Thinking about hosting an au pair?
It can be life-changing - but it’s not a decision to rush.
Welcoming an au pair into your home is about more than childcare.
It’s about inviting a young person into your family, your routines, and your private space - for it to go well you need to get the structure right from the start.
Kokun helps families decide whether an au pair is right for them, and if so, how to host with clarity, confidence, and fairness.
Hosting can be incredible, but it’s harder than it looks
Most families don’t struggle because they’re doing something wrong.
They struggle because there’s far more to hosting than anyone prepares you for.
Hosting an au pair can become stressful when:
Unspoken expectations cause tension
What feels “obvious” to you — routines, safety, household norms - may be completely unfamiliar to someone new to Australia.
Cultural differences aren’t addressed early
From communication styles to sun safety, food, driving, or privacy, small misunderstandings can quietly build.
Roles and boundaries blur
Without structure, families can feel resentful, and au pairs can feel unsure or overwhelmed.
You’re carrying the mental load alone
Remembering what to explain, how to explain it, and when to step in - on top of parenting and work - is exhausting.
None of this means hosting isn’t right for you.
It means support and structure matter more than most people realise.
How Kokun helps
Kokun isn’t a matching agency.
We focus on the care and structure that come after a family and an au pair have chosen each other - helping everyone feel clear, supported, and safe.
Many families decide not to use a placement agency - and fair enough.
Finding an au pair yourself through social media or platforms like AuPairWorld can offer more flexibility, greater control, and lower upfront costs.
But without professional guidance, even well-intentioned arrangements can quickly become complicated.
What happens if expectations around hours, pay, or duties aren’t fully clear?
If your au pair is injured?
If boundaries blur, or the relationship starts to feel strained?
Most families don’t realise that hosting an au pair is often an employment relationship, which can involve tax, superannuation, and workers’ compensation obligations.
And for au pairs, unclear arrangements can mean underpayment, lack of privacy, or unsafe conditions - often with nowhere neutral to turn.
That’s where Kokun steps in.
From contracts to expectation setting and performance management, our framework provides the structure, tools, and ongoing support that help families and au pairs live and work together more calmly and confidently. Leaving you to focus on shared experiences, not shared stress.
Free Guide: Should I Host an Au Pair
If you’re weighing up whether an au pair is right for your family, this guide will help you think it through — properly.
Inside, you’ll find:
The questions families wish they’d asked earlier
What hosting really involves day-to-day
Common mistakes that create stress (and how to avoid them)
How to assess whether your family, home, and expectations are a good fit
Practical considerations around pay, hours, boundaries, and communication
This isn’t a sales brochure.
It’s a calm, practical decision-making guide - written by someone who understands both families and au pairs.
We believe in simple ideas, strong relationships, and lasting impact. What began as a passion project has evolved into something more. We’re proud of where we’ve been and even more excited for what’s ahead.
Hosting works best when everyone knows where they stand
Kokun supports families to host ethically, clearly, and sustainably.
We help you:
Set expectations early and respectfully
Understand cultural and practical differences before they become issues
Put clear structures around hours, pay, and boundaries
Use professional documentation that protects everyone
Have a neutral, experienced point of support if questions or challenges arise
We don’t replace your judgement or your parenting.
We simply provide the framework and reassurance most families are missing.
From a Host Family“Hosting an au pair can be an amazing experience, but it’s far more work and responsibility than people realise. We’d had difficult experiences in the past - cultural misunderstandings, blurred boundaries, and things you don’t think to explain, like the impact of the Australian sun or household expectations.
What Kokun gave us was structure and support. Clear guidance and practical tips helped us feel calmer and more confident. It made hosting feel more professional, more manageable, and ultimately much more positive for everyone.”
— Host family
Not sure yet? That’s completely normal.
Most families shouldn’t decide on an au pair overnight.
Start with information.
Then decide what feels right for your family.
Download the free guide
Explore how Kokun supports host families
Reach out if you’d like to talk it through