Q. Does it cost me anything to register as a babysitter with Babysitters R Us?
A. It is free to apply with the agency, and on going registration is provided free of charge.
Q. How long does the application process take?
A. Once we receive your application we generally assess your suitability in around 3-4 working days. We then conduct a thorough round of screening and interviews. If you have met all of the registration criteria, we will then notify you.
Q. Do I need any formal qualifications to become a babysitter?
A. It is not compulsory for a babysitter to have any formal qualifications, however it is highly recommended that a sitter has some experience working with children or has children of their own.
Q. Why do I have to be over 18 years old?
A. Babysitters R Us believes that 18 years is a suitable age for people to represent our company and to look after other people’s children.
Q. Why are we interviewed and policed checked?
A. These things are part of a process we follow to help us ensure that we are finding the right babysitters to represent Babysitters R Us and care for other people’s precious little people.
Q. When do I need to be available?
A. As a babysitter registered with our agency we expect you to be available all of the days and times you have advised Babysitters R Us you would be available. It is fundamental to our agency that our registered sitters are reliable and dedicated to the job. Most importantly, we need to be able to make contact with our sitters immediately after a client has made a booking. Therefore, we expect all sitters to answer their phone when we call. If there are times that you are not contactable via the phone, Babysitters R Us need to be advised of these times. Babysitters R Us understands there will be times when you have to decline a job offer, but we would rather you say no to the offer, than simply ignore our phone call.
Q. Am I employed by Babysitters R Us?A. Babysitters R Us is a babysitting agency that matches clients (parents) with suitable babysitters, however we do not employ babysitters, we just undertake the relevant checks to ensure they are suitable to care for children and liaise between the parent and sitter regarding bookings and availability. The babysitters essentially work for themselves.
Q. What should I expect to be paid as a babysitter?
A. As a babysitter registered with our agency we recommend the rate of $15.60 per hour for a maximum of 3 children, with a minimum of three hours per booking. Each additional child (after the 3rd child) is charged at a rate of $1 per hour, per child. Rates are $18.60 per hour after midnight, regardless of child numbers. Public holidays, Christmas Eve and Easter are $18.60 per hour for a maximum of 3 children. Each additional child (after the 3rd child) is charged at a rate of $2 per hour, per child. and $22 per hour after midnight, regardless of child numbers.
Q. What happens about Tax?
A. Babysitters R Us does not employ sitters, therefore all tax obligations are to be fulfilled by the sitter themselves. We suggest sitters keep a record of all monies earned during the financial year. Babysitters R Us can provide a statement detailing all sessions attended by an individual sitter for the financial year, but as some clients do not have a firm session end time when we take their booking, we are unable to guarantee that dollar amounts we have recorded for a sitter's earnings will be accurate.
Q. Are my personal details kept confidential?
A. Yes they are. All information about you is kept in a secured part of our site, or in a locked filing cabinet. This information is kept only for reference to the sitting jobs you may be referred to. For further details, you can view our privacy policy.
Q. What is the difference between a nanny and a babysitter?
A. A babysitter is generally classified as someone who takes care of the clients' children on a casual basis, after working hours (from 6 pm). They are employed solely for the care of the children and are not expected to undertake any extra duties such as washing and ironing. The babysitter should prepare the child(s) meal, tidy up after them, bathe and prepare them for bed.
A nanny is someone who cares for a child within the family home. Nannies may live in or out, depending on the families’ requirements. A nanny generally takes on all tasks involved in the care of a child. These tasks include the sole care of the child and any domestic duties involved in their health and well being.
This information was last updated on 17th February, 2011
