Aupairs - Australia/New Zealand

[stressed2007]

Having looked at what limited information I can find I can see no way for an Australian or New Zealander to come to work for me as an au pair. My mother in law swears she only had these nationalities when she had an au pair so am I going mad or would they have been here in a different capacity? Thanks

My au pair is Australian but she also works for me in a non-au pair role. She had to get a working holiday visa before she came which cost her at least $200 to apply for. She needed to provide my name and address and details of the work offer and also to have quite a bit of money so that she could prove she could support herself for a set period of time.
She says she probably wouldn't have been able to get the visa if she had just been coming as an au pair and agrees that Australians can't 'offically' be au pairs.

I think this is the answer:
working holidaymaker scheme

goosegg how did you find your lady? I am being pressured into getting an Austraian/Kiwi lady but don't know how to go about this.

I found her on au pair world and she has been fab. It's very good to have a shared language.
Yes, it's the working holidaymaker visa that she had to have.
I am now looking for someone from next March.

Do you mind me asking what else she does for you and how much she earns? Thanks.

I am a childminder. She works as my approved assistant (with enhanced CRB, references etc). She is paid basic au pair wages(25hrs/wk), plus free gym/swim membership and free unlimited phone calls home.
She is also paid minimum wage on uk employment terms and conditions for any hours of childminding work (usually an average of 15hrs/wk).
I first advertised for a uk assistant - and got no interest at all apart from one sloppily written email.
In contrast hoards of intelligent, eager, au pairs with relevant child care experience jump at the chance of extra work and paid holidays.
The children I care for benefit from different songs/stories/cooking/languages, and I have the benefit of someone who is very unlikely to 'go sick', and who I can train very well as we have lots of free time to chat about the job.