How to become a nanny in Australia

Working as a nanny is a rewarding career that requires a love of caring for children, childcare experience and some recommended qualifications. Parents are looking for a nanny that will tick all the boxes - be great with children, educated and experienced. While you don’t need specific training to become a nanny, there are some essential qualifications you will need depending on the type of nanny job you are pursuing. In this article, we will guide you through how to become a nanny in Australia, the different types of nanny jobs, explain the skills and qualifications needed and the duties of a nanny.

What is a nanny?

A nanny is  a professional who is hired to care for children in their family's home. Unlike a babysitter, who tends to do casual childcare, a nanny is a more permanent role that can either be full-time, part-time or even holiday based. Nannies take care of a variety of age groups, from babies and toddlers, to school age children, and teenagers up to 18 years of age. A nanny’s job is to look after children, feed them, keep them safe and provide fun or educational activities. Unless prior agreement is made, a nanny’s duties do not usually include housekeeping or cleaning.

Tasks and duties of a nanny

The exact duties of a nanny will vary depending on the children and the family’s needs.  However, a nanny’s job will always revolve around daily tasks relating to the care of the children. The tasks and duties of a nanny include:

• Supervise children. The main role of a nanny is to provide supervision for the children in their care. Nannies are responsible for keeping the children in a safe and secure environment and keeping watch over them.
• Maintain children’s personal hygiene and health. A big part of a nanny’s responsibility is to maintain the children’s personal hygiene and health. For older children, this means bathing and cleaning, handwashing and toothbrushing. For babies and toddlers, this also includes nappy changing and toilet training.
• Managing sleep routine. Babies and toddlers need a regular sleep schedule and it is up to the nanny to maintain their routine. This means making sure they go to bed on time and have suitable naps during the day.
• Getting children ready for school. It may be part of a nanny’s duties to help get young children ready for school. This may mean helping them get dressed, hair done and bags packed before school.
• Organise meals and snacks. Some nannies are required to organise the meals and snacks for the children. For babies, this may mean cooking and pureeing baby food and preparing bottles. For older children it could be preparing main meals and snacks that are healthy and nutritious. For school age children, a nanny might be responsible for preparing lunch boxes for school.
• Organise activities. Nannies will also need to organise activities for the child. These may be educational, social or just for fun. Depending on the age of the child, activities might include sensory play for babies, structured play for toddlers or educational activities for school aged children. Sometimes a nanny will be required to accompany the child on a playdate.
• Provide transportation. Sometimes a nanny’s responsibility will extend to providing transport for the child. This could include driving children to school, medical appointments or extracurricular activities. It is the nanny’s responsibility to ensure the safe transportation of the child.
• Tidy and light house cleaning. While housekeeping is a separate issue to be agreed upon by the parents and nanny, there is usually some light housekeeping such as tidying up after the children to keep the environment safe, doing the children’s dishes and possibly some laundry.
• Helping  with homework. For school aged children, including teenagers, nannies may be required to help with homework. This can include setting and enforcing a homework schedule and overseeing homework progress.
• Administering medication. Nannies may sometimes need to administer medication. This means following a strict medicine schedule so the correct dosage is administered at the right time. There must be clear, written instructions from medical staff and parents with regards to any medication administration.
• Keep parents updated. Nannies must provide daily updates of the children’s activities, moods, milestones and any problems. Regular communication between the nanny and parents will help with the child’s progress and overall well being.

Types of nannies

While a nanny's main role is to care for children, there are all different types of nanny jobs available. Nannies can be employed simply to care for and entertain the children. Others may be housekeepers as well, while others may live with the family full time. We explore the different types of nannies and what their role requires.

• Live-out nanny. A live-out nanny is employed to look after children in and around the family’s home but does not live with them. A live-out nanny can work either full-time hours or part-time, depending on the needs of the family. If the children are small and require constant care, a live-out nanny is likely to work full-time. However, if the children are school aged, part-time care might only be required for things like before and after school care.
• Live-in nanny. A live-in nanny is employed to care for children on a full-time basis and lives at the family residence. They perform the same tasks and duties as a live-out nanny but may have more flexibility with living at the family’s house. A live-in nanny may be able to offer additional hours like helping in the evening or on weekends.
• Nanny housekeeper. A nanny housekeeper takes care of the children and the household. A nanny housekeeper’s main responsibility is still to care for the children, however they are expected to do domestic chores as well to ensure the smooth running of the household. Nanny housekeepers may be in charge of cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping and meal preparation in addition to childcare. A nanny housekeeper can be full-time or part-time.
• Travel nanny. A travel nanny is employed to take care of children when parents want to travel and have their children with them. A travel nanny will be responsible for looking after the children while travelling either on holidays or business trips. For a travel nanny, most of each day will be spent with child care tasks, like keeping the children safe, entertained, clean and rested.
• Night nanny. Night nannies help new parents during the night time hours. A night nanny might be employed for a period of a few weeks to several months, and could work any hours from 6 pm till 7am. A night nanny is responsible for helping parents take care of a new born baby during the evening and help establish a sleeping routine for the child. Night nannies may be required to feed, change and settle the baby during the night time while parents sleep.
• Maternity nanny. A maternity nanny is employed to help with the care of a newborn baby on a full-time basis. Unlike a night nanny, a maternity nanny will be there 24 hours, 6 days a week to help with newborn care, feeding, sleeping routines and basic postnatal care for mothers. A maternity nanny will usually be a live-in role for about 12 weeks.

Benefits of becoming a nanny

Being a nanny is a rewarding role with a plethora of benefits. Reasons to consider becoming a nanny include:

• Fulfilling relationships and impact on children: As a nanny you have the ability to develop fulfilling bonds with the children and families under your care. Being a nanny is a wonderful opportunity to be a role model and have a significant impact on the future of the children and the family as a whole.
• Plenty of job opportunities: With the variety of nanny positions available, there are plenty of job opportunities for nannies. As a nanny, you have the flexibility of choosing  full-time, part-time or purely holiday work.
• Good pay: The average salary for a nanny is between $55,000 and $70,000. The rate a nanny receives will depend on hours worked, evening, daytime or weekends, experience and education level. However, nannies have the capacity for good earnings compared to some other industries.
• Be your own boss: Being a nanny means you can decide which families you want to work with and the type of nanny you want to be.
• Minimal education required: Nannies do not require a lot of specific education to undertake the role. Some nannies begin working part-time while still completing their education and certificates in child development and child safety.
• Healthy and active lifestyle: Most nanny jobs require a healthy and active lifestyle, compared to desk jobs. As a nanny, you must walk and play with the children and structure physical activities for the children’s needs.
• Ability to travel: As a nanny, you may be required to go on holidays with families to continue caring for the children. Alternatively, you may decide to become a travel nanny who specialises in different family’s childcare while on holidays or work travel.
• New skill development: Working as a nanny may help you develop other skills to help you in the future. You will most likely develop important skills like communication, patience and problem solving as a result of the daily requirements of the role.

What you need to become a nanny in Australia

To become a nanny in Australia, you need to be over 18 years of age but there are also other things to consider. To become a nanny in Australia you will need  to fulfil legal requirements, have personal skills and some formal education is preferable.

Legal requirements

To be legally allowed to become a nanny in Australia, there are some minimum certifications you will need to hold and some that are preferred. These include:

• Working with Children Check: One of the legal requirements of becoming a nanny is to have a Working with Children Check (WWCC). This helps potential employers know that you have been properly screened and have passed the relevant checks to work with children. You must have a valid WWCC when applying for jobs to work with children.
• National Police Check: Many parents will want you to have a National Police Check to reveal any past criminal history and give an insight into the suitability to look after children. This police check indicates any disclosable court outcomes and pending issues or charges. Police checks can only be done with your permission and are valid at the time of the check so it is up to parents to decide if they want a recent one.
• First Aid Qualification: Nannies working with children must have a valid First Aid and CPR training qualification and have undertaken current approved anaphylaxis training, and emergency asthma management.
• Visa: Anyone visiting Australia from overseas must have a valid visa to work as a nanny.
• Drivers Licence: Although having a driver's licence is not a legal requirement, it is a valuable tool to have as a nanny. Parents often need the nanny to drive the children to school and outings and look favourably upon applicants with a driver’s licence.
• Insurance: If you are working independently as a contractor it is advisable to take out insurance like public liability insurance. If hired by an employer or parent, they usually have workers compensation insurance but it is important to check under each circumstance to make sure you are covered.

Skills & personality traits

There are a few practical skills and personality traits that will help you to become a nanny and look excellent on your resume. These include:

• Being great with children: A genuine love of children is an essential trait. Nannies need to show enthusiasm when spending time with children and have a genuine interest in encouraging them to grow and develop.
• Being patient: A nanny must be patient and kind when dealing with children particularly as they are learning and growing. Patience needs to be displayed while children are trying to learn to speak and reach new milestones.
• Having excellent communication skills: Nannies must be able to communicate effectively with both the children and parents. For children, nannies need communication skills to help a child understand instructions and guidance. For parents, nannies need to be able to communicate the progress of their child and any potential problems to assist moving forward.
• Having physical stamina: Caring for children is a physical job so nannies need a lot of physical stamina to keep up with them.
• Being trustworthy: Nannies must be trustworthy. They are being trusted with someone’s child or children and parents must have faith in their abilities.
• Having good time management: Caring for children involves a lot of different aspects so nannies must have good time management skills. Looking after children means taking into account a range of tasks that must be time managed.
• Having behaviour management skills: Nannies must be able to follow instructions from the parents on behaviour management and have the skills to follow it through.

Qualification options

If you want to become a nanny, it is highly recommended that you complete some formal early childhood and care education. There are two courses at TAFE Gippsland which will give you the background knowledge on providing the best care for children and how to understand your legal and ethical obligations. With these courses, you will obtain the practical skills to help you master the role of nannying.

Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care

This one-year, full-time course prepares educators for roles in early childhood education and care settings. The course will enhance confidence and skills while working with infants and children, and encourage communication with families. This course is a nationally recognised qualification. Upon successful completion, students will be eligible to receive the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care.

Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care

This two-year, part-time  course will enhance skills and professionalism in the early childhood education and care industry. After completing the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care is the next step. The diploma provides much broader options and is a more advanced childcare qualification. To qualify for this course, you must also be employed as an early childhood educator for at least 15 hours per week. Upon successful completion, students will be eligible to receive the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care.

How to find nanny jobs in Australia

Armed with the skills and knowledge to become a nanny, there are various ways you can find work as a nanny. Here are some tips on how to find nanny jobs in Australia.

1. Arm yourself with necessary qualifications. Be prepared for becoming a nanny by finishing all the necessary certificates and courses that will set you above other applicants.
2. Get babysitting work for experience. Babysitting for family and friends is a great way to get experience in childcare. You can also get parents to write a letter of recommendation for you once you have looked after their children on a regular basis. You can also get work part-time in local childcare centres to gain valuable experience.
3. Build your resume and online profile. With qualifications and experience behind you, build a resume and online profile that reflects your skills and credentials. The resume and profile should include a range of responsibilities to show your versatility and experience, your values, philosophy as a nanny, and how you would like to contribute to a family.
4. Check out advertisements online and social media. Once your resume and online profile is created, you can start applying for jobs online and through social media sites.
5. Join organisations like Australian Nannies Association (ANA). Joining an organisation like the ANA may open doors to nanny work. This organisation brings together, supports and represents nannies in Australia.

Becoming a nanny involves some training, education and personal skills. If you have the right temperament, it is one of the most rewarding career paths you can pursue. For those considering becoming a nanny it is preferable to undertake a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care or Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care at TAFE Gippsland.