German Aupair in Australia – Is it a Good Choice?

If you’re a family that’s been looking at agencies offering an Aupair experience, you’ve probably noticed that there are many candidates from Germany. Even though English is not a commonly spoken language there, you will find that a lot of young adults apply for the program. It gives them a chance to improve on their language skills while living with an Australian family, and it gives families a childcare provider that lives in their home.

That being said, some families are understandably not that comfortable hiring a German Aupair because of the cultural differences and the potential for a language barrier that might be difficult to overcome for children. However, it’s not something you should be worried about, and here’s why.

The Cultural Differences with a German Aupair

Probably the biggest thing families are worried about are the cultural differences. People in Germany are raised differently to people in Australia, and if you need to leave your children with them, this is something you should keep in mind. For many, people in Germany are somewhat distant and resort to direct communication – chatting just for the sake of chatting isn’t really their cup of tea.

What you should keep in mind, however, is that Germans, and people from other countries in Europe, are very quickly able to adjust to a different lifestyle, so those cultural differences will very likely disappear within a short period of time. Which leaves us with the other elephant in the room – the language barrier.

As we mentioned, English isn’t a language Germans speak too often. That being said, though, many of them have an excellent command of the language, whether that’s obtained through education or elsewhere. And that’s exactly the reason why many of them are willing to go to Australia as German Aupair and improve on their language skills – it’s a great way to get some practice.

All things considered, if you’re a family that wants to get an Aupair, the cultural differences and language barrier shouldn’t be a concern – they’ll be taken care of as part of the things that are required of a person in order for them to become an Aupair. Here are all the requirements that an Aupair is required to fulfill in order to be eligible.

The Requirements to Become an Aupair

If you’re looking to become a German Aupair in Australia, you would need a Working Holiday visa, Subclass 417. Let’s look at the requirements for it.

For the Working Holiday visa, Subclass 417, you can apply if you’re between 18 and 30, aren’t married, and have no children. You can’t have entered Australia on a Work and Holiday visa (Subclass 462) before, and you will need a German citizenship and a valid password. Financially, you must be able to pay during a working holiday, which costs around 5,000 AUD, as well as the travel costs of going to Australia and back.

You also need private health insurance as well as to meet certain health and character requirements that make them suitable for the program. The visa is valid for 12 months from the day you enter Australia, but according to the law, you can’t work for more than 6 months out of those 12.

For Aupair, there is also the option of a Work and Holiday visa, Subclass 462, but unfortunately that visa is not available to applicants from Germany. The main differences are that Subclass 462 has educational requirements, as well as evidence of functional English and support from your government.

How Do I Get an Aupair?

For families looking to get an Aupair, whether that’s a German Aupair or one from other countries within or outside of Europe, you can get one through 99aupairs. We’re an award-winning service that offers the ability to match you with the right Aupair for your needs and family dynamics. All it takes is for you to create a profile and let us handle the rest – we’ll match you with the right person to help you with your childcare needs.

This, however, begs another question, should you get an Aupair? Well, our answer to that is a resounding yes, because there is no reason not to. Let us explain.

First, you’ll be getting childcare from a person that lives in your home. You’ll get to know them, and even more importantly, they’ll get to know you and your family dynamics, as well as get valuable insight on how you treat your children. Ideally, they’ll be able to treat them in a similar way, too, but a nanny that’s only with you for a few hours per week won’t have that kind of insight.

Second, your children will be a lot more comfortable around someone that already lives in your home. When they see you trust them, this will be a lot easier because they’ll be able to see them as someone they should respect and trust themselves, too. They’ll be able to ask for help whenever it is necessary, which is sometimes very difficult for children when their parents aren’t around.

Last but certainly not least, rather than the typical payment-for-a-service situation, you’ll have a member of your family with you, one that will get pocket money to spend on things they enjoy and who has living arrangements they don’t have to worry about. This makes it a lot easier for Aupair, too, and they’ll be much more motivated to do well and take better care of your children.

When all is said and done, a German Aupair shouldn’t be something you try to avoid because of cultural differences and language barriers. They’re just as motivated as anyone else to do well, and they can be the perfect helper for your home, with the added flexibility of being able to care for your children when you’re not at home.