What to bring
Toiletries (shampoo, conditioning, soap, sun block etc)
Personal items such hair dryer, dictionary, alarm clock and a watch
Clothes and shoes comfort enough for daily work
Hat (protection from the sun)
Phone book for your own contact phone numbers and addresses
Useful Information
Australia has 3 different time zones:
- Eastern Standard time (NSW, ACT, VIC, TAS and QLD)
- Central Standard time (SA and NT): half an hour behind EST
- Western Standard Time (WA); two hours behind EST
Post office:
Generally opens Monday to Friday from 9 to 5 pm. Most of the post
offices in AU offer a collect service, so you can get your mail
as you travel. For sending mail overseas you have three options:
- Air Mail – about 7 days
- Economy air mail – about 14 days
- Surface mail – about 2 months (If you have a lot to send
home, shipping services may be cheaper)
Contact details of:
| International dialling code for Australia: |
61 |
| International call dial: |
0011 + country code |
| Overseas operator: |
1225 |
| Telephone for translation services: |
13 14 50 |
| Enquiries: |
12455 |
| |
|
| Police/ fire/ emergency |
000 |
| Hospital (24 hours medical services) |
1300 369 359 |
| Australian Taxation Office |
13 28 61 |
| Dimia** |
13 18 81 |
| Crime stoppers |
1800 333 000 |
| Emergency Poison Advice |
131 126 |
| Medicare Health Cover |
13 20 11 |
| National Harvest Labour Information Service |
1800 062 332 |
| **Department of Immigration and Multicultural
Affairs, for visa enquiries. |
Price list showing average living costs
in Australia
Here is a list of approximate prices (YR2008), in Australian dollars:
| Milk (1 litre) |
$1.50 |
| Coffee |
$2.50 |
| Loaf of Bread |
$3.00 |
| Whole chicken |
$7.00 |
| Movie ticket |
$14.00 |
| Rice (1 Kg) |
$3.00 |
| Bus ticket |
$2.70 |
| Taxi Airport-city (12 Km) |
$35.00 |
| Phone call (Local) |
$0.40 |
| Petrol per litre |
$1.50 |
What is Orientation?
Orientation is a meeting with an Au Pair House staff member after
the au pair's arrival. The staff member will welcome the au pair
and explain about the Au Pair House system and also answer any question
about the program you may have.
The au pair will also fill and sign the arrival relevant forms.
The au pair MUST bring their PASSPORT and a passport PHOTO on arrival.
Can I have a break, a holiday in the middle
of my au pair time?
If the au pair wishes, they can apply to gain special permission
by the family member, through a friendly conversation. However the
decision is up to the family and must suit their plans.
Textbooks or materials?
For people that choose the Mermaid Package, Au Pair House offers
a private English lesson program. The program length is a total
of 10 hours. During the first week, the au pair will have 2 hours
of private tuition per day, and the tuition is designed for the
specific subject – au pair work and environment. Au Pair House
will provide the material for the class only, and the students are
not allowed to take it home. If student wishes to have the material,
Au Pair House will provide a photocopied material at no cost upon
request.
What to expect from your English private
lesson?
The private lesson is designed to ensure that the au pair understand
the program and the responsibilities from family members and her,
once she is living with the family.
The private lesson will include topics and conversation exercises
teaching communication between the au pair and the family that will
normally be part of their daily routine. Also will cover most of
the vocabulary and sentences used in the house, such as "names
of cleaning products", "baby and emergency issues"
etc.
The private English lesson will occur in the office address. The
au pair will be transfer from the family house to the office for
the first lesson. The driver will show where the bus stop is and
will provide a timetable of the public transport. The following
lessons, the au pair will make the way by herself. The au pair must
arrive on time and should not miss any class. In case of illness,
an extra class can be arranged at no extra cost, if au pair gives
at least 2 hours of notice.
What to expect from your Family
The responsibility of the Host au pair family is to provide a safe
and healthy environment for the au pair to live in. The family is
responsible for only providing 3 meals per day. This does not include
snacks and extras between meals. If the 3 meals is not enough and
you are still hungry, you are more than welcome to buy your own
snacks and deserts and keep them in the fridge or in your bedroom.
Every family member must show respect and kindness toward the au
pair at all times.
What to expect from your (airport) transfer
On arrival, the transfer will be waiting for the au pair holding
a sign with her name on it upon exit. The transfer will check on
the monitor the current situation of your last flight to know if
you should be on time or not. If your last flight is delayed, the
transfer will know and will wait for it to arrive and meet you.
If the au pair cannot find the transfer for any reason, the au pair
must call Au Pair House contact number (24hours) to clarify the
meeting point.
What is expected from you / student
responsibilities
Carry all the appropriate documentation while travelling.
Arrive on time at the location for pick up
During your stay, if you have got any problems?
Who should you talk to?
- Health or personal problems: Family
- Financial issue: Au Pair House
- If au pair has any complaint related to Au Pair House services,
family or agency services: Au Pair House
Some tips of what is right and what is wrong in Australia
It is all right to:
- Talk to the family about any change that you may wish to do.
- You must tell how you feel about everything. Share your thoughts
with the family, talk to them. Do not be shy!
- If you have difficulties with the language, use a dictionary
or talk to one of the Au Pair staff.
- If some thing is not right, you must tell Au Pair House staff.
We are here to help and assist you, and if we don’t know
about a problem we cannot solve it. So please feel free to tell
us if there is anything bothering you.
It is against the law:
- to carry, sell or use drugs
- to drink alcohol in public areas (beaches, parks, street)
- to drink alcohol and drive
- to sleep inside a parked vehicle
- to leave rubbish on the street, -etc
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