Parent and Babysitter FAQs

For Parents

What is Find A Babysitter?

Find A Babysitter is Australia's most trusted online babysitter and nanny job site, helping parents connect with experienced babysitters, nannies and after-school carers in their local area. 

Manage your Job Post and connect with babysitters anytime - on desktop or with our babysitting App.

Find A Babysitter is not an agency. Instead, we’re a market-leading platform that gives parents direct access to thousands of trusted carers across Australia. You stay in control - you choose who to contact, interview, and hire, so you can find the right match for your family. 

With Find A Babysitter, you get:

• Freedom – message and organise babysitters and nannies directly, from your computer or on the go via our App

• Choice – choose from a wide range of local carers with different skills and experience

• Flexibility – arrange the hours you need: daytime, after-school, evenings or weekends

• Affordability – pay your babysitter directly, with no ongoing agency fees

Whether you’re returning to work, need help with school pick-ups, or just want a reliable babysitter for a night out, Find A Babysitter makes it simple to build your own trusted support network.

One simple membership gives you a Job Post and full access to contact babysitters and nannies - whether on desktop or App -  so you can recruit the perfect carer with confidence.

This is a one-time membership, no recurring charges. When your membership finishes, it simply ends - no monthly debits, no auto-renewal surprises.  Keeping it simple. 

Why Find A Babysitter?

• Quality you can trust – As parents ourselves, we know how important it is to find reliable, experienced carers. We help you connect with babysitters and nannies who will be a great fit for your family.

• Direct access, no agency middleman – You contact carers directly, interview them, and hire who you want. There are no expensive agency fees or hidden costs.

• Proven experience and results – For over 20 years, Find A Babysitter has helped thousands of Australian families find wonderful babysitters and nannies. See reviews from parents who found their perfect babysitter or nanny here. 

• Award-winning service - We’re proud winners of the National Telstra Micro Business Award, recognised for our commitment to supporting parents and carers.

• Real, responsive support – Every parent has access to friendly, knowledgeable support from us - no offshore call centres, no faceless emails.  Genuine customer service ready to help you. 

How does it work?

As a member you can

• • Post a job – attract suitable applicants to your role.

  • Search & message carers – reach out to babysitters or nannies who meet your criteria.

  • Interview & select – choose the perfect carer for your family.

Who are the babysitters and nannies?

Find A Babysitter has a fabulous range of quality babysitters and nannies available. From experienced career nannies who have worked for many families, carers who have worked in childcare centres, to the 'girl-next-door' who has babysat for years. Many of them are university students who enjoy working with children. So, you are sure to find a great babysitter or nanny your family will love.

Does Find A Babysitter have an App?

Yes! You can download and use our babysitting App to post jobs, browse babysitters and nannies, send messages, and manage your applications - all on the go easily. The App works alongside our desktop site, so you can stay connected wherever you are. 

How does the 'Job Posting' work?

Every membership includes a Job Posting - the easiest way to find babysitters and nannies. Once you publish it:

• It’s shown online immediately and automatically sent in evening job alerts to all matched carers in your area.

• Babysitters and nannies apply to you through our secure messaging system, keeping your contact details safe.

• You control the applications close date, hourly rate, and job details - update anytime to attract more applicants.

The Job Posting is the most effective way to get responses, faster than messaging individual carers.

For the best results be sure to write a great Job Post, including all the key details and the hourly rates. Here are our tips to write a job ad to find a babysitter or a nanny. 

How many messages should I send & how long will it take?

For the best results, start with your Job Posting - this is the fastest way to attract applicants for daytime nannies, after-school care, or other roles with unique hours.

Messaging individual carers works best as a supplement, mainly for evening babysitting. We suggest sending around 10 messages (fewer for babysitters, more for nannies or after-school care), and you can expect up to 50% replies.

Please allow 1–2 weeks for responses to come through.

What will the babysitters' profiles show me?

You will see the babysitter's first name, photo, education, experience, skills, hourly rates, driver licence, first aid qualifications and whether she or he has a Working With Children Check (WWCC), police check and references to show you. You will also see a personal description she has written, helping you get to know her.

Do your babysitters or nannies have other educational or cultural skills?

Our babysitters and nannies have listed a range of wonderful skills and interests on their profiles. Many speak languages (French, German, Spanish), play music (guitar, piano), play sport, dance or create art. So you can choose a carer to bring specific skills to your children and family!

Can I find nannies, babysitters or after-school carers?

Yes, you can find a range of different carers on Find A Babysitter. This includes nannies and babysitters for day time, after school and evening roles.  A nanny is generally an experienced person who provides childcare for a living and may have some professional qualification and training. A babysitter usually provides occasional evening or weekend care, and may also study or work in another profession. Find out more details about what is a nanny or a babysitter in our helpful guide. After-school carers are in high demand and are often university students who have the flexibility to work shorter shifts. You can also find a babysitter or nanny for short-term roles like school holidays, or the arrival of a new baby, or other unique needs. 

Can I find someone who lives nearby?

Yes! Carers are shown by location, starting with those closest to you. Each babysitter or nanny chooses how far they’re willing to travel, so only carers who work in your area will appear in your search. This makes it easy to find someone local and convenient for your family. 

How do I identify the most updated profiles?

Every carer profile has a line stating "Updated day /month / year" so you can choose to contact the most up-to-date carers. Your search is also sorted according to the most recently updated. So the first carers on the list are the most recently updated and available within your suburb.

Can I find a 'House Keeper' at Find A Babysitter?

We don't specialise in this niche, but you are most welcome to use your Job Posting to advertise this role. The majority of the carers at Find A Babysitter are willing to do some light housework or house-keeping duties as part of their job. This usually covers duties related to children including light cleaning (wiping over kitchen benches), children's meal preparation and dishes, children's washing and running errands. 

How is this site different to an agency, or sites that process payments?

With Find A Babysitter you get a Job Posting to connect directly with babysitters and nannies - you control the process and pay carers directly.

We are not an agency: we don’t screen carers, make bookings, or charge placement fees. There are no hidden commissions, cancellations, or payroll charges - you keep full control and save money by cutting out the middleman.

For full details, please see our Terms of Use for more information.

Will my babysitter have a police check?

If a carer has a current Police Check, they tick a box to indicate this in their profile. Due to privacy laws we do not view or store a copy of a member's Police Check. Parents are encouraged to ask babysitters to provide a copy of their Police Checks and undertake their own verification of paperwork.

What is the Working With Children Check?

If a babysitter or nanny has a 'Working With Children Check' (WWCC), they will tick this box in their profile online. Find out more in our article about babysitters and nannies with Working With Children Checks. Find A Babysitter does not view or store copies of this due to privacy laws. Parents are encouraged to ask babysitters to provide their WWCC details and to undertake their own verification of paperwork.

For further information in your state please see:

NSW

VIC

QLD Blue Card

WA

Does Find A Babysitter screen babysitters and nannies?

No. We offer an introduction and job posting platform only. We do not carry out pre-employment screenings, interviews, or background checks.

Parents are responsible for screening, interviewing and checking references before hiring a babysitter or nanny. 

Our site provides lots of resources to help you make the right choice, including tips for how to interview a babysitter and how to reference check a babysitter .

The babysitter profiles include information on experience, education, First Aid qualifications, driver’s licence, Working With Children Checks, and references. We recommend asking carers to bring these documents to your interview so you can confirm them first-hand.

What quality control is conducted by your site?

Find A Babysitter does not undertake verification of the accuracy, ongoing currency or quality of information provided by babysitters and nannies in their profile. Parents are encouraged to undertake verification and vetting of babysitters and the information that they show in their profiles including by requesting copies of first aid certificates, driver licences, WWCC checks and Police Checks.

Parents can use the ratings system to provide feedback about babysitters. If a parent raises any discrepancies or concerns regarding the information in a babysitter's or a nanny's profile, this is followed up by Find A Babysitter staff immediately.

Babysitters who are inactive for a number of weeks are removed from the site, so we ensure the list of babysitters and nannies is as current and accurate as possible.

How much should I pay my babysitter or nanny?

You are free to negotiate rates with your nanny or babysitter, keeping the market-demand and industry rates in mind.  Check our guide to babysitter rates in Australia and our guide to how much a nanny costs , for more detailed information for your city.  

The babysitters and nannies on the site note their minimum hourly rates on their profiles.   On your Job Posting you can state the hourly rate you are offering, to attract the best applicants. 

As a general guideline most babysitters charge $25-40/hr. This will vary based on the specific role, the day or hours and the babysitters age and experience.

Roles that are in high-demand and short-supply (e.g, after-school care) may have a higher hourly rate.

How do I pay my babysitter?

You pay your babysitter or nanny directly.  We do not process payments, charge placement fees, booking fees, process payroll or take a commission, so you save money.

How do I leave feedback about sitters?

We have designed a ratings system to allow the Find A Babysitter community to share feedback with each other. Parents can post a rating about a babysitter or nanny they have connected with our our platform. 

We welcome your feedback because this helps us and other parents to assess the carers at Find A Babysitter. Babysitters are able to read and reply to ratings. Parents are also able to remove a rating.

What can I do if a carer doesn't respond to my email or turn up to an interview?

We do our very best to set expectations to ensure babysitters are responsive and reliable. Many carers do follow through appropriately. Unfortunately, however, there are a very small percentage of carers who do not. The best feedback is to post a rating online to share feedback.

Are my personal details kept confidential?

Yes. Your messages are sent through the Find A Babysitter site, so your personal email or phone number is never shown. Once you make contact with the babysitters or nannies, you may choose to exchange details. When you use the Job Posting feature, your job is listed with your first name and suburb only.

When carers reply to me, where are the emails sent? Do I need to check my Find A Babysitter account or not?

Emails will always be sent to your personal inbox for your convenience. So you only need to check your personal email account. There will also be copies of messages stored on your dashboard in your account on Find A Babysitter, if the message has been sent through our system.

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For Babysitters and Nannies

What is Find A Babysitter?

Find A Babysitter is Australia’s trusted online platform connecting babysitters, nannies, and parents. An easy way for you to meet parents and find jobs that suit you. You can search for jobs that are posted on our site or using our babysitting App. Parents can also send messages to you offering work. Parents interview, select and pay you directly, there is no agency.

Is it free to register?

Yes! It is free for babysitters and nannies to register.  

Once I have registered, how do I get work?

There are two ways to get work.

1) Job Postings: You can search our job postings and apply to the parents.

2) Emails: Parents will email you to offer work.

What should I write in my babysitter or nanny profile?

Your profile is your first impression with parents, so make it clear, warm and honest. Include your babysitting experience with children of different ages, any special skills (like first aid, sports coaching, or experience with neurodiverse children), your availability, and any relevant qualifications and checks (e.g., the Working With Children Check). Add a friendly photo and your hourly rates. The more complete your profile is, the easier it will be for parents to choose you!  Here are our helpful tips on writing a great babysitter profile. 

What requirements are there for this type of work?

Most parents are looking for sitters who have experience, are trustworthy, kind, caring and responsible.

Find out more about how to become a babysitter in our helpful guide.  

We strongly recommend that you get a Working With Children Check and make references and documentation available to show the parents.

We also ask that you check your email and update your profile to ensure you get the right requests to match your availability.

How often should I log in to the site and update?

We recommend that you login every week or two to keep your availability updated. The more often you log in the more likely you are to get work, as the babysitters who have logged in most recently are listed first.

How do I set my hourly rate?

You set your own rates, based on your qualifications, age, skills and experience. Rates may also vary according to the duties required and the location of the job. During the day expect to earn between $25/hr (few responsibilities) to over $35/hr (or more for experienced nannies).

Conduct a trial search of carers on the site to see a range of the 'going rates' in your suburb.

Who interviews me as a babysitter or nanny?

The parents interview you directly. You don’t get interviewed by Find A Babysitter. We are a platform that connects you with parents. Parents review your profile, send messages, and arrange interviews with you.  To help you prepare for a successful interview - here are our tips for a babysitting or nanny interview. 

How do I get paid?

The parents pay you directly, based on the hourly rate that you and the parents agree to.  Payroll is not managed by us. This ensures there is no agency middleman taking a cut of your pay. 

What sort of work is available?

We have new parents joining every day with different needs. There is a very high demand for part-time nannies and after-school carers. There is steady demand for casual babysitters. There are also roles for full-time nannies.

Do you have any tips for fun activites to do with kids?

Yes! Check out our resource with over 50 fun activities for children - including activites and games, art and craft, baking, outdoor activies and seasonal celebrations too!  

I am only free certain days or nights. How do I organise these hours?

Just log in and update your profile to show the days or hours you are available to work. When your days or times change, log in and change your availability.

How can I change the details on my profile?

Log in using your email and password. This will open your account page where you update any details. 

My profile is 'hidden' - what does this mean?

Your profile can be hidden or visible.

If your profile is visible it means it is live on the site for parents to see and email you.

If your status is 'hidden' it means that your profile will not be seen by parents on the site, even though you are a member of Find A Babysitter. You may like to be 'hidden' when you are on holidays or if you don't want any more work. Simply click the hidden check box on your profile page.

When you are ready to find work again, you simply tick the 'visible' box again at the bottom of your profile page.

Are my personal details kept confidential?

Your personal details (surname, address, phone, email) are never shown on the site. All emails are sent through the site so your personal email address and details are never shared by us. Once you reply to the parents, you may choose to provide more details. Until then, all communication goes through the Find A Babysitter site.

How do I get a Police check?

You can apply for a Police Check by applying to the police force in your state. Or you can request a National Police Check through several organisations who do this on your behalf. For example Australia Post:

https://auspost.com.au/police-checks

How do I get a Working With Children Check?

Every state has its own Working With Children Check system. You can apply for a WWCC in your state here:

NSW

VIC

QLD Blue Card

WA

Do I need a first aid certificate to work as a babysitter or nanny?

There is no formal certification required. Child safety, however, is paramount and we recommend carers complete a first aid course.  A First Aid Certificate will help you confidently manage any minor bumps and scrapes to more serious accidents or emergencies.  There are a range of first aid and safety courses available for babysitters in Australia and we strongly recommend you complete one.

What is the difference between a babysitter and a nanny?

A nanny is an experienced person who provides childcare for a living, day and night. A nanny often has some professional qualification and training.

A babysitter mostly does after-school, evening or weekend work and may study or work in another profession.

What courses can I study to be a babysitter or nanny?

You don't need any formal qualifications to work as a babysitter or nanny.  If you'd like to study in this area and build your career in childcare you may want to explore courses in early childhood education - this could include a Certificate III in Early Childhood and Care, a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care or a Degree in Early Childhood Education and Care. 

What is house-keeping?

Housekeeping covers a range of light duties for running a household. This may include light cleaning, child-related cooking and running errands. Some parents ask for carers who are willing and able to do housekeeping - so we have added this as an option to your profile. You can say 'yes' or 'no' to this question. It is completely up to you - we do not set any rules, we allow you to decide what works best.

Is this site an agency?

No. We do not set any rules about your hours or expect you to pay us booking fees. We are just an introduction site - an easy way for you to meet families and find work. Please read our terms and conditions for more information.

Do I need to have a car?

Not necessarily. The beauty of babysitting is that you can select work in your local community - you decide how far you are willing and able to travel for work.

How many families can I work for?

As many as you like! Often babysitters or nannies have 3 or 4 families on their list. We don't set any rules - it is up to you to choose the families you wish to work for.

What is the age limit to be a babysitter?

Find A Babysitter's policy is that you must be aged 18 years and over.  In Australia there is no single law nationwide about the right age to babysit, however we are focused on ensuring every babysitter and nanny is mature, skilled and capable for caring for children. 

What if I think a job posting is suspicious?

If you have spotted a suspicious job that doesn't seem quite right, we encourage you to let us know. Please email us with the details at hello@findababysitter.com.au

How do the 'parent ratings' work? How can I get positive ratings?

We have a babysitter rating system to help share positive feedback about fabulous babysitters.  Parents may write a brief comment about your work and give you a rating.  Five star ratings are achieved by carers who are responsive, reliable and excellent babysitters!