Private Family Casual/Temp
How much will I pay the agency for casual bookings?
There is a daily agency booking fee for each casual booking, the booking fee covers the time and cost associated with having a strong database of experienced carers which includes the following:
– Ongoing Advertisements for Experienced Casual Carers
– Culling Resumes and Contacting Suitable Carers
– Contacting Carers to carry out our Registration Process
– Interviewing Carers
– Conducting Online Verifications and Employment Reference Checks
– Creating Candidate Profile
If you choose to engage our services, it also covers the time we spend on conducting a search for a suitable carer. Therefore, the booking fee is due and payable by credit card at the time of the booking.
Our fee structure is set out below:
| Evening babysitting | $40-$50 (within 48 hrs Booking $50) (+GST) |
| Casual Day Nanny | $40-$50 (within 48 hrs Booking $50) (+GST) |
| Share Nanny/Babysitter | $17 surcharge per extra family (+GST) |
| 24 hour care/Overnight Care | $50-$55 (+GST) |
| Weekend Nanny | $120 (+GST) |
| Before & After School Care | $40-$50 (within 48 hrs Booking $50) + GST |
| Casual week/Temp Nanny | $180 (+GST) |
| School Holiday Care | Daily $40-$50 (+GST), Weekly $180 (+GST) |
| Vacation Nanny | Contact us for a Tailored Quote |
| Temp Live-in Nanny | Daily $50 (+GST), Weekly $180 (+GST) |
| Semi-Rural / Rural locations | $40 to $50 (+GST) |
| Party Assistance/Group Bookings | Contact us for a Tailored Quote |
Does ACS offer discounts for multiple bookings?
If your booking is likely to exceed 5 days then please contact us for a tailored discounted quote.
How much should I pay the casual nanny/babysitter and how do I pay them?
Evening babysitters and casual day nannies charge $30 – $45 per hour which is dependent upon the experience of the carer, the number of children and their ages to be cared for and the level of responsibility that goes with the role.
You have the option to pay the carer directly in cash at the end of the assignment for the number of hours they have worked, or if your booking is a work related expense, we can pay the Carer on your behalf and provide you with an invoice for both the booking fee and hours worked so that expenses can be claimed. Please contact us for further details.
What is a Share Nanny/Babysitter?
A share sit can be offered to a maximum of three sets of parents who are requiring care for their children in the same location and at the same times. For example, friends and/or relatives who are staying at a hotel whilst they attend a Wedding and they require a babysitter, so rather than booking a babysitter each, they can bring the cost down by sharing a Babysitter. having an evening out together or attending an event together where all children can be cared for by the one sitter in the one house/hotel room etc. A $20 surcharge applies to the agency booking fee per extra family and the hourly rate per increases by $7 per extra child.
How does ACS calculate overnight rates for:
24 hour care or overnight care?
We carry a minimum 4 hours per day so if its just the night you need we suggest a 6pm to 10am booking to cover the minimum 4 hours per day booked i.e. 6pm-10pm and 6am – 10am. This will incur the casual hourly rates and a flat rate of $150 for the overnight stay. Any hours required outside of these times will be charged at the casual hourly rate.
A weekend Nanny or Temporary Live-in Nanny?
The daily rates vary based on the start time and finish time so its best to give us a call or send an enquiry through email so we can ensure we are providing you with a tailored quote to suit your needs.
What’s the minimum set hours for Before and After School Care?
The minimum set hours for a split shift is 3 hours in the morning and 4 hours in the afternoon. Our Before & After School Carers are willing to run a few errands such as doing a household food shop / run to Post Office or Dry Cleaners / Children’s Laundry including ironing School Uniforms / Evening meal prep etc., all prior to collecting the children from school so they can focus more time on engaging with the children through trips to the park/coffee shop, assisting with readers/homework, accompanying the children to and from afternoon activities/sports/lessons. If fewer hours are required then this will be factored in to the hourly rate so an increased rate will apply.
Do I get to meet the carers for a casual placement?
If you choose to engage in our services for a babysitter or casual nanny we will select the carer for you on your behalf ensuring to the match the criteria set out by you on your Registration Forms. We will phone you to provide you with a full briefing on the candidate we have selected for you before providing them with your details. The carer will contact you in advance of the booking to introduce themselves to you and this is when you will have the opportunity to arrange a time to meet with the candidate prior to them commencing the assignment with you, time permitting. We strongly suggest FaceTime/Video Call as a great way to meet in advance and to introduce them to the children. You can also change your carer at any time as the booking fee has been paid at the time of the booking and a free replacement candidate will be provided if the assigned carer cannot attend the shift for any reason.
Can I have the same casual nanny/babysitter I had last time?
We follow up with you after every booking to ensure that we obtain feedback on our carers level of performance as this is very important to us. If you have a preferred carer, they will most definitely be our first point of contact for you, failing that we will source another suitable candidate for you. Please keep in mind that the more notice you provide us with, the more likelihood that we can secure your preferred carer or the same carer for each day booked. We will then be able to maintain more consistency for you and will be in a better position to meet your requirements.
How far in advance do I have to book?
As mentioned above, the sooner you let us know the more likely we will be able to have the same carers available for you. However, we will always be able to cater to any emergency situations or last minute bookings with a new carer for you if your regular carer is not available.
How are ACS carers screened?
ACS has a thorough reference checking procedure to ensure that all carers are carefully checked prior to becoming fully registered candidates. This includes online verifications conducted to receive clearance on the Carers Working with Children Check through the Commission for Children & Young Adults in your State to ensure the carer has not been listed as being prohibited to work with children. This check also includes a Police Records Check. We also conduct reference checks with previous and current employers so we can obtain the necessary feedback on their levels of performance in their roles as we want to be certain that they meet our level of expectation and will do a great job of engaging with the children in their care on all levels and have built positive relationships with the parents, therefore doing an excellent job of representing our agency. All carers need to have current First Aid Training and a minimum 2-3 years experience working with children to be able to register with our agency. This is our duty of care and we ensure that each box is ticked before introducing them to our clients.
How will ACS help me select a carer?
Our aim is to facilitate introductions that show potential for the development of a unique relationship, based on mutual respect between families and carers. For Permanent Placements, the final employment decision is ultimately up to you. We can help suggest interview questions to ensure you find out exactly what you need to know to make your decision. Please refer to the above question ‘Do I get to meet the carers for a Casual Placement?’ if you wish to engage in a casual placement through our agency.
Employing a permanent carer through ACS?
Temp with a View to Permanent Placement
We offer you the opportunity to place a candidate on a temporary basis with a view to permanent offer. This allows you to book a candidate on a month to month basis with the intention to offer permanent placement all going well. The daily temporary agency booking fee for a Nanny is $40.00 to $50.00 (+GST) per day booked each week and payable a month in advance and upon Registration to engage our services. This secures the booking and provides consistency with the one carer for this length of time. If your booking exceeds 4 weeks or you wish to extend the temporary assignment, we will offer you a tailored discount. You can offer the candidate permanent placement any time throughout the duration of the temporary assignment and if the candidate accepts, we will also offer you a discount off the permanent placement fee which is calculated based on how long the candidate has been with you on a temporary basis.
Initially, we discuss your families specific needs in detail with you so we can gain a full understanding of your families dynamic and the requirements of the role for each individual child. This will help us determine which of our services would best suit your needs so they can then be presented to you in detail for your consideration. We will then send an email to you recapping our discussion, providing you with a quote for the once off agency placement fee for a Temporary Nanny (4 week trial period) with a view to permanent offer. We will also attach our Family Registration Pack which includes an introduction to our agency, a quote, our Brochure, Registration Forms and a copy of our Terms & Conditions.
If you choose to engage in our services, we will contact you upon receipt of your registration to go over the content included in your completed registration forms and discuss any further requirements or answer any questions you may have. We will then conduct a search on our current database and head hunt any potential candidates whose registrations are in the pipeline and being finalised. We also place adverts for the role on various platforms that are familiar to the industry to ensure that we can obtain a good selection of suitable candidate profiles that match the criteria set out on your forms. We do select the most suitable carer for you but if there are multiple candidates then we will provide you with a brief on each of the potential candidates and will provide them with our contact details so they can give you a call to introduce themselves and go over the role in further detail with you. All going well, you can then arrange a suitable time direct with the carer to meet them in person prior to them commencing or if multiple candidates are presented to you each of them will be in touch to do the same with you so you can then choose your preferred candidate. We can assist you with negotiating employment arrangements upon your selection.
When do I pay the agency for a permanent carer placement?
The initial Fee upon engagement in our services is the temporary daily agency booking fee (please refer to our Casual Fees) which will cover each day booked per week across the 4 week trial period. This fee also covers the initial search that we conduct on our database, advertising the role, culling resumes and ensuring that the carers documentation is up to date i.e. Online verifications for the Working with Children Check, up to date First Aid Certificate, current/recent employers to conduct reference checks, updating candidate briefs and introducing the candidates to you. The chosen carer will commence on the date required and you pay the carer directly for the hours they have worked.
The quoted permanent placement fee is payable at the end of the 4 week trial period if you choose to have the same carer work for you ion a permanent basis. A Confirmation of Employment letter and our Employment Contract Template will be sent to you via email which is also included in the cost of the fee.
All payments are to be charged to the credit card details provided by you at the time of registration with our agency. Please refer to our Terms of Business which includes our cancellation policy.
How much should I pay my carer?
Nannies are paid according to their qualifications, skills, experience and what they are currently being paid. We also take into consideration the number of hours offered, extended duties of the role and number of children to be cared for. Permanent Carers’ remuneration details are negotiable between families and their Carers. ACS offers advice on wages and taxation, however the final employment contract will be between you (the Client) and the Carer. Nanny wages generally start from $26 per hour and can go up to $35 per hour. We ask you to provide us with a range of pay so that we can keep in line with your desired requirements.
How will ACS help me understand what is involved in becoming an employer?
We will offer advice on insurance cover, superannuation, taxation, and workers compensation. At your request we can assist in the drafting of a suitable employment contract. However, ACS is not a law firm, and ultimately it is your responsibility to ensure that you meet your obligations as an employer.
What happens if my carer doesn’t work out?
ACS implements a four week trial period at the start of each permanent placement. If within this period either yourself or the nanny that you have chosen is unhappy with the arrangement, ACS will endeavour to provide another suitable candidate free of charge. Outside of this trial period we offer discounts of up to 50% off on further placements within a 12 month period if you choose to engage in our services for a replacement candidate. If you have engaged in our services with a Casual or Temporary arrangement, you can change your carer at any time provided that the casual fee has been paid in full.
Paying My Permanent Nanny
There is no Award Wage set for Nannies which means that it becomes the carers responsibility to declare their income as an extra income and contribute to their own Super, UNLESS you are offering them more than 30 hrs per week. In this case, you can either choose to with hold tax from the Nannies wages or the carer can choose to obtain her own ABN, either way you will need to make Superannuation Contributions.
Income tax
You can find out about paying income tax at Australian Taxation Office – PAYG withholding and household employees.
Superannuation
Once your nanny works 30 hours or more a week, paying superannuation becomes a statutory requirement. Superannuation is currently 10% of gross.
You can find out more at Australian Taxation Office – Super.
Note: if you have a fixed price that’s inclusive of superannuation, once superannuation is calculated the remaining balance has to meet the minimum hourly rates.
Leave Entitlements and Incentives
Leave entitlements such as sick leave, holiday leave and Public Holidays are all negotiable and considered to be incentives, as again there is no Award Wage set for Nannies. We encourage these entitlements be put in place for any hours worked over 30 hrs per week
Child Care Subsidy
The child care subsidy has certain requirements which need to be met by the carer, such as, they are required to be on the In Home Care Register prior to commencement of work. We can certainly search for a nanny to meet you and your families requirements who is either already registered or is willing to become registered for you. To confirm information about the child care subsidy and your options on how you can claim it with a in home registered carer etc we recommend talking to Centrelink / Dept of Education or going to your MyGov Account or go to https://www.education.gov.
Employment Contracts
We have had employment contracts legally drawn for you to use as a guide. A template of which is provided to you upon selection of one of our candidates. We can offer assistance with the information included in the contract to suit your specific needs.
Insurance
We recommended that you take out Domestic Workers Compensation which you might already have included in your current home and contents insurance. Check with your policy provider, if they do not include this as a policy or a stand alone policy outside of your existing home and contents then please contact us so we can provide you with a list of providers offering a stand alone policy or you can contact WorkCover in your state for further information.