Prepare for Your Au Pair
AIFS Au Pair helps both the Host Family and the Au Pair prepare for the 6-month Au Pair placement, including an Orientation for the Au Pair upon arrival in Australia and comprehensive placement literature for the Host Family. Our Au Pair & Host Family Handbook contains useful information to assist you in planning for the arrival of your Au Pair in addition to the information you will receive closer to the date of your Au Pair's arrival. After arriving in Australia, all AIFS Au Pairs attend a 2-day Orientation at AIFS' centre.
The goals of the orientation are to:
- Provide an opportunity to acquire knowledge & skills that will help your Au Pair to adjust to the Australian culture and lifestyle
- Help your Au Pair to acclimatise to Australian life
- Assist the Au Pair to understand child development and behaviour in an Australian context
- Remind Au Pairs' AIFS' policies regarding their placement
The AIFS Orientation also covers:
- Adapting to different cultures
- Meeting Host Family expectations
- Childcare practices in Australia
- Child Protection and safeguarding
- A pediatric First Aid course
- Activity planning for specific age groups
- Scenario exercises and discussion
The first week
When your Au Pair leaves AIFS to head to your home he or she will be nervous, excited and unsure about what to expect. Providing a warm welcome and giving the au pair some time to settle into their new life in critical. Remember that for many Au pairs it will be their first time living away from home and in a English speaking environment. Taking the time in these first few weeks will help the Au Pair transition to your family and build a solid foundation for your placement.
To ensure a smooth start to your placement AIFS provides all new Families with a Welcome Pack upon confirmation of their Au Pair. This pack includes the AIFS Au Pair & Host Family Handbook which provides tips for living with a young adult and how to prepare for her arrival, explores cultural adaptation issues and offer suggestions on matters you will need to consider and discuss with your Au Pair. Please take the time to read through the Handbook and of course contact us if you have any questions or concerns prior to your Au Pair's arrival.
For many families hosting an Au Pair will be a new experience. At AIFS we aim to make the experience an easier one allocating you your own dedicated AIFS Community Counsellor for the duration of the placement. Your Counsellor will answer your questions and is available outside of office hours including the weekend to support you.