Download - The Nanny Nest
Welcome to The Nanny Nest,
We’ve created a way to celebrate the best in the
Nanny world – as it just doesn’t happen enough.
For too long the Australia nanny community has worked
mainly behind closed doors in isolation.
The Australian Consortium Of Nannies (TACON) was originally
conceived in 2001 to support nannies, guide parents and
provided information to government bodies and the media.
In the past three years, it’s founder Marina McHutchison took
time out to focus on her own family.
Now it’s time to jump back into the sandpit and have some fun.
Thanks to the internet – there is so much more that TACON
can offer and create.
We’d love to extend a HUGE thankyou to all those who have
welcomed TACON back with open arms – to read emails from
nannies saying that TACON had helped them to be a great
nanny in the past has made us realise just how important
TACON is in our industry.
The first of our new ventures is The Nanny Nest.
If you’d like to contribute to the magazine in the future – please get in touch – there’s room for all
Marina and the team at The Australian Consortium Of Nannies.
Contents of The Nanny Nest Theme – The Who’s Who of the Nanny World.
NEXT ISSUE ~ NANNY EMPLOYMENT SPECIAL
Nanny Notes
Welcome
Rain Rain
Get Creative
Nanny News
Nanny Interviews
Sharon ~ Ella
Lauren ~ Lara
Pip ~ Lisa
Parent Interviews
Rebecca
Penny ~ Working Mum’s
Masterclass
Agency Interviews
Dial an Angel
TwinEze
Gold Coast nannies
Mothercraft and Nannies
Nanny Share
Lullaby Nanny Share
Businesses *
Living Childcare
The Little Survival
Guide for Nannies
Meet a Sitter
My Manny
NannySure
Domestic Payroll
TACON
This issue is going to blow your mind!
It certainly has ours.
The plan for The Nanny Nest was to invite some
fabulous people in the industry to be interviewed,
so you can all get to know each other, discover what
works for other nannies, families and to learn about
how the great agencies do things and what fabulous
new services are out there waiting for you.
It’s now become like the ultimate nanny street party.
And it seems everyone has come out for it –
all the invites said YES and you’re here now too!
Our very special thanks to all our nannies,
parent and business owners who agreed
to be interviewed for our launch magazine.
TACON has created The Nanny Nest to have a
place to share knowledge and contacts, and
a place where nannies can check in to be reminded
that what you do is one of THE most important jobs in
the world and that you truly ARE appreciated.
THANKYOU
ENJOY . . . .
www.number1nanny.com.au
Australia’s first and free advice sharing website for Babysitters,
Nannies and Parents www.number1nanny.com.au
Online Courses
FREE advice for Nannies, Parents and
Babysitters
Supporting children’s charities and sponsoring
children
Giveaways and Discounts on all your favourite
baby brands
Rain Rain . . . . . .
In honour of Mary poppins, we’ve found some terrific
umbrellas and wet weather gear for kids
All items are available through
www.playgroundprincess.com.au
Let’s Get Creative
There are so many ideas around for getting
creative with kids.
One of my favourite places to store ideas is
PINTEREST.com
Now I can organise all the
ideas and things I plan
to do with kids and
it makes it easy to
access when I
need them quickly.
No more trying to
remember which book it was in!
Join us for our weekly Facebook Pinterest Challenge
Each Friday we’ll pick a challenge
or you can submit an idea to try.
FACEBOOK – Nannies Australia
(The Australian Consortium Of Nannies)
NANNY NEWS
AUSTRALIAN NANNY ASSOCIATION
There is a new association for nannies in Oz.
Pop over to
www.australiannannyassociation.org
for details.
Newly formed in June 2012, the ANA seeks to be
the voice for the nanny community.
You can sign up to the newsletter on the website.
21 November 2012
It’s going to be a special date in nanny
history. TACON has a special
announcement to make.
With so much mystery surrounding the
nanny community, TACON will
‘open the gate’
on our sector of childcare.
Sign up to the TACON newsletter for
more details.
www.nanniesaustralia.com.au
Meet
the
Nannies
First up we speak to Sharon, this fabulous nanny has been working for the past 10 years, having wonderful opportunities to
work in the USA, Sydney, London and now her home town in Victoria. She’s
been working for her current family for some time now, she has her hands full
with two sets of twins and a school aged child to care for.
Like many nannies, Sharon always knew she wanted to work with children, but in
what way she wasn’t entirely sure.
How did you become a nanny? On graduating from High School I saw a brochure for ‘AuPair in America’ so I went along to the info night, loved what I heard and applied to the program. In
less than a month I was accepted and had families contacting me to work with them. I chose a family with 5 children and spent a year with them in Connecticut, and had the best time of my life! From this I decided to continue along this career path for quite a few years. What do you like most about nannying?
I love being able to be so involved in a child’s life (or children in my case), and becoming such an important part of the families lives. The rewards you get from the children, such as a simple smile, hug or when they learn to say your name is just amazing!
I would love to
see Nannies in
the future being
fully recognised
for ALL the hard
work and effort
we put into our
jobs, this would
mean fair pay
and working
conditions. We
work hard for
those lucky
families who
have us, and it
would be nice
for the wider
community to
understand what
we do, because
I can guarantee
we DO NOT sit
around and
simply play
games all day,
there is SO much
more involved than that.
What do you like least about nannying? Sometimes being a Nanny is difficult when the parents undermine
what you say to the children. I am lucky with the family I currently work with that this doesn’t happen and I have been with this family for almost 5 years now!
TIPS FOR PARENTS Don’t take the Nanny for granted, tell her
how much you appreciate all her hard work by saying a simple thank you!
Be flexible just as the Nanny is for you, don’t
expect miracles, sometimes it is just impossible to get everything done
Respect your Nanny, after all she is often the
one helping to raise your children and running your home.
THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVOURITE
THINGS . . . . What’s your favourite age group to work with? My first answer would be babies, I love babies. But then I think further, while babies are so cute to look at a toddler for example will start to sing songs with you, with such joy. A pre-schooler can do so much more, hold conversations with you and so on. I would then say I don’t have a favourite age as each age group has something wonderful to offer!
What’s one of you favourite things to do with children? We love going to the park and the Botanic Gardens, the children also love helping me take my dog for a walk. I love cooking with the children also, it’s a great learning experience and so fun that the children have no idea they are learning! Favourite craft activity?
We love making home-made playdough with different flavours, scents and textures.
Favourite recipe? Banana bread recipe would be a hit for sure, so easy to make and a nice healthy snack for school/kinder/creche
TIPS FOR NANNIES
Be honest, be flexible and come prepared with a bag full of fun
educational activities for the children
TRAINING I hold a Bachelor Degree in Early Childhood Education, my Degree has helped me in planning more appropriate activities for the children. It has also helped me pick up on behaviour issues and special needs in the family (one child has mild Aspergers, that I picked up on) My Degree isn’t so important in my Nanny role at this point as I have been with the family for almost 5 years, however I am positive if I had to find a new Nanny role my Degree and experience would definitely be a positive for other families. I also teach Kindergarten p/t, so my Degree is more for that than the Nanny role. I undertake continuous Professional Development courses on topics
such as behaviour management, Early Years Learning Framework and First Aid related courses (CPR, Anaphylaxis, Emergency Asthma Management)
Iddy Biddy Boo
Ella
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Ella, a Victorian nanny, started casually about ten
years ago, but has been caring for children as a
professional nanny for 8 years now.
Like many other nannies, Ella fell into this line of
childcare by babysitting family, volunteering at
crèches and LOVED it.
What do you like most about nannying? I can’t imagine doing anything else!
There are so many things I love about my ‘job’
and it’s really difficult to put just one but I love the
trusting relationship I have with my employers to
organize the children’s day to accommodate
routine duties such as school pick-ups and have
the freedom to plan exciting ‘adventures’ with
the children that are age appropriate, relevant,
fun and educational.
What do you like least about nannying? Most days are great but I dislike working while
under the weather (not feeling well) ~ bosses are
very accommodating expecting very little on
these days or give me shorter hours ~ and a pet
hate is parents not following through. . .
Nanny Interview Ella
What three tips could
you give parents
about keeping their
nanny long term? 1- Trust and respect your
nanny and keep the
communication open at
ALL times!
2- Pay your nanny
correctly as she is
entitled to the same as if
she worked in any other
field.
3- Voice your
appreciation, nannies
are socially isolated and
saying thanks can
sometimes make a
terrible day fabulous
TRAINING I hold a professional
nanny certificate& am
a post natal doula. I
found these covered
the basics but I have
learned much more
from professional
development, research
and hands on care.
Do you continue to train?
Constantly! I attend
seminars, professional
development, early
childhood study groups,
psychology groups,
read journals, parenting
books, early childhood
text books and network
with others in the field.
Ella
TIPS FOR NANNIES • Be open, honest and
communicate with your
employers about any issues
and congratulate them on
doing a great job at raising
their children- parents aren’t
super hero’s and most need
a pat on the back!
• Cross the T’s and dot the I’s – have
a WWCC, first aid, get a contract,
write up permission slips and
medical release forms etc.
This will set you apart from
babysitters.
• Keep with the times, do
professional development,
read the latest journals,
attend seminars etc.
Child rearing has changed
in the last 20 years so don’t
get left behind.
Ella
What’s one of you favourite things
to do with children? Anything outside from going to the children’s garden at
the royal botanical gardens, kicking a ball at the local
park, walking down the street showing the children
roses, agapanthus, birch trees and any other
plant we pass.
Favourite craft activity? I tend to do more science experiments but a favourite
would be collecting leaves, petals, and small flowers
then letting the children make pictures by sticking them
on contact paper.
Favourite recipe? Quinoa salad
Quinoa with anything fresh added in (avocado,
tomato, dried fruit, spinach, grated apple, mushrooms)
The future of nannying. . . What really bugs me is trying to let parents know you are
a professional nanny among many girls just doing it for
cash. I’ve also come across some amazing nannies who
just don’t know how to market themselves!
Maybe a good article to write is going in depth into
what parents expect to read and what parents really
don’t need to know ie. Studying business and looking for
extra cash, have 5 years experience. Why?!
It would also be great to get agencies to have a ‘sliding
pay rate’ for nannies and babysitters who have a
certain amount of experience.
Most professional nannies I know will not take a
babysitting job at $15.25 per hour as one agency quotes
and casual temp work pay is abysmal to say the least.
Gorgeous Affordable
UPF 50+ Swimwear
for Nannies and Kids
www.BabesintheShade.com.au
LAUREN.
When I finally made the decision to go
ahead with The Nanny Nest, there were a
few nannies that I wanted to highlight
because they were professional career
nannies.
One on the list was Lauren.
The reason she was extra special to me –
was that she founded a newsletter for
nannies a few years ago – JUST NANNIES.
It would arrive in the mail, a little folded
newsletter that was jam packed with
relevant information, some that I hadn’t
come across before and I eventually started
writing articles for.
Lauren’s approach is insightful,
relevant, honest and refreshing.
So here’s our chat with
Lauren, another very special
nanny.
How long have you been
nannying? Wow !! Reading this question
and working back the years
. . . . . It's dawned on me that
I've been nannying for an
incredible 13 years !!!
And unbelievably I've helped
nanny over 25 wonderful children
on a full time / part time basis and
provided short term nannying/ babysitting
to many, many others in that time !!
What attracted you to the industry / what brought you
to the nanny sector?
What attracted me to nannying?
Well to be completely honest , I finished year 12 and knew
I wanted to work with children , but new centre based
care wasn't for me !!
Unbelievably , I opened the newspaper on this soul
searching day to see an add posted by a British/Aussie
family in the UK looking for an Aussie nanny ..... I didn't think
twice about applying ( thinking I don't stand a chance as I
have never nannied before and I have no training).
10 days later I was on my first ever long haul flight solo,
and as they say the rest is history !!
What do you like most about nannying? The things I love about nannying are :
I guess I feel very humbled to know
that the parents of all the children
I have had in my care, have trusted
me implicitly to help raise and
nurture the apple/s of their eye,
and in turn obviously watching the
kids grow and l earn, being an integral part of all the "firsts" there's nothing more special !
What do you like least about nannying? The things that I don't like :
The hardest part of nannying for me is watching a little one
grow from baby to school age and then not being needed
anymore and having to say goodbye !!
That..... and parents who consistently can't get home from
work on time !!!
What’s your favourite age group to work with? My favourite age group to work with is without doubt
newborns !!
I have been very fortunate to maternity night nanny 2 sets of
twins and 3 single bubs .....
And I adored every moment of the sleep deprivation ......
( and I wonder why I have an addiction to coffee??!!) not to
mention all the bubs I’ve had under my nanny wing in the
normal daylight working hours !!!
Babies are incredibly fascinating..... They develop so quickly
in the first year of their life , it really is wonderful and very
special to be a part of allthat growth and development !
Three tips for parents are : Communicate communicate
communicate !!!! Especially if you work
full time and are away from the family
unit 50 hours a week !!
Try at least once a week to come home
a tad early to have a proper catch up!!
The best thing my current employers do
for me is allow me to use my 13 years
knowledge to help dictate what our
routine is , and where possible,
they will also follow it in my absence ,
which means the kids have the same
consistent routine and discipline
methods 24/ 7 and it results in no one
trying to pull a fast one over who ever is
in charge !!
And lastly , treat your nanny like a part of
your family, yes they are an employee ,
but he/ she is nurturing your babies .....
And most likely washing your socks and
jocks ...... So be sure to relate with
them , not to them , include them in
family events like a birthday celebrations
whether required to work or not, and
support your nanny with any decisions
made in your absence.
Is there anything
I'd love to add about nannying ? I can't believe how much
change has occurred in the
industry in such a short time!
Nannies getting paid "on
the books" is becoming
the norm with them
acquiring the rights to paid
superannuation !!! 13 years ago
when I first started nannying I was getting paid
by cash or cheque for $15 per hour and there
was absolutely not a thought about my tax
and super !! Now my employer pays me on a
salary , along with my super and tax, as well
as grants me my paid annual leave !!!
Yes there is still a long way to go in
systematically improving such conditions for
all nannies, having uniformity with the
standards from state to state etc but I feel
confident that with the fabulous advocates
we have, whom are working tirelessly on
amazing things for nannies, like this magazine
☺ we are defiantly on the right path to
encouraging and facilitating awareness that
will hopefully lead to some positive change for
all the career nannies out there ;)
LARA I’ve known Lara for years and have admired
how she balances being a nanny and
running her own boutique nanny placement
agency.
I first met Lara years ago when we crossed
paths when TACON was a fledgling support
service.
We both have similar ideas about the nanny
industry.
So we put together a floating retreat for
nannies, a fabulous day out on the
Harbour, when half way through we
discovered that some of the nannies
suffered from seasickness (how’s that for
Dedication)!
We’ve lobbied and been called upon
by the media for expert opinions
over the years and Lara sat at
the Nanny Roundtable for the Inquiry
into Balancing Work and Family.
A sports nut – her charges are
always out and about enjoying
the Aussie sunshine.
Over the years I’ve seen her work
for some, interesting families.
You see Lara is one of those
nannies who can work for
families that some nannies run away from.
She’s always open and honest which for some can be off
putting – but the families she works for appreciate her
frankness. She can handle those employers some find
intimidating in her stride.
Lara doesn’t suffer fools when it comes to agencies doing
the wrong thing either. There have been a few occasions
over the years where on learning that an agency owner is
avoiding following the Working With Children Check
protocols – Lara will front up with a friendly call and if they
insist the checks aren’t necessary – she’ll notify whatever
department that needs to know.
I love that she’s someone I can call and know that she’ll
have the regs for Working Visa’s or any other anomaly
rolling around in her head.
She does occasionally take time out for herself – as when I
requested a photo – this is what she sent.
She does have a sense of humour that her kids appreciate.
Having worked in the industry for well
over a decade, we are lucky to have
a dedicated nanny who believes that
the care and welfare of kids always
comes first.
Here’s a nanny who cares for kids
with passion, energy and where
nothing is a problem.
She definitely makes life
interesting and fun.
Ad
PIP – Australia’s Number 1 Nanny
Philippa Christian is one of those people who exudes
personality and enthusiasm. She’s one nanny who definitely
has a zest for life.
I had a long chat with Pip when looking for who was new in
the nanny world since I was in the sandpit 3 years ago.
I have to say, her plans for the future are exciting.
She had to be included in the launch issue – so here she is –
Australia’s Number 1 Nanny.
How long have you been nannying? It’s been well over twelve years since I started working with
children. I began babysitting in my first year of secondary
school and haven’t stopped since. While keeping up my
homework and assignments I still had time to get in quite a
few hours of babysitting during the week and at weekends.
It wasn’t a burden at all. When you love what you’re doing
the time just disappears.
What brought you to the nanny sector? To tell you the truth, it found me! Like most kids I took
on an after school job and one afternoon my boss
asked me if I had done any babysitting? I am very
lucky to come from a large family and have three
younger siblings all of whom I helped to look after so I
said yes. Woops! His babysitter had cancelled for
that night and so that was it! I was thrown into the
deep end so to speak but after that one night, their
kids and I became such good friends that my boss
and his wife started going out a lot more often.
This is where it all began and after working for two
years and being recommended by the many new
friends I had made, my babysitting and nannying
address book boasted more than 100 families! Once I
left school I studied hotel management where I
thought I would find an exciting career path but even
though it was great fun and gave me the chance to
work in a really exciting industry, there was something
missing. With the advantage of a few more
years and some domestic experience,
I began nannying full time.
I’ve never looked back.
What is the Number 1 Nanny all about? Number 1 Nanny is a service and a
charity that I started up over a year ago.
On the one hand, Number 1 Nanny
trains babysitters and nannies,
enabling them to learn new skills and
become qualified. I believe the education
of nannies is a vital and often overlooked area in our
industry. Many nannies have told me they find it difficult to
find formal training that is reliable, easy to understand and
practical. I hope to educate and mentor nannies in these
areas so that they feel safe, comfortable and ready to take
on any nanny role that comes their way.
My website www.number1nanny.com.au is a free parenting
and nannying advice website that is still in its early days. I
have plans to make it a comprehensive resource for all
parents and nannies.
On the other hand, parts of the proceeds from training
nannies go into sponsoring children from all of the countries
that I have visited.
Having been a nanny who has had to travel for work, I’ve
met so many children from different parts of the world that
are going through difficult times. Seeing all of these things
really changes your perspective on what is important in
life. I’ve always known that I would go back and help those
children one day, so I decided that through Number 1
Nanny I could start while I am still a nanny.
At the moment, Number 1 Nanny sponsors children and
supports children’s charities. I want to do a lot more than just
sponsoring children, I want to raise enough money for
children who are living in poverty to go to school and have a happier life that they deserve.
What do you like most about nannying? The best question of all! Absolutely
everything! There are not many jobs in the
world today where you can wake up with a
smile because you know your day is going
to be filled with the fabulous fun of helping
children. I know it sounds crazy but there’s
nowhere on earth I would rather be than
helping a baby eat pureed pumpkin, giving
a lesson on tying shoelaces, pretending to
be a tiger hiding behind the couch or just
cuddling somebody who’s had a bad
dream. I just love working with children and
being there to help them.
There is nothing more
rewarding that being able
to show a little one how
to write their name, or
even give them the
confidence to do
something that
they thought they
couldn’t do.
Money can’t buy any of
those things. That’s how
a nanny can measure her
success. It’s a privileged
position because the children
you care for never forget you
and you remain friends for life.
What do you like least about nannying? Well to be honest there are two
things I always have a problem
with but fortunately they don’t
come around that often. Saying
goodbye is definitely one of the
parts of the job I still find hard to
deal with. Children grow up
very quickly! There comes the
day where a nanny is not really
necessary anymore but
knowing that those children will
always have a place in my
heart and can contact me at
anytime makes the farewell a
little less sad.
The other part of the job I find
difficult is when you are caring
for a child or children who are
going through a hard time
either at school or at home –
bullying, parents divorcing,
etc. It’s never easy on you as a
nanny because some things are
really out of our reach. As a
nanny, to see any child crying
or feeling sad about something
they shouldn’t have to face is a
very difficult thing. Sometimes
you feel like crying yourself but
you need to be the strong one
and help them through it.
What three tips could you give parents about keeping their nanny long term? 1. Take a real interest
in your nanny – they
love to feel welcomed
into the family!
2. Treat your nanny as
a friend. The bond is
just as important with
parents as it is with
children and little ones
pick up on that very
quickly!
3. Be considerate. It’s
easy to cancel the
nanny sometimes if
you’ve changed your
plans but if something
comes up with the
nanny, realise that they
too have a life and
once in a blue moon
may not be able to
work. A bit of
understanding goes a
long way.
You have had experience working with celebrity and high profile families – are there any special concerns when working with ‘famous’ families? Not really. It’s surprising how similar most families
are. I’ve worked for over a dozen celebrity families and
really the differences are more to do what happens
outside the home rather than in it! There are definitely
more holidays and you sometimes have to deal with
paparazzi. Learning to walk quickly through airports
and keeping every child in arms reach is a good lesson
to learn but most importantly keeping young children
settled and calm in strange and unfamiliar situations
always makes the job easier. These children often have
to deal with unwanted attention because of who they
are related to and often it can hurt them. Most people
are curious about ‘famous’ people and there are
always questions you cannot answer – this is one of the
reasons why I sometimes prefer not to tell a lot of
people who I have worked for, just to save those
questions from being asked. Sometimes high profile
families can have much higher expectations than
normal families and I think this is the main reason why I
have loved working with these families - I am always up
for a challenge!
What three tips could you give nannies about being a professional nanny? 1. Make it clear from the start that you love what you do.
A confident nanny is a great nanny. 2. Be the best role model you can be. Children can be great imitators, so give them something great to imitate! 3. Be a friend. This is the tip of all tips! When you are seen as someone approachable, fun, friendly and caring, every child will
want to be your best friend.
If you are trained – how has your training helped you (and what qualifications do you hold)? Yes, I’m trained as a nanny and my training has helped me in
so many ways. I have pediatric first aid training, a number of
specific nannying qualifications that I have gained over the
years, Certificate 3 in Children’s Services and other child
related qualifications that specialise in child psychology, baby
nurse training, sleep guidance for babies, safe babysitting
courses, caring for multiples, potty training courses and so
on. I am also six months away from completing a double
degree in Early Childhood and Primary School teaching which
I am very excited about.
Related experience has also helped enormously. Working in
many childcare centres and voluntary after school activity
organisations has helped me gain a lot of really worthwhile
knowledge that I can rely on. I also work as a consultant at
the Australian Nanny Co. and enjoy teaching others about
what I love to do best.
Do you continue to train? Oh yes, I definitely do continue to train and enjoy learning as
much as I can. Whether it is training through courses,
certificates, talking to professionals in the industry, reading
childcare books or even just researching on the internet -
when you are very passionate about something and you
need to train for it, it’s not hard work at all!
What’s your favourite age group to work with? I don’t have a favourite age group to work with really,
originally it was babies of course and then later I loved 3 year
olds and other times I have loved 13 year olds. There are so
many great characteristics of all ages. It’s very hard to
choose.
What’s one of you favourite things to do with children? I love to make them laugh. Sometimes it can be difficult
especially when you’re a new face but after a while, most
children feel better about you if you can make them laugh. A
story or a play activity where Barbie might fall in the mud! Who
knows – even a game of good old Stare Bear can usually do
it!
Favourite craft activity? My favourite craft activity is actually something my Mum use
to make with me when I was a little girl. This has worked very
well for me over the years! You need two pieces of paper, or
two pieces of cardboard (whatever you have around the
house), a glue stick, some scissors and a black texta. On one
of the pages, you draw a big house divided with many rooms
– a bathroom, some bedrooms, a living room, etc and in each
room you draw what you would usually find in that
room. Using your scissors, you cut around each item leaving it
to be like a flap that opens. You can cut along 3 sides of the
fridge door, same with the freezer, the oven, the kitchen
cupboards, etc and then you stick the other sheet of paper or
cardboard behind it. The child can then open those flaps and
draw what should be inside. For example, in the fridge they
can draw milk, eggs, cheese, etc., in the oven they might like
to draw a chicken or a cake, in the kitchen cupboards they
could draw some plates and cups. It’s a simple idea but has
been proved to work well.
Favourite recipe? One recipe in particular that has been a major success for
me is Annabel Karmel’s ‘Cinderella’s Pumpkin Soup’. I like this
recipe because it manages to cater for children who love to
eat and also those occasional fussy eaters.
Annabel Karmel’s ‘Cinderella’s Pumpkin soup’
15g unsalted butter 6-7
months +
50g white part of a leek, washed and sliced
Makes 3-4 portions
225g pumpkin, peeled and cut into cubes
Cooking time: 32 minutes
150ml vegetable or chicken stock
Suitable for freezing
Melt the butter in a saucepan and sauté the leek until soft and lightly golden. Add the pumpkin and continue to cook for 2 minutes. Pour over the stock, bring to the boil and then simmer, covered with a lid, for 30 minutes or until the pumpkin is tender. Puree in a blender, or
mash with a fork for older babies.
Is there anything else you’d like to add about the nanny industry or yourself? The nannying profession is becoming
more and more popular every day in our country and while
we don’t have a payment award, we don’t have work
rights or even a recognition week like they do for nannies in
other countries, it would be wonderful to see more people
willing and wanting to enter the industry. As nannies, we do
what we do for children and that’s the way it needs to be. I
believe that having more education opportunities available
for people interested in becoming nannies will help produce
the best carers for our children – something we would all
benefit from.
Here’s a hearty dose of wacky
word play and mathematical
merriment for Australian children.
Introducing Mm is for me; a
collection of phonics based
clothing and accessories for kids.
www.mmisforme.com.au
LISA
Lisa is a nanny working in Sydney – just back from a
trip with her Mum – she gives us an idea about life
with Sydney families.
How long have you been nannying? I started babysitting for a family in 2001 with 3 young
children in Chatswood. There was a new born boy, a 2 year
old boy and a gorgeous 4 years old girl. I helped the
parents out babysitting during the day, during pre-school
drop off and pick ups.
I also did 2 overnight stays. I babysat for the family over the
years as the kids all grew up.
I still keep in contact with the family who moved to Macua
for the father’s work. They are now living in Perth, having
again moved for work. The eldest girl is now 15 years old
and is at boarding school in Sydney.
I still keep in contact with her and am planning to take her
out to the movies soon.
In 2008 I started nannying full time for a family with 3 young
girls in Balmain East. I was employed with this family for just
over 3 years.
What attracted you
to the industry? I started in 2001 just
as a babysitter for
the first family in
Chatswood over
the years I started
working as a casual
child care employee with Willoughby Council.
Working in before and after school car, long day
care and school holiday programs.
When I completed my Bachelor of Arts Degree in
2001 I continued to babysit for families on the
weekend and began working in a long day care
center.
In 2008 I started as a full time nanny. I guess you
could say it was a love of working with children.
What do you
like most about
nannying? Being able to help
out a busy family
buy caring for
their children. The
children give you
such warm and
fuzzy feelings as
you watch them
grow before your
eyes
What do you like least
about nannying?
The lack of respect in the
community and
from the parents.
Alot of parents do
appreciate your hard work
but do still view you as the
hired help and the
community thinks that
all we do all day is
play with kids!
TIPS FOR
PARENTS
Respect
Appreciation
and Open
Communication
TIP FOR
NANNIES
Try not to think
of yourself as
part of the
family.
You are just
the hired help
If you are trained – how has
your training helped you (and
what qualifications do you
hold)? I have no qualification yet only
experience I am currently
studying my Certificate 3
through OTEN
What’s one of you favourite things
to do with children? Getting them out of the house
for a walk to the park. Just being
outside in the fresh air is so
invigorating for both you
and the child
Favourite craft activity? Painting. You can do finger
painting or paint their feet or
simply paint pictures of
colouring in books. I often get
the child to put their hand prints
on the paper and then I write
the child’s name and date. It is
cool to do every 6 months and
see the growth of the child and
their hand and their hand
writing skills
Favourite recipe? Small spiral pasta, can of tuna,
can of corn cobs and small dab
of tomato pasta sauce and serve!.
Is there anything else you’d like to add
about the nanny industry? With the family that I was employed with for 3
years at the interview I was told there would
be light housework involved but that they had
a cleaner.
Over the years I was happy to iron the kids
clothes and do some light house work.
In 2011 their cleaner quit. As the girls were all
grown up and at school and pre-school I was
asked if I could come into work and just do
housework and ironing.
I was happy to do that but the amount of
ironing and housework was too much.
If a family wants a nanny to help out with the
housework and ironing please advertise for a
housekeeping role.
Ad
Meet
the
Parents
Let’s call her Rebecca. At first, this particular parent didn’t want to share her
story and be identified. When I explained the importance
of sharing our stories – she gave the OK.
You see – ‘Rebecca’s’ arrangement is common within
the nanny industry, it’s the side of the industry that many
don’t want to admit is out there.
Rebecca has two young children aged 9 months and 3
years. She has a nanny who lives in, originally had
planned on an aupair – but a nanny applied and is
perfect for them.
Rebecca’s nanny is 22 years old, has her Cert III and
LOVES her job and her family. She feels valued and
appreciated – has flexibility where it’s possible and has
an ensuite and separate entrance – sounds like a dream
arrangement?
The downside is that Rebecca pays her nanny cash –
and just $350 per week.
Her hours fluctuate as Rebecca and her husband work
on 3 week shifts, never knowing what will be happening –
her nanny holds the fort and fits in with their chaotic
routine.
Some weeks she works 20 hours – others she works 80.
My first reaction is “this is not right”.
But ~ the nanny is happy – so is the family.
I asked the nanny if she was really happy – or just happy
to have a job.
Financially, she says she’s better off.
By the time she had to pay rent, amenities and upkeep a
home – she’d have to live on the outskirts of Sydney and
probably not be near her friends – she says in her last job,
she’d have $70 to play with at the end of the week.
She’s saving for an overseas holiday and puts $100 away
on Superannuation because her Dad told her to.
(THANKYOU DAD).
On the down side, she doesn’t pay tax, can’t go for a bank
loan but doesn’t see that as an issue as she owns her own
car. She sees the upside as being the extra money in her
pocket, being near her friends and living in a leafy North
Shore suburb.
The relationship she has with Rebecca and her husband is
good.
For the family, they have consistent care for the next 12
months (that will bring it to two years).
When pregnant with her second baby, being just on the
cusp of receiving a childcare subsidy – having their
children cared for at home makes more sense financially,
she knows her carer will be there when they need to leave
or work, there’s no disruption for their children when the
sniffles come and go, and this style of care gives them
peace of mind when it comes to their changing rountines.
The cost to the family is the risk of being caught out for
employing someone and not paying their entitlements,
paying an extra $30 a week for care (after looking at
subsidies and fees at $450 per week per child).
The only other area that impacts them is having
someone in their home.
For Rebecca and her husband – they are willing to give
up their ensuite and master bedroom, so the nanny can
have some privacy and the housework is shared by all
three adults.
This arrangement seems to work for them all.
But it’s not approved of by the industry or the
government.
When I asked Rebecca if she’d be willing to pay her
nanny properly if the Child Care Rebate was accessible
to nannies – she answered ‘YES’ without a thought.
It’s the difference between being able to be
comfortable financially. At the end of the day – most of
her wages go into paying her nanny – they have put off
major home renovations – but the quality of care and
knowing that their kids don’t have to have different forms
of care on different weeks (and paying extra for care
when both Mum and Dad are home) are the main
reasons they have chosen this option.
Let us know what you think on Facebook
PENNY I first came across Penny when I attended a Working Mums
Masterclass morning in Brisbane.
She had 3 fabulous speakers – so I thought it would be
worth the one and a half hour drive to attend.
All I’ll say is this girl knows how to throw an event.
I noted once when reading her hilarious blog – ‘Shh,
mummy’s on the phone’ that she mentioned that she had
a nanny. Ah – she immediately went on the list, for parents
to interview. Penny’s family employs a private nanny once
a week.
She’s funny, honest, open and juggles a million things at
the same time. A typical nanny employer.
With great delight – here’s Penny’s story.
What is your area of work? I founded and now run the Working Mums MASTERCLASS –
live and online events for working mums.
Location? We have run events in Sydney and South East
Queensland. We are looking
to expand to Victoria and
South Australia in 2013.
How long have you employed
nannies? On and off since 2011.
How many nannies have you employed?
3 Nannies
What are the main duties your nanny undertakes? Our
current nanny just focuses on the children. I have been
really busy with work lately and I wanted to make sure the
kids felt comfortable and confident in our nanny’s care.
She focuses on engaging and entertaining them.
What is the best thing about having a nanny?
I can walk out the door confident in the knowledge
that the kids will have a fun, interactive day with
someone who enjoys hanging out with them.
It means I can focus on my work (I do a lot of
training and live events,
so if I’m not focused,
I don’t get rehired).
Sometimes it can be
‘too good’.
My kids ask me when
‘Lauren Day’ is, they
look forward to her
coming so much.
Have you had any negative experiences?
I initially paid a friend, who had experience
as a nanny, to help out with the kids.
The lines between friendship and employee
got blurred and it resulted in the friendship
being damaged a little.
I have also found it difficult
to find a nanny. One of the
agencies I used had a large
selection of nannies to
choose from online, but
when I got in contact with a
number of them there
was no response.
I rang one nanny who had
her resume on line and was
told not to bother her again
because now she’s
changed careers.
Okay, then take your
resume offline!
I also had a casual nanny
last year who asked
whether I could change my
work hours because she
had an interview to attend
for another nanny job.
Um no.
Is there anything you would you like to see change in the
nanny sector? Definitely more regulation around the sector in relation to
qualifications, skillsets etc. I believe there are some great
nanny agencies out there who could do this if they work
together.
It would mean that the excellent nannies are rewarded and
acknowledged for the career choice they make.
It could also mean that less skilled and experienced people
could not just say that they’re a nanny.
It would help potential clients benchmark the skills and
qualifications of the people who will be looking after their
children.
What would your perfect nanny look like? Engaged and switched on. Energetic and fun. Assertive and
serious when she needs to be.
Our gorgeous nanny brings games, makes things
with the kids and can run a
hot lap on
Gran Turismo!
Do you think it’s important for nannies to hold
qualifications? It’s peace of mind for parents and it means that we can
benchmark the skillsets of nannies against each other. It
helps us compare. I am happy to pay more if the nanny has
more qualifications.
First Aid is a must for us. We have it, so the nanny should too.
And completed or currently completing studies in Early
Childhood or a related / educational field says to me that
the nanny is serious about working with children.
Did you use an agency to find your current nanny? Yes, we did.
Have you been happy with your agency experiences?
Yes, this is the third agency I have worked with.
The first two I found did not provide me with a high calibre
of choices.
Our current agency is a smaller operation, so I spoke to the
owner directly and was able to give her a really good brief
on what I was after. She actually didn’t have anyone in our
area available, but still managed to provide us with a nanny
(who drives some way to spend Wednesdays with us).
We negotiated a higher pay rate to accommodate this,
which I am more than happy to pay because the agency provided such good service and the nanny is so good.
www.fourzero.com.au
your baby deserves the
best welcome in life
hand made ~ ethically made
australian made
specialist newborn clothes made
from quality organic bamboo and cotton.
Meet
the
Agencies
Danielle Robertson
We are most fortunate to have interviewed Danielle
Robertson CEO of Dial an Angel.
Does your agency have a specialty? Established in 1967, we have been providing specialised
recruitment and casual assistance to private clients in their
own homes, Our services cover neonatal care and
mothercraft nursing, day and evening childcare,
professional nannies and housekeepers, domestic
cleaning, aged and disability care right through to
palliative care in the home.
What locations are serviced ? are Brisbane, Toowoomba,
Gold and Sunshine Coasts in
QLD, Newcastle, Central Coast
and the entire Sydney
metropolitan areas (west to the
Blue Mountains and as far
South as Wollongong and
Southern Highlands), Canberra
/ Queanbeyan, Melbourne,
Adelaide and Perth
Metropolitan areas.
We can recruit specifically for
clients requirements for eg, we
recently placed two nannies in
Rockhampton for a client.
What is different about your agency? Established 45 years, we are the longest operating Home
Help Agency in Australia. We are still Australian owned and
family operated. We are a ‘one stop’ shop for families.
How long have you employed nannies? 45+ years
In your opinion, what sorts of people employ nannies?
People who may not have any family support; people who
work shift work; single parents returning to the work force,
families who have multiple births or several young children,
others who may employ a nanny on a part time basis and
use relatives or day care on the other days. It’s not just so
called ‘rich’ people who have professional childcare in
their homes but people who feel it is the best option.
What is the best thing about having a nanny? Educational benefits, one on one care ratio, great for
extended hours, when the child is sick or during holiday /
vacation time.
Do you think it’s important for
nannies to hold
qualifications? Experience is far more
important than qualifications
but more opportunities arise if
the person has qualifications in
addition to experience
(minimum three years required through DIAL-AN-ANGEL).
Have you had any negative
experiences? Some clients have attempted to
exploit professional childcarers
by enticing them in on high
hourly rates only to negotiate
down once the job has been
offered.
Also, Aupairs are often used as
“professional childcarers” when
they should only be used as a
‘mothers’ helper’, not being left
with sole charge of young
children. An Au Pair is for a
Cultural Exchange only and
they should only be working for
up to 20 hours per week.
Is there anything you would you like to see change in
the nanny sector? It would be good if the 50% rebate were extended to in
home care. The Professional Childcarer would need to
be registered, the Family would need to be registered,
more PAYG tax would be paid to the Government
instead of cash economy when no tax is paid. It would
professionalise the industry if Nannies were screened
through Accredited / Quality Agencies rather than on
line portals putting the childcarers and the clients at risk.
The home is now regarded as a work place and risk
assessments should be undertaken prior to placement.
What would your perfect nanny look like? Positive attitude (not just about the money!), more than three
years’ experience, qualifications would be good but not
essential, more than 19 years of age, flexible availability,
experience with children suffering from disorders such as
Autism, ADHD etc, experience in developing educational
care plan for the children, ability to swim, drive a vehicle in
addition to a current Senior First Aid certificate, Clear police
Clearance and Working with Children Check (where state
laws allow).
What sort of things should parent look for in a good
agency? Ensure they are reputable (look at how long they have been
established). Check their website as to who the owners are
and the history of the organisation. Check testimonials on the
website. Make sure it is operated from professional offices
and not from a mobile phone.
Ensure they cover the casual worker for all insurances (sight a
Certificate of Currency for Public Liability and Workers
Compensation Insurances) Superannution and tax (unless the
client becomes the employer and then becomes responsible
for all the employee entitlements). It doesn’t take long for
people to realise that an Agency is legitimate.
Dial an Angel’s Contact Details.
DIAL-AN-ANGEL Ptd Limited
Suite 21, Edgecliff Mews, 201 New South Head Road,
Edgecliff NSW 2027
www.dialanangel.com
Phone: 1300 721 111
Email; [email protected]
Ad
Hamey Hamey Glennon – Owner of TwinEze & NannEze I first met Hamey at a Brisbane baby expo. Sidling up
to have my usual chat about screening and
standards of applicants, I was immediately
impressed not only with her expectations, but also
her business ideas. Many nannies start agencies but
without a strong vision for
their business, not too many
are still operating after a
year or two.
TwinEze has a vision.
So a little bit about my story and how “TwinEze”
came to be……
I finished year 12 at the very young age of 16! I had
always been the ‘go to’ babysitter for family and
friends, all the way through my school years. Then,
when it came to making a decision about what I
wanted to do with the rest of my life? At the time, I
had absolutely NO idea!!
I started a degree part time, whilst I was working as a “Learn to Swim” teacher and part time Nanny.
I started to think about where I could
take Nannying in the future
Hamey Working with children was
really where I saw my life
taking me. I continued to
Nanny in Brisbane, until a
job opportunity came up in
Switzerland.
My Nannying experiences
overseas were amazing!!
I learned so much, made
wonderful friends as well
and really started to think
about where I could take
“Nannying” in the future.
After two years living
abroad and working with
some fantastic families, I
decided it was time to
come back to Australia and
really start working on my
future. Most of the positions
I held in Europe were with
Newborns and a few sets of
Twins; so coming back to
Australia, I knew I wanted
to continue to work with
Newborns and if I could get
work with Multiples, that
would be an added bonus!
Hamey
When back in Brisbane, the word spread that I was
back and I had been working with multiples
overseas – I was then fortunate enough to work
with two terrific families that were expecting
multiples. After accepting these positions, I
decided that this was really what I wanted to do,
and came up with a business name for myself –
“TwinEze”.
“TwinEze” was originally just a brand for myself, but
after no time at all, it appeared that I didn’t have
enough hours in the day, to keep up with all the
Brisbane families who needed help.
Since 2008 “TwinEze” has grown from a name for
myself, to an Agency that now helps families with
multiples, all around Australia. “TwinEze” has been
amazing to watch it grow and has also been
fantastic to meet all the wonderful Nannies who
have joined our Agency – and share the same
passion as I do. We have helped hundreds of
families around Australia with Night Nannies,
Babysitters, Sleep Routine and Guidance,
Maternity Nurses and much more.
“TwinEze” is definitely something I am very proud
of starting, it has been something I hope Nannies
have enjoyed being a part of and importantly,
something families have found to be a great
service!
I am very passionate about the industry and am
excited to see where “TwinEze” can grow in the
future.
Hamey Does your agency have a specialty? TwinEze is an Agency which specialises in the care
of multiples.
Locations Serviced
TwinEze originally started
off as a Brisbane based
Company, but over the
past 4 years we have
expanded our services
to also include Brisbane,
Gold Coast, Sunshine
Coast, Sydney, Melbourne
and Darwin.
We are expanding more
and more all the time.
We have extended our services to families that
really need the help, so we are constantly
expanding our areas and services to meet their
needs.
What is different about your agency? The big difference with our agency is that we strive
to be as flexible as possible.
We understand that multiples can be very
challenging and we want to be there as a support
to the parents, however it is needed.
We also specialise in Night Nannies, Routine and
Sleep Guidance as well as our babysitting services.
Hamey In your opinion, what sort of people employ nannies? With our agency we have found that the type of
people that call us for support are those that
are becoming parents for the first time or families
who already have young children and have
multiples on the way.
Also families where both parents are planning on
returning to work at some point, but our main
cliental are simply the families that need our
support.
Is there anything you would you like to see change in
the nanny sector? TwinEze would love to see more government
funding put into Night Nannies. We feel that this is
such an important factor when bringing multiples
home and trying to get them integrated into the
family routine and sleep patterns. We think that
more of a rebate should be given to families lucky
enough to experience the joy of their multiples, as
there is such a financial strain with any new
addition/s, and sleep is so important for everyone
in the household.
Stand at the
Brisbane PBC
Expo
Hamey Do you think it’s important for nannies to hold qualifications? First Aid, Child Development etc.
When recruiting for the TwinEze Nannies, we ensure
that ALL of our staff hold current First Aid, CPR, Blue
Cards and must have relevant experience (which is
tailored to our clients’ specific needs).
We feel that this is extremely important, as it shows a
commitment and passion to their work, whilst also
giving our clients an added peace of mind, for the
care of their precious children.
What sort of things should parent look for in a good
agency?
When looking for an agency, I believe that parents
should be trying to find one that fits most of their
needs. Ultimately, a preferred agency is one that is
reliable, flexible and understanding towards a family’s
situation. The agency needs to be affordable and
approachable to build a relationship with, so they
understand and meet your children’s needs and
address your concerns. The ability to rebook the same
Nanny is a plus, as children and babies build a bond
with their carers. I think this is why we have been so
successful with our clients, listening to their problems
and understanding their needs are KEY to any good
relationship.
TwinEze 07 38704416 [email protected] www.twineze.com.au www.nanneze.com.au
Inspiring learning is all about finding the right
balance between education and fun.
The Mm is for me collection engages children
with a selection of imagery, cleverly
incorporated into personalized clothing,
cushions and wall stickers.
www.mmisforme.com.au
Georgie Crane runs an agency in one of Australia’s
favourite holiday destinations - servicing the entire
Gold Coast from as north as Ormeau all the way
down to Kingscliff, Northern NSW.
Not only does Georgie run her agency – she also
has a busy family to look after.
We had a chat to get to know her a bit better
What is different about your agency? I represent the interests both the
families and the nannies.
It’s vital in this industry that
all parties are happy and
well represented so that
the nannies become an
extended part of the family.
As a boutique agency I am
able to provide a personalised
service.
How long have you employed nannies? I have owned Gold Coast Nannies since
October 2011, prior to this the previous owner
established the Agency in 2007.
GOLD COAST NANNIES –
Georgie Crane
In your opinion, what sort of people
employ nannies? There is no specific criteria of
people employing nannies. I have placed
nannies where the parents are on-call doctors,
pilots, single parents, full time students or even
just mothers just needing some time out once or
twice a week. A lot of the time it can be young
couple who have just relocated to the Gold
Coast and don’t have a strong family support group at hand. What is the best thing about having a nanny?
The flexibly for the parents and child. Each
child is different and therefore the nanny
can implement daily activities based on
the child’s emotional, physical and
intellectual needs.
Is there anything you would you like to see
change in the nanny sector?
Besides having uniformity in the industry with
national standards in place to be a
professional nanny I do believe the child care
rebate should be extended to include nannies.
What would your perfect nanny look like? I would like my ideal nanny to be a fun loving,
caring person and fill in as the ‘substitute mum’
when I am not around.
It’s important to choose
a nanny whom reflects
your beliefs and
personality traits and
always has an open line
of communication.
My family live a healthy,
active lifestyle and living
on the Gold Coast we
spend most of our time
outdoors, so the nanny
would need to be
active, creative and
nurturing!
www.goldcoastnannies.com.au
Mobile 0431 301 916
Do you think it’s important for nannies to hold qualifications? I think it is important to regulate the industry and set in place
national standards and guidelines for nannies and agencies
to help alleviate inexperienced nannies passing themselves of
to families as experienced child carers. With this in mind,
nannies with formal qualifications are better equipped to
handle any type of situation that may arise.
They should know what to look out for in terms of
development and growth and how to
handle personality differences and
physical limitations etc based on age.
A good nanny should have a mix of
qualifications and experience.
Each family is different, however
I would feel more comfortable
knowing my nanny has been
professionally trained and has
worked with children for a
minimum of two years.
What sort of things should parent look for in a good
agency? Parents need to have good, honest and open
communication with the Agency so they have a clear
understanding of what the family’s dynamics are and what
they are looking for from a nanny. They should call around
other agencies and compare each one based on their
policies and procedures they use to hire/ select each nanny
and what type of reference/background checks are
conducted. Ask the agency to provide you with a few
references from other families who have used their service
and well as look out for how their fees are structured, what
they offer clients and whether you receive ongoing support
once a nanny has been placed with the family.
Centenary
Mothercraft &
Nannies
Mothercraft and Nannies has been an institution in
the Sydney nanny world for a few decades now.
Here’s your chance to learn a little more about the
fabulous team behind Mothercraft & Nannies
Does your agency have a specialty?- We provide experienced Babysitters, Casual and Permanent Nannies and Mothercraft Nurses Locations Serviced - Sydney Metropolitan. We also provide casual live-in Nannies and Mothercraft Nurses Nationally and Internationally. What is different about your agency (background/service etc)? We have been established for 24 years. All our Nannies/Babysitters/Mothercraft Nurses are interviewed face to face and are put through a thorough screening process. Along with our nannies, we have the largest pool of Mothercraft Nurses throughout Australia. The agency is run by a Mothercraft Nurse who is a mother to 5 children so understands the requirements a family would need.
In your opinion, what sort of people employ nannies? A variety of clients ranging from busy career parents to
busy mums at home who need someone working
alongside them.
What is the best thing about having a nanny? The flexibility for parents not to have time constraints.
Have the household still running while parents are out of
the house (meals cooked, washing etc.). If the child was
ill and in day care the parents would need to make
alternate arrangements – having a nanny alleviates this.
Have you had any negative experiences? Sometimes there are personality conflicts between the
nanny and family. Sometimes the job description
changes to what the nanny initially thought it was and
this can cause distension.
Is there anything you would you like to see change in
the nanny sector? As there is a huge demand for childcare we would love
to see families get access to the childcare tax rebate so
it would be a more affordable option and shorten the
extensive waiting lists at daycare centres.
What would your perfect nanny look like? The ideal nanny would be your regular “Mary
Poppins”. They would be happy and readily
available at all times.
Do you think it’s important for nannies to hold
qualifications? First Aid, Child Development etc. – It would certainly
give them a preference when putting them forward
to our clients. They should earn a higher rate for the
experience they have and the study they have
achieved.
What sort of things should parent look for in a good
agency? Good communication and listening skills.
Being able to build a rapport with the client as they
are looking for carers for the most precious people to
them. Understanding what the client is requiring.
Mothercraft and
Nannies
02 9663 4570 [email protected] www.mothercraft.com.au
Meet
a
Nanny
Share
Service
Nanny Options – There are two cheaper alternatives in the nanny
realm that not many families are aware of – Nanny
Share and Nanny Mummies.
I have been both and they were some of the best
years in my nanny career.
A Nanny Share arrangement is where two or more
families ( in my case – three) share the care of a
nanny. Depending on the nanny’s experience will
dictate how many children and the location of the
care .
The location of care may swap between houses .
The best thing about nanny care is the flexibility –
the parents set the boundaries and the nanny
takes it from there.
A Nanny Mummy is usually an experienced nanny
who wants to continue in her career after having
her own children. You can read my personal
journey at the end of the magazine – but for most
nannies, they just continue on with the family that
they were caring for when they fell pregnant. It
means that there is consistency in care for the
family and also consistency in work for the nanny –
the kids usually get along well and it’s a mutually
rewarding relationship. Only children have the
opportunity to build up social relationships – but
have mum and dad all to themselves when they
are home. In this issue – we meet the girls from
Lullaby Nanny Share.
Lullaby Nanny Share offers families a service with a
difference. They take care of the whole process
and employ the nannies.
We caught up with Nikita Cosgrave & Rachel
Russell to learn about this unique service for Sydney
families.
What brought you to having a share nanny agency?
We have both worked as professional nannies and met
many wonderful families along the way. We built up great
relationships with many families, that families would call us
every week asking if we could work or if we knew of any
nanny friends seeking work. This led us to opening our own
small business. Rachel and I have both many years of
experience working in a nanny share arrangement.
Through this we understand what families need, what
nannies need and what’s best for children. Being a nanny
is our passion as we love children and have been very
lucky to have been accepted into so many wonderful
families. This is why we felt there was a gap in the Sydney
Nanny Agency market for a Nanny Share Arrangement
agency that devotes itself to matching families and
finding a suitable nanny.
Does your agency have a specialty?
We specialise in Nanny Share arrangement.
This is when 2 families come together and share the cost
of a nanny saving on childcare costs.
As we are not a referral agency we employ the nannies,
offering them a professional service that allows them to
be paid superannuation, tax and insurance.
Our rates are affordable allowing families to still have the
benefit of a qualified nanny that’s not too expensive.
Childcare is very expensive on families and we want to
make it easier by offering an affordable solution.
What is different about your agency ?
Our Agency offers affordable childcare solutions.
We are not a referral agency which means we do not
ask families to pay any upfront payments or ongoing
membership payments.
They just pay for the services of the nanny which is a small
hourly rate of $15.40 per hour for nanny share
arrangement/per family per hour.
We keep in constant communication with all our families
and nannies and build the best relationships we can.
Locations Serviced
Lullaby Nanny Share services to
all areas of Sydney.
How long have you employed
nannies?
Lullaby Nanny Share have
been open nearly 1 year
now. We have been
employing nannies with our
agency everyday through
the year. As Nanny Share
arrangement is becoming
very popular throughout
Sydney, our business has
had to employ over 100
nannies to date both full
and part time, casual and
temporary positions. We
have built up great
relationships with nannies
and have continued to
employ the same nannies as
they are very dedicated to
our services.
In your opinion, what
sort of people employ
share nannies?
In my opinion there is
no ‘sort’ of person that
employs share nannies.
Our families that
require a share
arrangement look to
employ share nannies
for all sorts of reasons.
They choose share
nannies or to share
their nanny to save on
childcare costs, for
their child to socialise
with other children that
have simular age and
interests and also to
meet new people and
make new friends. We
have many ‘sorts’ of
families form all areas
of Sydney that we
cater to.
What is the best thing about having a nanny? From our experience and from the feedback we
receive from our families, the best thing about
having a nanny is the reassurance that your child is
getting that one on one attention that he or she
needs. It takes a special person to look after your
children and ask any nanny that their job is very
personal to them. The nanny will love your children
and the children will love their nanny.
Have you had any negative experiences? We haven’t had any negative experiences which
comes down to proper planning and organisation in
finding the right nanny for any particular position.
Most of all listening to what exactly the family wants
and making sure they have it. We have received a
lot of great feedback from our families in both nanny
share arrangements and sole charge arrangements
which have been very positive.
Niki Cosgrave &
Rachel Russell
Ph 02 9388 9097
www.lullabynannyshare.com.au
Meet
the
Businesses
LIVING Childcare
I have a very special friend. Lisa Marie Cheal.
We first met years ago when Lisa had had enough of
nannying. Her conditions were becoming quite extreme
and Lisa, the softly spoken nanny – was considering
leaving.
Once she learnt to speak up for herself by using some
practical strategies to approach her employers – there
was no holding her back.
Lisa has travelled all over the world with her nanny families
– she’s had me in hysterics regaling tales of portable
cardboard cots and her efforts to ease long haul flights
with children.
Her amazing feats have inspired me – but the one person I
turn to first when I have a child development question is
Lisa, her knowledge is extraordinary, as she is just like a
curious 4 year old and always learning.
I had heard of Steiner, Montessori and a few other
childcare philosophers – but when Lisa shared with me the
thoughts and concepts behind Magda Gerber’s beliefs –
which align with the way I have seen kids develop over
the years – I was one happy nanny.
Lisa Marie Cheal That’s one of the special things about Lisa Marie –
she’s always sharing and researching the field of
childcare.
She’s one amazing expert.
Now Lisa is caring for groups of children in a centre
environment as she finishes yet another course in child
development – with a view to supporting the carers in
the industry and ensuring that not only the kids have a
great environment to grow in – but that the carers
need a similar nurturing source to turn to – which is
where her website www.livingchildcare.com comes
in.
Lisa has been sharing her ideas with carers for some
years through a blog site – but now with the
advancing technology of the internet – she has come
up with something pretty amazing.
So if you are after info on child
development –
head on over
and
have
a look.
More about
What Lisa
Is up to in the
Next issue.
Lisa in the Northern Star
The Little Survival Guide for Nannies
There is a fabulous little book for nannies to help them
through the daily ups and downs.
We caught up with the authors to learn more.
How long have you been nannying? Fiona:I have been nannying for more than 20 years and
am lucky enough to still be in this wonderful profession.
Narelle: I am no longer working as a nanny but I did so on
and off for 10 years. Between Fiona and I, we have more
than 30 years nannying experience.
What prompted you to create a book for nannies? We have both been in nanny jobs that were challenging
on a variety of levels. We agreed that there should be a
handbook or a ‘survival guide’. When we looked into it –
we realised there was no such book written by aussie
nannies for aussie nannies. So, we thought who better to
write one than us? We really wrote this book to help other
nannies through their daily endeavour to care for and
support the development of other people’s children.
www.survivalguidefornannies.com
What attracted you to the industry? Fiona: I have always been involved with children for as long as I can remember.
I have always gravitated towards children
and them to me. Children are so easy
to be with.
Narelle: I kind of fell into the nanny role. What started out as babysitting jobs
turned into part-time or temporary
nanny work.
What do you like most about nannying? Fiona: I love how honest children are, you know exactly where you stand. There are no office
politics and at the end of the day you know that
you have been a great influence and for me
children just make me happy.
Narelle: The energy of the children. I love how honest and fun they are – how they live in the
present moment.
What do you like least about nannying? Fiona: To be honest there is not alot I don`t like about nannying. Every age has their ups and
downs but you don`t have one without the other.
Nannying can be a little hard as you spend alot of
time by yourself.
Narelle: Saying goodbye to families and children. It’s impossible not to get attached to the children.
Sometimes when the job ends, you know you
won’t see the children again – for example when
they move overseas. It’s very hard to say goodbye sometimes.
What three tips could you give parents about keeping
their nanny long term? Create a position description so your nannies knows
exactly what you expect from her. Update the position
description when things change (ie: a new baby comes
along or one of the children starts school).
Treat your nanny with the same respect you would treat
anyone. For example, don't be late home all the time,
give your nanny plenty of warning if you will not be
needing her during a vacation and don't expect her to
achieve things you can't like getting a fussy eater to eat
vegetables or keeping a spotless house.
Have regular meetings with your nanny to check in on
how things are going - no matter how long (s)he was
worked for you
What three tips could you give nannies about being a
professional nanny? Fulfil your role as per the position description and if you
don't have a position description, work with your
employer to create one.
Remember your number one priority is the
safety, welfare and wellbeing of the children.
Always be on time & dress appropriately
TRAINING Fiona:.I have a Certificate lll in Children`s Services and have attended The Australian Nanny School. I think these
certifications have helped in keeping me up to date with
any changing laws ,introducing me in the beginning to all
different age groups of children and making me aware of
their changing needs.
Narelle: I have a Certificate III in Children’s Services and a Bachelor of Education (Primary). These qualifications
have helped me understand child development and
learning theories as well as more practical things like
safety and developmental play activities.
Do you continue to train/ learn? How?
Narelle: I’m always learning and trying to keep up to date with the new theories around child development and
changes to the sector. I mainly get my information
through the internet and through subscriptions to online
magazines and newsletters.
Fiona: I would have to answer the same as Narelle in that you are always learning everyday as every child has
different needs and so with more years on the job comes
more experience. I am always updating my quilifications
espacially with my First Aid, CPR, Asthma and Anaphylaxis
training these are so important when working with
children.
What’s your favourite age group to work with? Narelle: Babies – for sure. They are completely gorgeous and develop and grow right before your eyes.
Fiona: I agree I love the babies watching this beautiful life
grow and smile right before your eyes, their soft skin and
little hands. I think what is wonderful is if you are lucky
enough to work with your families well into their teenage
years, like me, I am still in touch with the children I looked
after and they are into their 20`s now.
What’s one of your favourite things to do with
children? Narelle: I love children’s books so I enjoy reading to kids and when they’re old enough, help them with their reading
homework. Learning to read is life changing and watching
that learning take place is exciting.
Fiona: I love exploring with the children I look after like a bush walk ,train or bus ride a trip to the city on the ferry. These are
always new experiences for them and the excitement in the
eyes and body language is unforgettable.
Favourite craft activity? Fiona: Finger painting is a good one, yes it can be very messy but with children you often find the more mess
involved the better it is. Hands on all about touching, feeling,
looking using all the senses.
Narelle: Pretty much anything that will work out but I find kids really enjoy craft that involves using uncooked pasta.
Favourite recipe? Narelle: Tuna pie for sure
Fiona: Spagetti Bolognaise, great for hiding grated vegetables for fussy eaters always a winner.
Is there anything else you’d like to add about
the nanny industry? Narelle: I have never understood why nanny work is treated with such little respect by some members of the community.
For example, to this day some parents want nannies to work
for cash and hence forego superannuation or other
employee entitlements. I find that baffling. Forget about
mutual respect for a moment – these are basic employee rights we are talking about. This needs to change.
A NOVEL WAY TO MEET NANNIES
Mei Koon has created a novel way for parents to meet
nannies – all in one location in one night!
Read on to discover more. . . .
How did Meet a Sitter come into being? Through my own personal struggle in finding quality,
affordable childcare when I was returning to work after
my first child was born. Childcare vacancies were
literally non-existent after 18 months on the waitlist of
various centres, agency fees were too exorbitant and
took too much time, online directories didn’t provide the
consistency nor availability of options as many of the
profiles were outdated.
For a busy parent with no family support nearby, it was
just too difficult. I knew there had to be a better way
and the idea of combining the speed-dating concept
with matching parents with nannies and babysitters
seemed like a great idea…and it is! Part of our process is
getting feedback directly from the parents and
candidates at each event before it ends –it’s a really
good way to gauge how we’re doing and what needs
to be improved. When you hear about the wonderful
experience they have, it reaffirms that the business
works…which is a dream come true!
Locations Serviced Inner West, Eastern Suburbs, North Shore, Northern
Beaches, Hills/North West – SYDNEY.
Inner Suburbs – MELBOURNE.
How does Meet a Sitter work? Meet A Sitter is Australia’s first and only boutique service
organising events for busy parents to meet & speed-
interview pre-screened babysitters & nannies in Greater
Sydney and Inner Melbourne.
In just over an hour, time-strapped parents will meet and
personally interview a group of pre-screened candidates
close to home, and walk away with their very own
network of carers for direct contact thereafter.
It is the most cost-effective and time-efficient method of
meeting quality carers out there. With a 98-99% success
rate, we know it works!
Have you employed nannies? Yes, I have.
I am my target market with a young child and a baby on
the way. I have the privilege of an endless network of
great nannies and sitters to draw from, and believe in the
face-to-face ability to meet my own candidates at the
events and make my choices from there too – just like my
clients!
In your opinion, what sort of people employ nannies? Loving people who are doing their utmost to be the best
parents they can be – but struggling to make all the jigsaw
pieces fit together in their family, work and personal life.
They are normally parents who believe in the one-on-one
care and attention a nanny can provide for their families,
or people who simply cannot find a vacancy at their
preferred daycare centre – forcing them to look at in-home
alternatives, even at a higher cost.
What is the best thing about having a nanny? The assurance you get from knowing you have someone to
be there, caring, educating, playing with your most
precious children as the next best thing to you being there
yourself. A parent who has to hand over the care of their
child to someone else is often making a really hard decision
when they do it for the very first or tenth time. But once you
find someone who will love your child nearly as much as
you do – it’s the best feeling in the world that allows you to
do what you need to do without worrying about how your
children are doing when you’re not there.
Do you think it’s important for nannies to hold
qualifications? Not necessarily – first and foremost, I feel that a love for
working with children is the most important qualification.
First Aid, Child Development courses etc. can be learnt
along the way. But unless you have an innate ability to
bond with children, empathise with them, the willingness to
learn and be patient through the tough times – no amount
of qualification will help you build that characteristic. And
as a parent and business owner – I’ve seen myself how
these soft qualities form the foundation that really makes a
true nanny a loving carer.
What sort of things should parent look for in a good
agency? An agency that’s quick to respond, one who empathises
with a client’s situation, one that isn’t afraid to admit
errors and who does what it can to rectify it as soon as
possible, one who actively seeks to help its clients solve
problems. The parents hiring any agency should make
sure that their agency also supports and has high touch
points with its own candidates. That way, you know the
agency has a stake in both their clients’ and candidates’
success.
We treat our clients like a large family – we often have
our clients come back to us with questions and requests
for advice on how to handle challenging situations, and
we feel like it’s a natural step to help where we can,
because we are our clients and we understand how it
was in the beginning when we struggled ourselves. Our
candidates are also part of this family and the help and
support extends back to them.
Meet a Sitter Contact details.
Mei Koon – Meet A Sitter, Founder
0432038269
www.meetasitter.com.au
MY MANNY You’ve heard about them –
blokes that hang out with kids.
They are in the suburban homes
of many families, making a
difference – they are Mannies!!
There is a whole website dedicated
to the employment of nannies – we speak to Ross,
it’s founder to find out more.
How did My Manny get it’s start?
My Manny first began in Melbourne, Australia in 2009. Ross
Dullard, Director of My Manny and a primary school
teacher of 10 years, has worked in a diverse range of
schools and education centres within Australia and the
United Kingdom. It was from his experiences in these roles
that led to him developing a respected service that
recognises that hard working parents can’t always be
available to their children as often as they wish.
Since the year 2000, the percentage of full time male
primary school teachers in Australia has dropped from 30%
to under 20% today. These decreasing numbers result in
children that lack regular contact with adult males in the
most important stage of their development. My Manny
offers an alternative solution to regular child minders and
aims to provide children with positive male role models.
Is there a demand of male nannies in Australia? There is an ever increasing demand for mannies across
Australia. My Manny began with just a handful of mannies
in 2009, whereas today we have over 100 mannies to offer
prospective families across Australia. And the great thing
is that it's not just families who love mannies - males in
education love being mannies!
What is your definition of a manny? A manny is essentially a male nanny.
A Manny is a positive male role
model that can be a friend, a
mentor, a carer and a teacher.
Quite simply, a manny endeavours
to care for children of all ages in a
personalised way that bests suits the
child's development.
Who has been the biggest
influence on you professionally? The inspiration for My Manny has
come from working with children
and from a desire to guide each
individual child to reach his or her
full potential.
From our experience in education,
we've been inspired by the passion
that males in education have for
their profession and My Manny was
established to build on this passion
and to provide children with more
positive role models in the most
important time in their lives.
What are some of the different perspectives a male
nanny can bring to the job, that maybe a female
can’t? While it's not fair to say that a manny is preferable to a
nanny, there are certain key attributes that My Manny
seeks in its mannies that puts them ahead of regular
carers. We're looking for pro-active, multi-skilled,
young, energetic and responsible male role models to
enthusiastically support and encourage s child’s
interests and meet their individual requirements. Our
mannies aim to lead by example in a variety of roles -
from helping with science homework, teaching the
basics of guitar, giving tips on cake baking, or kicking
the footy in the park.
What age group are male
nannies best suited to? There is no specific range to
which a Manny is best suited,
however we find they are
most popular with active
boys and girls ranging from
3-14yrs old.
Are there any changes you’d like to see in the nanny
childcare sector? My Manny's mission is for male carers to one day be as
popular as female carers. A stigma has existed in the
past around men in education and we see our place
as being part of the breaking down of this gender bias.
If you could give nannies two pieces of advice –
what would they be? To be as enthusiastic as possible and to understand
the high responsibility involved in being part of a
child's development
If you could give parents two pieces of advice – what
would they be?
To cherish their children and their childhood, as the
pride they will feel for their development is unlikely to
match any other life achievement. They should also
learn to pat themselves on the back now and then -
for the same reasons.
What does a dream nanny look like?
The perfect manny is pro-active, multi-skilled, young,
energetic and responsible. We're happy when we
know that a manny has had a positive influence on a
child's development.
What does a dream employer look like?
Any family or parent that wants the best for their
child.
Ross Dullard Director
My Manny
Email: [email protected] Web: www.mymanny.com.au
T he Nanny Manifesto
I am a professional nanny.
I have an innate ability to connect with
children.
My days are filled with meaning and
are satisfying.
I am a teacher, an explorer, a friend.
I am highly skilled and continue to learn
more about children every week.
My work contributes to a happy and
healthy community.
I charge money, because I’m worth it.
I value myself so I can value my clients,
and they value me too!
I have work/life balance and enough
time and money to do the things that
keep me inspired and happy.
I love my job, and my job is changing
the world, one family at a time…
Do Nannies REALLY need
insurance? I got through most of a 25 year career without it – so many other nannies don’t have it either – Insurance.
So do we REALLY need to take out a policy?
In short YES. Now my answer is not based on me receiving any affiliate payments from any insurers, but I have done my research. After discussions with insurance providers, there have been a handful of cases over the years – the one standing out in my mind is a dog bite to a child’s face – a story I was told about 20 years ago and it’s haunted me ever since. A few seconds of time and a life of injury – imagine what a difference having a policy would do
to help the child access specialised care and some peace of mind for the carer – not to mention the financial protection too. When I started my nanny agency, the Sunflower Nanny Co 16 years ago, one of the first things I wanted to do was have insurance for my nannies. Problem was, we couldn’t access one that held the account here in Australia. I didn’t feel comfortable asking nannies to invest in a company that held it’s account in the Cayman Islands.
So the search went on – brokers, companies, actuaries were all consulted – noone could come up with an option and at the time – even good old reliable Lloyds of London passed us up. I share this information so you understand just how important it is and how lucky you are to have a fabulous policy now available – thanks to a Sydney agency owner and her insurance broker.
The company we now have access to is Nanny
Sure. They have been around for some time and
their service is impeccable.
The key thing that I love about their policy is they
really understand the aspects of a nanny position
and what we get up to with kids – the kind of
understanding that comes from ‘insider’ information
– special thanks to the Sydney nanny agency.
So when it came to explaining why nannies need
insurance – I went straight to Nanny Sure.
I was delighted to learn Leanna Driscoll would be in
touch – as she was the consultant I originally dealt
with years ago.
I put forward some basic questions to her. Why do you need Liability Insurance whilst working
as a Nanny or Carer?
Due to the intrinsic emotional bond between a
parent and a child, a Nanny/Carer’s working
environment has the potential to be highly volatile;
caring for children is a high-risk occupation.
You are responsible for the care and safety of a
parent’s most precious treasure. Even the most
amenable and reasonable of parents may quickly
become hostile if their child sustains an injury or
death whilst in your care or you cause accidental
loss or damage to their property.
Under the Statute of Limitations, legal
action could be taken against you up
to a child’s 21st birthday, long after the child
has left your care.
You will be covered by our policy provided you are
covered at the time injury/accident occurred and
you are held legally liable for the injuries sustained to
the child.
Although you may not have many assets today your
financial situation will more than likely change in the
future and you could be jeopardising it by not
insuring against your legal liability.
You do not have to have a current policy at the time
you need to make a claim, you do however need to
be covered at the time the injury/accident
occurred.
Simple accidents happen. It could be:
A child is scalded by a hot cup of tea/coffee left
within reach causing permanent scarring
A baby falling from a change table causing serious
brain damage
A toddler choking on something they shouldn’t have
access to.
Property Damage: In addition to Personal Injury claims you are also
covered for property Damage.
Perhaps you are cooking in the kitchen, get
distracted by the Child and come back to find
the kitchen is on fire. Although this type of claim
would be covered under the families Home &
Contents Policy, their Insurance Company will
seek to recover the cost of the claim from you.
You may lose the families video camera whilst on
an outing with the Children (which wouldn’t be
covered under their Home & Contents Policy
unless they have chosen “Accidental Loss or
Damage” cover for an additional premium,
again their Insurance Company will seek to
recover the cost of the claim from you.
You cause damage to the house/furniture whilst
playing with the children, (which again wouldn’t
be covered under their Home & Contents Policy
unless they have chosen “Accidental Loss or
Damage” cover for an additional premium,
again their Insurance Company will seek to
recover the cost of the claim from you.
Lets face it, accidents happen, which could result in
you being held liable to pay compensation to the
child/parent.
We have all heard about accidents happening and
people being awarded tens of thousands/hundreds
of thousands/millions of dollars, by way of
compensation.
Liability Insurance offers you peace of mind, knowing
that the insurance company will protect and
indemnify you against your legal liability to pay
compensation in respect of personal injury or
property damage that occurs whilst working as a
Nanny or Carer. They will defend any claim or legal
action against you even if the action is groundless,
false or fraudulent.
They will also pay all expenses incurred and all costs
taxed against you in any such suit.
We encourage you to complete an Incident Report
form each and every time an incident occurs and
keep record for 21 years inline with the Statue of
Limitations mentioned above.
Insurers prefer Nannies/Carers with qualifications or
experience as this helps reduce the risk of injury,
claims and in turn keeps premiums affordable.
We invite you to visit our website for premiums and
to obtain cover.
Website: www.nannysure.com.au
Email: [email protected] Phone: 02 9899 2999 or 1800 252 712
NannySure is a product of
Finsura Insurance Broking (Australia) Pty. Ltd
.
ABN: 58 003 334 763 AFSL: 243264
an Austbroker Member
Underwritten by
QBE Insurance Australia Limited
Looking out for
Australian Nannies
Call NannySure
today to arrange
protection for the
families you care for
and for your future
too.
Website:
www.nannysure.com.au
Email:
Phone: 02 9899 2999 or 1800 252 712
Our NannySure policy
protects you from
accidental injury and
harm, food poisoning and
property damage.
DOMESTIC PAYROLL The complications that come with paying a nanny their
entitlements – organising tax, superannuation etc is one of
the reason that we have a cash economy element in our
industry. Some parents think it’s OK to pay cash at a higher
rate and let the nanny take care of it all – but there may be
some issues that arise from that arrangement too.
We spoke to Ainslie from Domestic Payroll – a service that
takes care of paying nannies – taking care of the confusion
and complications for you. Ainslie can also look after
nannies who work under a contract arrangement too!
Here’s what we asked her.
What is Domestic Payroll all about? (How can DP help
families, what is the advantage of using the service, what
are the options etc) Domestic Payroll was established in 2009 and provides a
nanny tax service for families with full and part time nannies.
The aim is to assist parents with tax, super and workers
compensation obligations and ensure nannies are receiving
their full wages and conditions.
The advantage for parents is that it’s a time saving service,
as the administration involved even if you’re familiar with
the processes can be time consuming and it also gives
peace of mind in knowing that everything is done correctly.
Another main advantage is that it can lead a better
working environment and relationship if a third party is
looking after the payments and administration and the
nanny is receiving their full legal entitlements.
Domestic Payroll is an Australian wide service covering all
states and cities with clients as far flung as Karratha in WA to
Townsville in North Queensland.
Is it expensive to use? There are different levels of service to fit in with
different budgets.
Gold Nanny Tax Service – is a comprehensive
service managing all forms, registrations, paperwork
and calculations including all end of year
obligations such as issuing group certificate and
reconciliation requirements.
Silver Nanny Tax Service – is a DIY service with all the
forms, starting calculations and background
information provided tailored towards your specific
situation. You process all the ongoing paperwork
and calculations. With the Silver Nanny Tax you also
receive a six month help desk, where you can call
on Domestic Payroll to assist or check your work.
Bronze Nanny Tax Service – offers the same
assistance as the Silver Service without the 6 month help desk support.
Why is it important to have the financial aspects of a
nanny arrangement formalised? Australian nannies traditionally have been paid in cash or
as an ABN contractor operating as a sole trader. The ATO
is really focusing on lost revenue through cash and sham
contracting work as it chases reduced levels of revenue
for the federal government. With the new media and
political focus on child care and the role of the nanny, it
has bought the industry to the attention of the ATO. With
the ATO announcing its crackdown on contractors
claiming to be business entities to gain a tax advantage
being extended to nannies and nanny agencies
operating in cash or contractor roles.
Now more than ever it’s important to ensure that you are
being paid correctly and on the books.
The term sham contracting refers to someone who is
operating as a contractor but really should be paid as an
employee. If you’re working for one or two families on an
ongoing weekly basis more than likely you’re an employee
not an ABN contractor. The real test of a contractor is not
the 80% test
(where 80% or more of your income comes from one
client) but the results test.
Apply these key result test questions against the work
performed for your clients:
• are you paid for results achieved
• do you provide all or most of the necessary materials
and equipment to complete the work
• can you send someone else along to perform the work
• do you have the freedom in the way the work is done
• can you accept or refuse the work
If you answered no to the majority of these questions,
more than likely you’re an employee.
If you are unsure if you should be paid as a contractor or
employee the ATO website, www.ato.gov.au has a great
online tool which gives you a determination at the end
based on your answers to a series of questions.
Parents especially and nannies to a degree can be
placing themselves at risk of fines and back payments
from the ATO, Fair Work Australia and Work Cover for hiring
an employee as a contractor.
As a nanny you can be fined for not paying the correct
amount of tax or none at all if you are working cash in
hand.
A great benefit of being paid as an employer instead of a
contractor, is being covered for workers compensation in
case of an injury or accident.
.
Another great benefit is financial; I worked as a
bookkeeper invoicing clients when I first started working at
$25 an hour. I had to manage my own tax but most
importantly I received no super or leave entitlements and
had to pay for my own insurance. Whilst the main reason I
did this was for experience, financially it felt like a
backward step. Working as a contractor instead of an
employee, is not beneficial for people of low to average
wages, the advantages of being able to claim a few
additional expenses did not cover the shortfall of missing
out on my entitlements.
What is your background
from a financial perspective
and a nanny perspective?
I studied accounting, business
administration and industrial
relations at university level
before working in senior
admin accounting roles
for small to medium size
businesses. My last main role
was as Operations Manager for the
national carer Dial-An-Angel.
It was while I was at Dial-An-Angel I came across the
frustration and the confusion faced by parents
once they hired a permanent nanny.
So when I read about similar services to Domestic
Payroll that exist overseas, I thought it was a perfect
opportunity for me to start my own business.
I started this business as a bit a part time source of income
only but as the business has developed my interest and
pride in what I am achieving has grown. I am really proud
of the fact that, through the payroll service I am making
sure that nannies are getting full access to their wages
and entitlements and I excited by the changes and
interest in the industry that is taking place.
How can people find you? I’m always happy to have a chat if anyone wants to
discuss their situation or ask a question regarding their
wages and conditions.
I can be contacted on 0438 422 169 or
We hope you have enjoyed your journey into the
Australian nanny world with The Nanny Nest.
There are so many fabulous wonderful people who care for
kids and care for the carers too.
This is just the start of an exciting time in the
nanny community.
If you’d like to stay in touch you can find us on
www.nanniesaustralia.com.au subscribe to our list so you don’t miss a thing
Facebook ~ Nannies Australia
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Phone ~ 0439 210 816
COMING SOON
The Nanny Nest Magazine –
EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING
BIG NEWS ON 21 NOVEMBER 2012
In our next issue
EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING We’ll be running through all the different aspects of
nanny employment –
Working as an employee
Working as a contractor
The pros and cons of cash jobs
Taxation – what you can claim
Superannuation – why part time nannies are left out
and how to get the 2005/1 ruling changed
Insurance
Contracts
Communication
Training – what’s available and where . . . .
Hello Advertisers, Would you like to be in The Nanny Nest? TACON offers you the fabulous opportunity to
promote your business directly to the Australian nanny market. As you can see from the Launch issue – we offer you a generous space to promote your business. There has never been this type of publication available before and such a terrific rate too. Yes we know it’s worth more than this – but TACON doesn’t just look after nannies and parents – we also help support the
businesses that keep this industry moving too. So if you’d like your own page – please forward a Jpeg file 466 wide by 670 high pixels to Marina [email protected] and we’ll invoice you for $55. Alternatively, you can send us images and text and we can create the ad for you – contact Marina to discuss costs. Our bi-monthly magazines will be hosted on ISSUU.com and our website –
they will be available for years to come. Each of our issues have a theme they will often be looked back upon by those discovering the magazine for the first time in the future. So don’t delay – Deadlines are 10th December for the January Issue Employment and Training
10th February for the March Issue It’s all about the Kids