Blog

Nanny Pilot hits the road

We have hit the road running to make this pilot work! We started our travel through regional Victoria to meet with high priority families that know exactly what they require for a nanny. We are also meeting with recruitment companies in each area to ensure they are on the lookout for some great nannies with our minimum recruitment requirements.

Recruitment in rural regions – growing through change

With the introduction of the Nanny Pilot Program by the Federal Government, Placement Solutions has recently been appointed as the sole provider for regional Victoria. The  amount of recruitment we need to do has suddenly multiplied and poses new challenges.  The very short-roll out period means we need to develop strategies quickly to ensure we manage this change and growth well.

Nannies Needed for Work in the Countryside

Exciting changes have happened lately for Placement Solutions and especially in the Recruitment Department.  With our agency being chosen as the sole provider in regional Victoria for nannies as part of the Nanny Pilot Program, the opportunities for working with us just got bigger!  We are now recruiting not only in metropolitan Melbourne but all through Victoria.

Nanny Pilot versus Rebated Care

Did you know that the nanny pilot has started?!  It is a ‘new’ initiative proposed by the government to assist families who cannot access normal rebated care. Basically it is the same eligibility as normal in-home care requirements except you aren’t using up your CCR/CCB. We as an agency have been selected for regional and rural Victoria and hope to help as many families as we can.

School Holiday fun

Not all parents can afford to go away for school holidays or maybe one parent can have time off from work but the other can't. Travelling with children can be difficult enough let alone trying to travel with the children without your partner. This being said you don't have to leave the kids feeling bored over the school holidays and that last thing you want is nagging children.

So if school holidays are spent at home then devise a list of activities that you can do with the children, this way you have a plan and the children will have something to look forward to, especially on the down days when they is no activity planned. You can't have an activity every day, money doesn't grow on trees.

To help you out we have developed a list of great holiday activities that can be done with children from different age’s groups, especially if you have a toddler or school aged children.

 

References - The Good, The Bad & The Ugly!

So you have finally taken the plunge and decided to return to the workforce after having children or maybe you’re sick of the same old job and need a change. One of the many things that you need to think about when applying for a new job is your references. You may be able to talk your way through a great phone interview, or even a fantastic face to face interview however; you need reliable and trustworthy references to back you up. Promoting yourself will only get you so far, it’s your references that can easily make or break you when it comes to getting that great job. Therefore, choosing the right people to be your reference can be a critical part of your application process.

Is Nanny sharing for you?

Have you started thinking about going back to work?  Have you thought about putting your child into child care?  Is there no room?  Sounds like something we hear often from a lot of parents that contact us.  There seems to be a shortage of child care centres for the ever growing Victorian population.  Many parents are turning to in-home child care agencies to help find a solution to their problem. 

The Importance of Thorough Reference Checks

Reference checks are done by the recruitment team and everyone involved in the process must have a solid understanding of skills needed for the position.

Could you go handsfree this Summer?

A couple of weeks ago I found myself unexpectedly locked out of my daughter’s house with my grandson. It was no big deal. We just sat on the couch on the front verandah for an hour while we waited for mum to come back. The best part of the situation was that I did not have my mobile phone with me so the whole time spent with Reuben was ‘hands free’. We just spent the time looking at each other, laughing and having fun.

It reminded me of an article I read not long ago entitled ‘What a “Hands Free” summer looks like’ by Rachel Macy Stafford. The article is from a few years ago and was written from a northern hemisphere perspective, but it is very relevant as we head into our own summer and holiday period.

A Nanny is more affordable than you think.

Everyone would love to have a Nanny in their home - that extra pair of hands to help you out.  A Nanny can bring a huge amount of assistance and knowledge to your family, as well the advantage of having a one on one interaction regarding your child’s development that cannot always happen in a day care setting.   We know what you’re thinking; “how can I ever afford a nanny?”  Well we’re here to tell you that this is actually possible for a majority of families.  Government assistance and rebates are available to most families and at Placement Solutions we can help you access these facilities.

Nannying versus long-day care: 5 pros and 5 (possible) cons

Quite a few of our nannies started their childcare careers in long-day care, and we are constantly fielding enquiries from long-day care workers who are interested in making the ‘shift’.

With that in mind we thought it would be worthwhile exploring the pros and cons of nannying compared with long-day care. While working as a nanny provides a wonderful career for many, it isn’t for everyone.

Does your workplace reflect your values?

We are flexible. We are connected. We are incredibly open and we travel more than for example my grandparents ever even dreamed about. I moved 16,Son343 km from the middle of Germany to Melbourne in order to work where I work. I can’t even start to count all the different backgrounds, nationalities and cultures my friends, acquaintances and colleagues have; the diversity is enchanting. Different cultures, different food, different music, religion, political views. And in the middle of all this variety is you, an individual with your own culture, values and priorities. There is little doubt that in order to be happy and live  a satisfying life you need to be in an environment that is in line with your own culture, your own set of values; a place where you can be yourself. Considering that you spend an average of 8 hours of your day at work you can do the maths and will find that your workplace should definitely be a place that reflects your own values.