Why I started Kokun.
I thought the hardest part of having an au pair would be finding the right person. It wasn't.
Before our first au pair arrived, I was trying to work out what should go into the contract I sent her - and that meant working out whether she was an employee, what I should pay her, tax, superannuation and insurance.
Once she joined us, things got even harder. My Apple Watch repeatedly warned me about my elevated heart rate when she got behind the wheel, and I found myself helping a nineteen-year-old navigate online dating, new friends and homesickness.
Hosting an au pair is probably the most complicated employment arrangement you will encounter. You’re employing a young person who’s living abroad (maybe for the first time), maybe its their first job, and its in your home. And somehow families are expected to navigate all of that on their own. Agencies can help, but not everyone wants to use one, and not everyone can afford to pay the placement fee.
I'd spent almost twenty years helping large organisations navigate employment, tax and people issues. They had HR departments. Host families have Google... and social media opinions.
I kept thinking “If I'm struggling to navigate this, how is everyone else doing it?”
That question became Kokun.
Our goal is simple: to make hosting an au pair easier, more accessible, and safer for everyone.
The reality of modern au pair arrangements.
I'm a bit of a nerd when it comes to getting things right.
I like contracts. I like knowing where the legal lines are. I appreciate that not everyone is wired that way - and plenty of people are far more relaxed than I am.
The reason I care is because, throughout my career, I've seen what happens when well-intentioned people get it wrong.
I've seen businesses spend hundreds of thousands of dollars fixing employment mistakes they never knew they were making. I've seen relationships break down because expectations were never clear. I've seen problems that could have been prevented with the right advice at the beginning.
When I looked at the au pair industry, I saw the same pattern.
Most modern au pair arrangements are employment under Australian law. That brings obligations around pay, tax, superannuation, workers' compensation and other employment requirements.
The problem isn't that families are trying to avoid those obligations. It's that most don't even know they exist.
That's why Kokun exists. Not to scare families. To make doing the right thing simple.
Because host families already have enough on their plates.
What Kokun does.
Kokun helps host families create well-structured, compliant au pair arrangements - and supports au pairs to thrive once they arrive in Australia.
For host families, that means:
employment and accommodation documentation
payroll and compliance guidance
practical resources and templates
ongoing HR support through WhatsApp and Office Hours
For au pairs, that means:
a free Facebook community
practical guidance for life in Australia
curated resources and advice
social events and opportunities to connect with other au pairs
Whether you've already found an au pair or need help finding one, Kokun provides the structure, guidance and support to help both sides get the most out of the experience.
Better au pair experiences start with the right support
Explore Kokun services: