has a valid drivers license
• Has their own vehicle
• Is generally 25 or older
• Has about 3 years experience
• Is able to work with children aged 0 to 16
• Has formal experience with babies, toddlers, children and teens
• Is able to stimulate the children on a mental and physical level
• Is able to tend to the overall emotional, developmental and psychological well-being of the children
• Is able to drive the children around to various extra murals etc.
• Is able to do homework & tutor the kids
• Is able to be a personal assistant also
• Is able to run a household
• Is able to communicate with teachers, doctors, therapists etc.
• Is well-versed in managing routine and structure
• Generally has a degree / diploma
• Has completed a first aid course
• May have done some child care courses
• Is generally able to commit to a family for at least 1 year or more
• MORNING Salary R13 00 to R16 000 OR
  • Generally 4 to 5 hours per day
• AFTERNOON Salary R13 000 to R16 000 OR
  • Generally 3 to 7 hours per day
  • NB – Add an additional R2000 if they need to do the morning school drop off
• FULL DAY Salary R16 000 to R30 000
  • Generally 9 to 12 hours per day
  • Is able to travel with the family when needed
  • PS – if they earn R22 500 or more then NO additional pay is applicable for any additional hours worked

ALL Candidates:

• Petrol reimbursement at AA Rates per km travelled would be in addition to the salary (NOT to and from work).
• If you are providing a vehicle for the candidate to use during working hours then you would not have to reimburse the candidate per km indicated above.

PLEASE NOTE:
It is becoming near to impossible to find GOOD au pairs to work for less than 3 hours per day (R7500 per month) owing to ever increasing living expenses. Those that do work for less often end up resigning after a few months due to financial constraints or finding a position elsewhere that offers a higher salary. Salaries can be dropped according to skills, type of candidate etc. however the above is a good estimate for a GOOD Au Pair.

Little Sunshines likes to think that an Au Pair is there to provide your children with the stimulation, fun, care and security that you the parent provide when you are with them. No one would ever be able to replace the role that a parent plays, however during the parent’s absence we believe it is vital that the child is properly cared for by a person that both the parents and the child feel comfortable and confident with.

Please note that Au Pair salaries are payable directly from the Family to the Au Pair. The Family only pays the once-off placement fee to Little Sunshines Au Pair Agency.

Over the years many people have asked us what is an Au Pair and what would a typical Au Pair Job Function entail? Our response to this is…

In essence we believe an Au Pair is primarily there to look after the children and be the responsible adult while the parents are not present. An Au Pair is there to foster relationships with the children she looks after and most importantly to provide a safe and loving environment where the children feel secure and where life is as predictable as possible, being governed by routine and structure.

In terms of an Au Pair’s Job Function “a day in the life of an Au Pair” can include, but not be limited to:

Full Day Au Pairs – General Roles & Responsibilities

• Take little ones to morning extra mural activities
• Assist with administration tasks in the home / home-office / office i.e. PA duties
• Prepare lunch for the children
• Collect the children from school
• Give them an afternoon snack
• Supervise their homework
• Take them to Extra Murals
• Assist them with school projects, essays, speeches, exam revision etc.
• Play with the children and provide stimulating activities
• Pack lunch boxes and school bags for the next day
• Bath the children
• Cook dinner for the children and/or family
• Attend various school functions
• Run errands
• Do grocery shopping
• Do babysitting in the evenings and weekends
• Go on holidays with the Family when required
• Work in December until around the 21st and to return to work around the 7th of January

Half Day Au Pairs – General Roles & Responsibilities

• Collect the children from school
• Give them an afternoon snack
• Supervise their homework
• Take them to Extra Murals
• Assist them with school projects
• Play with the children and provide stimulating activities
• Pack lunch boxes and school bags for the next day
• Bath the children
• Cook dinner for the children and/or family
• Attending various school functions
• Run errands
• Do grocery shopping
• Do babysitting in the evenings and weekends
• Go on holidays with the Family when required
• Work in December until around the 21st and to return to work around the 7th of January

The above depends largely on the family that the Au Pair is going to work for, and these job functions will vary from family to family based on their needs and home environment as well as affordability.

Things Au Pairs Should NOT Do:

• Smoking
• Chatting on the cell phone
• Texting
• Checking out their Social Media
• Reading their emails
• Watching TV
• Reading Magazines
• Sitting on the couch watching the children play

This is, of course, our view in terms of what an Au Pair is. However if there is one thing that we have learnt over the years, it is that every family is different and every family has a unique set of requirements. It is therefore our duty to help our families find an Au Pair that matches their particular job specifications and family dynamics as closely as possible.

If you require an Au Pair or Governess simply contact us and we will gladly be of assistance!