Aupair Visa Australia - Au Pair Program in Australia

Australia does not have an official au pair program, however the Working Holiday Program and the new Work and Holiday visa provides opportunities for people between 18 and 30 from some countries (see below) to holiday in Australia and to supplement their travel funds through incidental employment.

Working Holiday visa:  (417)

The Working Holiday Program provides opportunities for people between 18 and 30 to holiday in Australia and to supplement their travel funds through incidental employment of up to 12 months.
You are allowed to do any kind of work of a temporary or casual nature, but work for more than six months with any one employer is not permitted.

Australia has reciprocal Working Holiday Maker arrangements in effect with Belgium, Canada, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, HKSAR*, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan, & the United Kingdom.

*Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (includes British National Overseas passport holders).

Work and Holiday visa : (462)

The Work and Holiday visa is for tertiary educated people aged 18 to 30 to have an extended holiday of up to 12 months in Australia. These people can supplement their travel funds through temporary employment. Most countries under this visa have an annual limit of 100 Work and Holiday visas per year. Currently the Work and Holiday visa arrangement is in place for people from:

• Iran
• Thailand
• Chile
• Turkey
• Bangladesh (Arrangement expected to come into effect in 2007-08)

Position details vary depending on the needs of individual families; the norm for work hours is a range of 20-40 hours per week, usually with two days off per week. Usual salary range is approximately Aus $150 to $200 per week.

Student Visa Programs

Specific to US and UK residents, there is a BUNAC work/study program in Australia for US and UK students that would allow au pairs to stay for up to 4 months

Students in qualifying programs may be granted permission to work up to 20 hours a week while their studies are in session and unlimited hours while school is not in session. Students can apply to be granted the right to work once in Australia.

Information for students:
http://www.immi.gov.au/students/student-information.htm

Conditions for working while studying:
http://www.immi.gov.au/students/students/working_while_studying/conditions.htm