Au pair in Australia.

Visa options

The Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) lets people aged 18 to 30 — or 35 for some countries — holiday in Australia and work to help fund the trip. Some passports use the Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) instead, with its own conditions.

Applications for the Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) have been paused for several countries because of annual caps, and processing for subclass 417 is currently slower, so check the latest Home Affairs updates first.

Working holiday makers can usually work for one employer for six months only. Since 1 January 2024, childcare — including nanny and au pair work — is listed as a critical sector, so you can stay with the same family for longer than six months without asking permission.

• Stay up to 12 months and leave and re-enter as often as you like
• Visa fee A$840 when we checked; you'll also need to show about A$5,000 for your stay
• Don't book flights or commit to a family until the visa is granted

Pocket money and pay

Australia has no official au pair programme. Whether an au pair counts as an employee depends on the arrangement, and the Fair Work Ombudsman assesses each case individually. Where it is employment — which is common for live-in childcare — the au pair is entitled to at least the minimum wage and the National Employment Standards. From 1 July 2026 the National Minimum Wage is A$26.44 an hour, or A$1,004.90 for a full-time week, before tax. An award may set a higher rate.

Room and meals don't automatically replace wages. Any deduction has to meet Fair Work rules, so use the Fair Work Pay and Conditions Tool or contact Fair Work before agreeing one.

Working hours and time off

No Australian rule fixes an au pair's week. Where an au pair counts as an employee, the National Employment Standards say ordinary hours should not exceed 38 a week. Au Pair World recommends around 30 hours of childcare a week, so there is still time for the cultural side of the stay.

Australia sets no fixed number of days off for au pairs either. At least one full day off a week is the standard recommendation, and many families and au pairs agree two consecutive days. Where employment law applies, paid annual and personal leave apply too.

• Agree the weekly pattern, start and finish times and who does the school runs before flights are booked
• Say how babysitting evenings count and how they are paid
• There is no official Australian au pair contract; the European au pair contract template is widely used and can be adapted
• A two-week notice period is commonly recommended if either side wants to end the stay

What it costs a family

On top of wages, a host family should plan for superannuation (retirement contributions employers must pay), food, transport and one-off costs such as setting up the room. Home Affairs strongly recommends au pairs hold health insurance, as they are liable for their own medical costs — agree in writing who pays for it.

• Wages where employment law applies: at least A$26.44 an hour, for the agreed hours
• Superannuation: payable on top of wages — check current rules with the ATO
• Food: about A$300–430 a month (our planning estimate)
• Transport: about A$90–200 a month (our planning estimate)
• One-off setup: about A$400–1,000 (our planning estimate)

How to find a match

Families and au pairs on The Pair Network message each other directly. Create a free profile, add clear photos and details, and browse members who fit your dates and needs.

• Be specific about hours, duties, the city you live in and your start date
• Have a video call before agreeing anything
• Put duties, hours, pay and time off in a written agreement
• Check the visa is granted before travel is booked