Au Pair Program
Program length: 2 months and beyond.
Program Location: All areas of France.
Conditions to be eligible for this program:
- be aged between 18 and 27
- be flexible and open to new ideas
- be prepared to work 30 hours a week
- be prepared to look after children and help with simple household chores
- enjoy being with children and have a minimum amount of experience with them (babysitting, summer camps, etc.)
- be prepared to commit yourself to a minimum stay of 6 to 12 months (2 to 3 months for a summer stay)
- be in good health
- pass an Australian Police Check or Working with Children Check
Description of the Program: An Au pair placement is a cultural exchange program in a French family and not an employment contract. During your stay, you are considered as a member of the family who has been selected for their compatibility with your profile.
During your stay, you commit yourself to :
- 30-40 hours of work a week
- look after the children (2-12 years) at home, including mealtimes, naps, bath time, playtime, etc
- take the children to school and their outside activities (music, sports, leisure..), baby-sit two evenings a week
- help with the daily running of the home and simple house chore, pay your own travel expenses as far as the nearest railway station or airport.
In return, the host family undertakes to :
- provide you with a private bedroom with bathroom (if no private bathroom you will share the children’s bathroom)
- provide all meals
- give you between 70 and 100 € pocket money per week, payable at the end of each week
- provide you with a car, if this is convenient
- Pay for your insurance
Free time:
- one or two days off a week, if possible at the weekend, with at least one Sunday a month.
- enough free time for your French lessons and leisure pursuits
- one week paid holiday after 6 continuous months with the family
Placement times: We receive candidates all year long. Generally speaking, the longer you plan to stay, and the more experience you have, the better chance you will have to find a host family quickly. Remember that a well-completed application always makes a good impression to potential host families.
School year: Most French families look for Au pairs during the school year, which commences in September, and runs until June. If you are looking for a host family for this period, please send your application before June. However, if we receive your application between June and August and if you are available, we will do our best to find you a host family as quickly as possible.
Calendar Year: Many families are also looking for Au pairs who are available from January and who will stay for the summer holidays, and even longer. If you are looking for a host family for this period, please send your application between October and December.
Summer holiday period: We also accept applications for the summer holidays. Owing to the large number of applications we receive for this period, we ask you to be patient, flexible and available at short notice. If you send us an application for the holiday period, it will be easier to find a host family if you are available between end May/mid June and the beginning of September.
AFX Services:During your stay we remain at your disposal for any assistance you may need (with language courses, transportation, etc.). We keep in touch with you during your stay and, acting as a personal advisor, help you make a success of your new living arrangements.
Fees: This program costs $900 for 2 months and $100 per extra month.
For all candidates applying for the Au Pair program by the end of July 2010 AFX offers 20% discount*.
* payment of $250 deposit must be paid and the application form an required documentation returned by the end of July to secure this discount.