TikTok commenters believe an American creator Grace Harris has moved to Mount Isa to be an au pair for Rob Katter
An American TikToker has made the move to Mount Isa to be an au pair despite multiple warnings and now it’s been revealed she’s working North West Queensland royalty.
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An American TikToker has made the bold move from Sydney to Mount Isa, with internet sleuths correctly identifying the creator as an au pair for the Katter family.
Grace Harris, originally from Nashville, went viral on TikTok after posting a video asking Australians for their opinions on Mount Isa, revealing she would be moving there within a few weeks.
Her videos about the move have put the North West Queensland town on the map internationally, with it now the first hit when searching Mount Isa on TikTok.
“I don’t care if it’s good, bad, tell me everything you know about Mount Isa,” Ms Harris said in her first video about the planned move.
“I need some sort of Australian opinion on it before I go 11 hours to the middle of Australia and realise it’s not for me.”
The TikTok was viewed more than two million times, and Australians instantly expressed their concerns in the comments.
“You’re about to see the worst Australia can offer,” one comment said.
“Even Australians don’t move to Mount Isa,” said another.
Soon after, Grace revealed she was moving to Mount Isa to be an au pair.
An au pair is a young person who travels to a different country or region and lives with a host family, in exchange for childcare and housework.
Followers soon started speculating the influencer could be the au pair for Robbie and Daisy Katter, after Ms Harris posted a video in Townsville in which she said she saw her host family’s father on a billboard.
“The dad that I’m about to start au pairing for, I just saw him on a billboard,” she said in the video.
She then flipped the camera and hid the billboard with her hand, but locals were able to spot the location and conclude that she was outside the Katters’ office on Sturt St.
A few days later, Ms Harris posted a video from a plane travelling to Mount Isa, with the type of plane leading more locals to believe the reason she was moving.
KAP leader and state MP Robbie Katter confirmed the family had hired an au pair.
“We’ve taken on an au pair which is a first for us … my wife is looking at going back to work, so we’re giving it a go,” he said.
Mr Katter said his family took “great offence” to some of the negative commentary posted on TikTok.
“We became aware there was some negative commentary around Mt Isa … it’s important to show her and others that it’s a great place to live,” he said.
“She’s hit Western Queensland in a sweet spot, it’s cool weather, event season has started and it’s green so she’ll be enjoying the best we have to offer.
“We take great offence to people making comments out of ignorance about the West.
Mount Isa Mayor Peta MacRae said it was great to have someone spreading the word about Mount Isa.
“Mount Isa is an iconic Australian city,” she said.
“I want to wish (Ms Harris) all the best for her adventures,” she said.
Ms MacRae said that she encouraged everyone to come visit the city, and form their own opinion.
“You have to come here to experience it for yourself and see what a great place we live in,” she said.
“Once people get out here and see what the lifestyle is like and all the different events we have, they’re quite surprised if they haven’t come earlier,” Ms MacRae said.
In 2024, the North West Health and Hospital Service began a campaign to fill roles in outback Queensland, showing how exciting life can be in Mount Isa.
Emergency Department nurses and doctors shared experiences of living in regional Queensland, hoping to attract more young people, such as Ms Harris, to the town.
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Originally published as TikTok commenters believe an American creator Grace Harris has moved to Mount Isa to be an au pair for Rob Katter
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