From $1,550
What is Au Pair?
The Au Pair program is an educational and cultural exchange program with a childcare component suited to university students or school leavers.
The Au pair program sends you to the United States to provide no more than 10 hours per day or more than 45 hours per week of childcare for your host family while pursuing educational credits. No childcare experience is required.
The prospective candidates are young adults who love working with children and are courageous enough to want to live in a new environment whilst living and working in a welcoming and loving family.
In exchange for taking care of their children, the host families provide the au pairs a private room in a safe home, meals, an allowance per week and the tuition fees for an educational/cultural course.
Au pairs may be given the responsibility of infant care (minimum three months and older) from bathing, dressing to feeding and changing nappies. They will be responsible for entertaining and instructing pre-schoolers, reading, playing games and taking them for walks and outings to the park. They may also assist with grocery shopping or even prepare a family meal. Although heavy housework is not permitted, au pairs may share in a few routine family chores and light housework such as making the kids beds and helping them straighten their rooms.
General Application Requirements
- Be between 18 and 26 years of age on arrival in America
- High school graduate or higher
- Speak English
- Have a valid driver’s license
- Have a criminal background check
- Have insurance
- Hold a J-1 visa
- Be in good physical and mental health
- Have a willingness to share language and culture with an American family
- Be energetic, conscientious and enthusiastic
- Be eager to learn about America while participating in daily life as part of loving American family
Important Information
- Includes: International flights, five day workshop, accommodation with host family, meals, cultural and educational enrichment program, visa, insurance and USA criminal checks
- Excludes: Personal expenses, Australian police check
- Application: Year-round but a minimum of three months before desired departure (due to visa application and other documents to be issued)
- Cultural and educational enrichment: Enrol and complete academic coursework relating to study of American culture, values, history, geology, politics or the arts. Host families will pay for the fees. Applicant must complete six credit hours of coursework each year of program.