What is an Au-Pair?

An au pair is a single person, aged 18-30, who wants to spend time in Italy in order to study Italian and Italian culture whilst living as part of a family. In return for full board and lodging and pocket money they agree to help with the children and perform light household duties. An au-pair is not a nanny and should not be left in sole charge of babies or young children aged under 2.  The au-pair is not a cleaner or a housemaid - their responsibilities do not include heavy housework unrelated to the children such as windows, cleaning the home or polishing.

 The au pair must have her own room (an exception might be made for holidays periods in which the au pair might be asked to share the room with the children) and must be able to attend Italian classes. The affiliate agency in Italy can provide the certificate of the language school depending on the length of the au pair stay. If the au pair is supposed to stay 1 year she should pay in advance half of the price of the course cost, which is around 360 euro. The family will pay the remainder of the advance course cost, and take it in small amounts monthly by the pocket money.

Duties and Responsibilities of an Au-Pair

The au pair's childcare responsibilities may include:

• Awakening the children, dressing them, bathing, playing and feeding them

• Preparing light meals or helping to prepare meals, making children's beds, doing their laundry, ironing their clothes

• Taking/collecting children to and from school, appointments or outings requested by the host family

• Shopping, vacuuming, dusting and some other light housework

• Being home if necessary while children are absent from school due to illness or holidays

• Baby-sitting in the evenings on request

• The au pair has the right to get one whole day off a week  which will be chosen in accordance to the family need. The day off does not necessarily be a Sunday, but should include at least a Sunday a month. Other holiday periods will be decided with the host family

Family's Responsibilities

Families who join Au-Pair program must:

• Facilitate the au pair's requirement to attend courses for not less than six hours per week or its equivalent at an institution of higher education

• Provide an appropriate private room and meals for the au pair

• Make available the au pair's agreed free time and days off

• Pay the au pair's agreed pocket money each week

• Treat the au pair as an "extended family" member, not as an employee

• Agree that one or both parents or other responsible adult remain home during the first two days after the au pair's arrival to help in training and acclimatising the au pair to his/her child care responsibilities, the home and the neighbourhood; and understand that an au pair cannot have sole responsibility for a child under 24 months of age

• Take care of picking up the au pair from the nearest airport/train station/bus station (on arrival and on departure). The au pair normally has to organize and pay for her travel expenses to and from the host country.

Pocket Money

In addition to accommodation and meals, the au pair will receive a pocket money to be paid weekly.

• For a service of 35 hours a week including 1 night babysitting the au pair will receive 77 Euro/week.
• For a service of 40 hours a week (au pair plus) including 1 night babysitting the amount due would be 88 Euro/week, with one full day off.

How To Apply

Along with her completed application form, the candidates should provide:

1) one or two pictures

2) a medical certificate of good health

3) a police certificate that they have no criminal records

4) one or two letter of references

5) a dear family letter

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Last modified: February 06, 2010