What happens if things are not going well with my au pair?

Sometimes, adjustment issues or cultural differences may arise during your time with your au pair. In most cases, these can be resolved through open communication , such as explaining your family’s rules, asking your au pair if anything makes them uncomfortable, and addressing concerns early on. In the rare occasion that issues persist, the Au Pair Link team is available to provide both you and your au pair with support and advice, offering confidentiality if preferred, and acting as a mediator if needed. If things still do not improve, and depending on the circumstances, we can discuss termination and the option for a rematch with another au pair.

Can my au pair do housework?

Your au pair can help with child-related housework , such as cleaning the kids' room, tidying the play area, and preparing meals for the children. However, an au pair is not a housekeeper and should not be expected to do heavy-duty housework. They can assist with general household tasks in the areas they use, as part of the family’s shared chores. A Family Handbook will be provided to help ensure that expectations are clearly communicated and agreed upon.

How soon can I have an au pair join our family?

Ideally, we recommend starting the matching process at least 2 months before you want your au pair to arrive. Being in matching means that you’ve provided all the necessary documents and are ready to start interviewing candidates. The two-month timeframe gives you ample opportunity to interview multiple candidates to find the right fit for your family, and also allows the au pair time to organize their flights , visas , and other documentation to arrive in New Zealand. Please note that we have a low season (February to late June) and a high season (mid-July to January) for au pair arrivals.

What is the process like after being registered?

For a detailed overview of the next steps, please refer to our How It Works page , where you can find all the information you need about the process after registration.

What if I have privately found an au pair?

If you’ve already found an au pair privately, you can sign up for our Private Support Programme . This service includes full screening, police checks, and all the benefits of our program support, including orientation , St John first Aid course and access to online resources , family handbooks , support documents , emergency support , and invitations to au pair and child events . The fee for this service is $999 (GST excluded).

Can my au pair care for a newborn baby?

We recommend that au pairs not be left in sole charge of babies under six months old . However, our Whiz au pairs often have the experience necessary for caring for infants. Be sure to discuss your specific needs with your Au Pair Link Placement Consultant to find the best fit for your family.

What child care experience do the au pairs have?

All our au pairs have at least 200 hours of experience with children, and you will be able to review their childcare experience on their application and during your interview. On our Whiz program, our au pairs have a degree/diploma in education + 6 months experience, or 1 year full-time experience with under 5’s. View our program page for more information about our Mate and Whiz program.

Can my au pair drive?

Most of our au pairs will have an (international) driver’s licence . However, comfort levels with driving can vary, so we recommend discussing your specific driving needs during the interview process to ensure a good fit.

How are the au pairs screened?

Our au pairs are carefully recruited and screened. Each applicant goes through a personal interview to assess their motivation, submits references , provides a medical check certificate , and completes a criminal background check .

Where are the au pairs from?

Most of our au pairs come from Germany , France , and Sweden , though we also receive applications from other nationalities giving you a diverse pool of candidates to choose from.

FAQs Archive

What happens if things are not going well with my au pair?

Sometimes, adjustment issues or cultural differences may arise during your [...]
Continue Reading
Can my au pair do housework?

Your au pair can help with child-related housework, such as [...]
Continue Reading
How soon can I have an au pair join our family?

Ideally, we recommend starting the matching process at least 2 [...]
Continue Reading
What is the process like after being registered?

For a detailed overview of the next steps, please refer [...]
Continue Reading
What if I have privately found an au pair?

If you’ve already found an au pair privately, you can [...]
Continue Reading
Can my au pair care for a newborn baby?

We recommend that au pairs not be left in sole [...]
Continue Reading
What child care experience do the au pairs have?

All our au pairs have at least 200 hours of [...]
Continue Reading
Can my au pair drive?

Most of our au pairs will have an (international) driver’s [...]
Continue Reading
How are the au pairs screened?

Our au pairs are carefully recruited and screened. Each applicant [...]
Continue Reading
Where are the au pairs from?

Most of our au pairs come from Germany, France, and [...]
Continue Reading

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Host families

Getting Started

General information

Au Pairs

Getting Started

General information

FAQs

Your Journey to a Fulfilling Life

FAQs

FAQs

Sometimes, adjustment issues or cultural differences may arise during your [...]

Your au pair can help with child-related housework, such as [...]

Ideally, we recommend starting the matching process at least 2 [...]

For a detailed overview of the next steps, please refer [...]

If you’ve already found an au pair privately, you can [...]

We recommend that au pairs not be left in sole [...]

All our au pairs have at least 200 hours of [...]

Most of our au pairs will have an (international) driver’s [...]

Our au pairs are carefully recruited and screened. Each applicant [...]

Most of our au pairs come from Germany, France, and [...]

Award winning
au pair agency

Host families

Getting Started

General information

Au Pairs

Getting Started

General information

FAQs

Your Journey to a Fulfilling Life

FAQs

FAQs

Award winning au pair agency

Award winning
au pair agency