Staying safe as an au pair, and as a family hiring one

Built into the platform

Au Pair Nation is designed so that trust is earned in steps. Families and au pairs verify their identity. Nobody can message an au pair until the au pair accepts a request. Children’s names, faces, schools and street addresses are never stored. Every profile and conversation has report and block buttons, and reports go to a person. The chat warns both sides when phone numbers, email addresses or money come up early. Use those tools; they are there for exactly this.

For au pairs

Before you meet

• Keep the conversation on the platform until you have had a video call and feel comfortable. Anyone pushing to move to WhatsApp immediately is a warning sign.
• Look at the family’s profile properly: children’s ages, hours, what they offer, and whether it matches what they say in chat.
• Never send money to anyone, for any reason. Nobody legitimate asks an au pair to pay for anything.

The first meeting

• Meet in daylight, and if you prefer, in a public place first.
• Tell a friend or family member the family’s name, the address, the time, and when you expect to be done. Share your location with them.
• Take your own transport, or have a way to leave when you choose.
• Trust your instincts. If the home, the people or the conversation feels wrong, leave. You do not owe anyone an explanation.

Before you start

• Get the agreement in writing: hours, pay, duties, leave, car and insurance. See the contract guide.
• If you’ll drive the family’s car, confirm you are a named driver on their insurance.
• If you’ll live in, confirm your room locks, your days off, and that you can come and go when not working.

Warning signs

• Reluctance to video call or to let you meet the children before starting.
• Vague or changing hours and pay.
• Requests for money, your ID number, or bank details before there is an agreement.
• Comments about your appearance rather than your experience.
• Pressure to start immediately without a trial or paperwork.

Report any of these. It protects the next person too.

For families

Before you meet

• Read the reasons behind each match and the au pair’s own words. Verified badges mean an identity check has been passed.
• Ask for references and call them.
• Keep early conversations on the platform so there is a record.

The first meeting

• Video call first, then a meeting at your home with the children present, at the time of day the au pair would normally be there.
• See the driver’s licence and first aid certificate.
• Show the car and the route if driving is part of the role.

Before you start

• Do a paid trial of two or three afternoons.
• Sign a written agreement and register for UIF and the Compensation Fund.
• Set out house rules: doors, alarm, visitors, social media about the children, and who may collect the children from school. Tell the school who the au pair is.
• Agree how you will communicate during the afternoon and what counts as an emergency.

Warning signs

• References that don’t check out or can’t be reached.
• Reluctance to show a licence or certificate.
• A profile that doesn’t match the person on the call.
• Pressure to be paid in advance.

Emergencies

South Africa’s emergency number is 112 from any cellphone, or 10111 for police and 10177 for ambulance. Both families and au pairs should have each other’s numbers, the children’s school numbers, and a nearby emergency contact saved from day one.

If something goes wrong

Use the report button on the profile or conversation, or email safety@aupairnation.com. A person reads every report. If anyone is in immediate danger, call emergency services first.