Nannies

The ‘state of play’ of nannying here and in the USA

I’ve recently returned from a visit to the USA during which I attended the Association of Premier Nanny Agencies (APNA) conference. Those who attend this conference are running nanny agencies all over America and beyond, so collectively they provide a unique perspective on what is happening in the nanny industry in the States specifically, but with implications for all of us.

I subsequently interviewed Daryl Camarillo, who runs Stanford Park Nannies in the Silicon Valley area of California, and Kathy Webb, who runs HomeWork Solutions, a nanny payroll and tax compliance business on the other side of the country in Virginia. I wanted to get their views on where the nanny industry is  heading. Perhaps unsurprisingly, they describe issues that have many similarities to what is happening in Australia.

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.

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.

An uneven playing field, with plenty of risk all around

I know I’ve written about this before, but the imminent report to government of the Productivity Commission inquiry into future options for child care and early childhood learning has had me thinking about the issue again: the problem of the ‘underground’ cash-in-hand in-home child care industry.

Highlights from Nannypalooza

I’ve just returned from the Nannypalooza conference in Cleveland, Ohio with a head full of new ideas and insights. Nannypalooza is an American organisation dedicated to supporting nannies through education and networking, and I was very grateful to be invited to their conference representing an agency. Very few agencies are involved in this conference as it really is all about the nannies.

Placement Solutions, Louise Dunham to Childcare Productivity Commission

 I am the CEO of Placement Solutions a private Nanny agency in operation since 1988 and an inaugural government approved In - Home care service since 2000.

Nannies,In home childcarers and the Productivity Commission into Childcare

The facts on government funding of Nannies

I would like to clarify a few of the facts relating to Nannies and in-home child care generally.The Productivity Commisssion into childcare are now in their second phase of  speaking to the public about the way forward for child care in Australia. I presented at the Commission  on behalf of Placement Solutions.

Nannies in the USA

An Australian perspective following on from the conference of the International Nanny Association in Las Vegas.

Following on from Louise’s article last month focusing on legallynanny.com and 4nannytaxes.com, both of which we met at the INA conference, I thought this month I would talk a little bit about what I learnt about the Nanny industry in the USA as a whole during my time in Las Vegas. As Louise mentioned, the industry in America is enormous. There are thousands and thousands of Nannies working in a whole range of situations.

Australia's First International Nanny of the Year Finalist

Clare Carlisle Stranger and the INA Conference

The International Nanny Association (INA) conference in the United States is over for another year. The conference was enormously successful again, not least for Placement Solutions as we introduced Clare Carlisle Stranger, our inaugural Nanny of the Year and our first nomination for the association’s international Nanny of the Year award.

Response to Productivity Commission Draft Findings – In-home Childcare/Nannies

Recommendations in today’s draft Productivity Commission Report that money be allocated towards expanding childcare options for working parents is the “voice of sense” according to one of Melbourne’s leading in-home childcare/nanny agencies.

Melbourne Nannies are not just baby sitters.attend back to basics professional development.

It was very refreshing to hear the two speakers at our first professional development seminar of the year, which we held last month. Both were down-to-earth and keen to bust some of the myths that have grown up around childcare. Our Melbourned based nannies at Placement Solutions are not just babysitters. We pride ouselves on the professional development we run and the quality of the nannies we attract as a consequence. Better nannies make for better quality childcare all round and the nanny services we offer across Melbourne are exemplary.