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New Zealand’s leading in-home childcare provider and the country’s top au pair agency have teamed up to bring more au pairs into Kiwi households and provide more choice for families.
PORSE General Manager Kerry Henderson says a partnership with Au Pair Link gives more families access to au pairs throughout New Zealand.
“We are very excited about the partnership and being able to offer families more choice in the home based childcare sector.”
Previously, Au Pair Link has only been able to place and provide educational support to au pairs in its 14 licensed regions.
Au Pair Link General Manager Casey Muraahi says PORSE has 62 more licenses so families across the country will have wider access to au pairs.
“We can now reach out to families nationwide and in some of the more remote areas. We receive weekly enquiries from families outside of our licensed areas. It is exciting that we are now able to meet these demands. Even better as it’s a time where hundreds of au pairs are looking for host families.”
The partnership also has benefits for existing families and au pairs, with the opportunity to share PORSE’s services such as playgroups, events, resources and professional development.
“It gives au pairs more networking opportunities and access to extra resources as well as training, while providing families with another in-home education option,” said Ms Henderson.
“We take care of the paperwork and programme support for the children outside of Au Pair Link’s licensed regions and Au Pair Link will continue to interview, screen and match the candidates to ensure they will be the right fit for the families.”
Wellington single mother Rhonda Moore recently returned to work as a community midwife and needed a flexible childcare solution for son Jethro, three, and daughter Frankie, five.
Au Pair Link worked closely with her to find the right au pair, Justine Couillandre.
“As a midwife I work irregular hours, so I need someone who can live with us and be there for the children when I race off at short notice,” said Ms Moore.
“Our au pair is amazing and fits perfectly with our family. I’m confident she’s able to step into my shoes and take charge whenever I’m on call. She’s part of our family – when I head out the door to work the kids just say ‘see you mum’.”
Ms Moore says that working with an agency like Au Pair Link means there are checks and balances in place to simplify the whole process.
“Au Pair Link are super helpful and great at smoothing out any little details. They deal with all the paperwork and sort it all out.”
Through the partnership, all au pairs will take part in a three-day orientation, including first aid training, an ECE curriculum workshop, positive child guidance and a driving in New Zealand course.
Au Pair Link will now be offering its au pair matching services in key centres across New Zealand including Whangarei, Hawke’s Bay, Southland, and Nelson/Marlborough.
For media enquiries contact Catherine Wedd, 0212886770