Au pair visa: Government considers flexible deal to ease childcare burden
EXCLUSIVE: A special au pair visa to help make childcare more affordable and flexible — and enable mothers to return to work — is being considered by the Turnbull government.
NSW
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A SPECIAL au pair visa to help make childcare more affordable and flexible — and enable mothers to return to work — is being considered by the Turnbull government.
Immigration and Border Protection Assistant Minister Alex Hawke is looking at proposals for a special au pair and carer visa, allowing au pairs to stay with families for 12 months to two years.
Under the proposals, an au pair would be paid a flat minimum wage, or “pocket money” of, for example, $255 for 35 hours a week, plus food and board, making it a more affordable option than Sydney’s exorbitant childcare fees, which can reach $180 a day.
“We are interested in how these au pair visas could ease pressure on the whole childcare system and provide options for families,” Mr Hawke said.
“This is about flexibility, it is about affordability for families and giving people more options and choice.
“The government has to see good-quality proposals that take account of some of the difficulties with these visas and look at the international experience to develop something in consultation with the industry and partners.”
Currently an au pair can obtain only a six-month visa under the Working Holiday Maker Program, and families can apply to extend it for up to 12 months.
“Three adults raising a family of five is far more convenient.”
After that time the family needs to find a new au pair — and finding one is often a time-consuming process and one which is heart-breaking for the children, as Castle Hill mother-of-five Lara Thom knows.
The Guzman y Gomez chief marketing officer spends three hours travelling to and from the city each day and the family’s French au pair, Wendy Neuville Salerian, 22, gives Ms Thom flexibility if she is late or stuck in traffic.
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“Three adults raising a family of five is far more convenient,” Ms Thom said.
“With the increasing cost of childcare, which is outrageous, and the hours aren’t flexible ... it’s more cost-effective for families on middle incomes to have a full-time au pair.”
The Federal Office for Women is understood to have also made a formal request for au pairs to be able to work for two years in regional areas, to help isolated families and enable women to return to work.
The Working Holiday visa program applies only to people from a limited number of countries, and applicants must meet financial and education requirements.
The Cultural Au Pair Association of Australia has been lobbying the government to introduce an au pair visa class, and extend it to other countries.
“Countries like Brazil send a large number of au pairs to other destinations but can’t to Australia,” association president Wendy Aylward said.
“Most families would like to have (their au pair) for longer ... because kids become very connected to their au pairs. They become part of the family.”
Ms Aylward said it was important that both au pairs and families had a screening process to ensure it was a safe and rewarding experience for all involved.
Childcare rebates and benefits can be claimed only for registered childcare, so an increased use of au pairs in Australia could ease the burden on taxpayers.
Industry groups also need to address concerns that au pairs could be exploited with excessive hours or duties.
Au pairs currently do not pay tax or make superannuation contributions, and do not get sick leave or holidays.
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