The " Au Pair " Option !

In Britain the upper classes enjoy the services of legendary "Nannies "who teach their children social etiquette and manners.  The less affluent countries of Europe provide " au pair " girls who are eager to live in their hosts homes and look after their children in exchange for what amounts to "pocket money ".   The attraction is the opportunity to travel about in a different country and  learn to speak better English.   The gain is mutual benefits for both the host and the au pair

Many will be surprised to learn that about ten thousand au pairs are working in Australia each year and some people are thinking that this should be expanded to provide an answer to the burgeoning crisis overwhelming the child care industry.   The main obstacle seems to be a restriction on entry visas that limits the stay to just six months.  Advocates suggest that this be extended to at least twelve months - and in exceptional cases - even longer.

This is an unregulated industry, but the general terms are that the au pair boards with the family and receives a stipend of somewhere between $ 200 and $ 250 a week.  In exchange, the au pair provides about thirty hours of childcare a week, allowing the recipient to return to the work force or enjoy additional leisure time.

We are surrounded by low wage Asian countries, many of whom provide great numbers of au pairs to Hong Kong and Middle East countries.  It is suggested that if the child care rebate was extended to au pair arrangements it would most likely bring relief to what seems an otherwise intractable problem.  At present there are too few places available in child care and the cost is beyond the ability to pay for women in low wage jobs.

The au pair option would surely apply most to "middle Australia ".  A family considering employing an au pair would need a home capable of providing personal living space and accept a foreign young woman into their living arrangements.  Unfortunately, there have been instances overseas where employers have regarded their au pairs as little more than slaves, with appalling living conditions and unpaid allowances.  We would not want that to happen in this country.

It is also inevitable that there would be cases of incompatibility.   Sometimes children do not warm to a stranger - and sometimes the presence of a stranger creates undesirable emotional attachments that were not intended - with disastrous results.  It is essential that if we are to develop an extended au pair regime we need an office of review that is available to both parties to allow adjudication of disputes - and relocation where that is necessary.

There are obvious problems with that six month visa limitation.  In particular, where an au pair is caring for a child with difficulties - and autism comes to mind -  it takes time to develop a relationship.  Whether the child care rebate is extended or not, there certainly is an opportunity to extend au pair use in this country under the conditions that presently apply.

It has worked well in Europe and other parts of the world.  There will be the usual problems with those overstaying their visas and not all pairings will be harmonious, but by and large it is a sensible answer to at least provide child care at an affordable price.