Where it started
Kokun didn’t begin with a business idea.
It began with frustration - and a growing sense that something important was missing.
A few years ago, I tried to engage an au pair agency. It was expensive, but I assumed it would save time and provide reassurance. Instead, the process was slow, impersonal, and heavy on paperwork before anyone would even speak to me.
Like many families do, I ended up finding an au pair myself through a global platform.
That part was easy. The hard part came next
“Good intentions don’t protect you when things go wrong”
When it came time to put a contract in place, a friend shared a “template” she’d used before. It described the arrangement as a cultural exchange.
There was no reference to minimum pay requirements, tax, or superannuation - and, critically, no workers’ compensation cover if something went wrong.
That immediately raised alarm bells for me. The substance of the arrangement was employment, and both the au pair and the family were exposed.
It was confronting to realise that well-intentioned families and young people were entering arrangements without proper legal protection - not because they didn’t care, but because no one had clearly explained what was required.
More Than Just Hosting
When our first au pair arrived, the experience was exciting and positive - but also more complex than I’d expected.
She wasn’t confident driving, so I paid for additional lessons to make sure she was safe on Australian roads. There were late nights out, awkward boundary conversations, and moments where it became clear that even good arrangements can feel emotionally heavy when someone is living in your home, far from theirs.
That experience made me curious.
How many young people move internationally each year - and how many are quietly navigating similar challenges?
At the same time, through my professional work and my children’s school community, I was seeing the same patterns play out for international students and young professionals.
Bright, capable people struggling with cultural adjustment, homesickness, isolation, confusion about their rights, and the unspoken pressure to “cope” because they didn’t want to be a burden.
Different circumstances, same pattern
Across au pairs, students, and young professionals, I kept seeing the same underlying issues repeat.
Capable, well-intentioned people trying to build independence in a new country - without enough structure, guidance, or support.
Families, universities, and employers doing their best - often without the capacity, tools, or confidence to manage everything alone.
And the person who had moved across the world taking the biggest leap of all - without their usual safety net, without family nearby, and without an obvious place to turn when things felt uncertain.
Why Kokun Exists
After nearly two decades working as a lawyer and senior executive, I learned something no policy or framework ever fully captured.
Most challenges don’t come down to a lack of rules or good intentions.
They come down to people needing practical, real-world support at the moment it actually matters.
Not theory.
Not programs.
Just someone who understands the situation, knows how things work locally, and genuinely cares.
When I looked at how we support people living abroad, I realised how little of that kind of support really exists.
Agencies focus on placements, not people.
Universities and workplaces offer programs and resources, but rarely personal, ongoing support.
Families and employers are expected to figure things out as they go - often without guidance or clarity.
And the people who move across the world for study or work are often doing the same.
“Everyone is doing their best - but there is a clear gap between formal systems and real life.”
“Everyone deserves to feel safe, supported, and capable wherever they’ve landed - and families, employers, and institutions should be able to meet their responsibilities with clarity and care.”
Because independence shouldn’t mean isolation
What Kokun Does
Kokun supports people moving internationally - including au pairs, students, and young professionals.
We also support the families, universities, and employers who host them, providing structured, human guidance during the in-between moments of settling in.
These aren’t crises - they’re moments that quietly shape someone’s confidence and wellbeing.
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Kokun Companions are calm, capable locals who understand what it’s like to help someone find their feet in a new place.
They’re not call-centre staff or generic support workers.
They’re people with real-life experience - the kind you’d hope for if a friend or family member were settling into life far from home.
Our Companions bring:
Practical judgement grounded in lived experience
Care and empathy, without over-stepping boundaries
Common sense about everyday challenges and expectations
Local knowledge and networks to help people navigate unfamiliar systems
Training and structure so support is consistent, thoughtful, and safe
Most importantly, they know how to meet people where they are - with respect, discretion, and an understanding that independence doesn’t mean doing everything alone.
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We provide a structured, human layer of support for people moving internationally - and clarity and reassurance for the families, universities, and employers who host them.
We don’t replace host families, employers, or institutions.
And we’re not crisis care, education agents, or migration agents.Instead, Kokun offers preventative, relationship-based support for the everyday “in-between” moments of life abroad - the ones that don’t require a hotline or a government department, but can still feel overwhelming when you’re far from home.
Those moments might include:
settling into a new city or household
understanding expectations and boundaries
navigating unfamiliar systems or cultural norms
dealing with conflict, uncertainty, or loneliness
or simply needing a calm, experienced perspective to talk things through
Our support is flexible, wellbeing-focused, and grounded in real-world judgement - because no two people’s experiences look the same.
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Kokun supports people who have moved internationally - and the families, employers, and institutions who support them.
People Moving Abroad
Anyone building life in a new country, often without familiar support systems or local knowledge.
Families, Employers & Institutions
We also support host families, employers, and universities who want to do the right thing, but recognise that expectations, wellbeing, and responsibility can be complex when someone is far from home.
Kokun provides a calm, neutral layer of support so everyone feels clearer, safer, and more confident.
Real Life Examples
The examples below show how these challenges appear in real life - across different people, situations, and stages of moving abroad. These stories show how common (and subtle) these challenges can be, and why early, human support matters.
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One au pair’s host family separated. Overnight, she was expected to move between two homes - even sleeping on a couch in the mum’s new rental.
She didn’t want to be difficult, but she felt completely uncomfortable and stuck.
Kokun supports young people to pause, assess what’s reasonable, and advocate for safe, stable living arrangements when circumstances change - without fear of jeopardising their placement.
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Another au pair arrived to find her “bedroom” was a corner of the lounge, separated from her host dad’s bed by a curtain.
She felt unsafe but didn’t know who to tell.
Kokun steps in quickly when safety or dignity is compromised - helping young people raise concerns, involve the right parties, and find safer alternatives without facing it alone.
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At university, one student found herself clashing with group members over expectations and communication styles.
Cultural differences made it hard to speak up, and she was left doing all the work.
Kokun helps clients unpack unspoken expectations, plan respectful ways to speak up, and navigate academic group dynamics with clarity and confidence
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Another student was struggling to balance study and work - worried her employer wasn’t paying her correctly but scared to say anything.
Kokun provides clear, practical guidance on pay and workplace rights - and helps clients think through their options before deciding how (or whether) to raise concerns.
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A student in “room and board” accommodation was fed nothing but instant noodles every night.
She didn’t want to seem ungrateful, but she was undernourished and too shy to ask for help.
Kokun helps clients assess whether living arrangements are fair and sustainable - and supports them to raise concerns or find alternatives without guilt or embarrassment.
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Another was told not to walk in the middle of the carpet “so it wouldn’t wear out.”
Weeks later, her host introduced a 7 p.m. curfew without warning.
Confused and isolated, she didn’t know if she was allowed to question it.
Kokun helps young people sense-check what’s reasonable, understand local norms, and have early conversations before confusion turns into isolation or stress.
Because these stories aren’t rare - they’re real.
They happen quietly, every week, to people far from home.
Kokun exists to make sure they’re never left to navigate those moments alone - and to give parents peace of mind that someone local, experienced, and caring is in their corner.
Kokun. Your calm local contact. Your cultural bridge. Your peace of mind.