Blog
Understanding How Your Rebates Work For Your Family
So you’ve registered for Childcare Benefit and found out you’re eligible to receive Childcare Rebates (CCR) & Childcare Benefit (CCB) for childcare services utilised from Centrelink...
... read moreAn Instagram Mother's Truth bomb
Babies spew on you. OK. When I had my first child, I was prepared for that.
What I wasn't prepared for was the feelings of inadequacy, insecurity, the anxiety and self-doubt that would follow me around for the entire first year (and beyond!).
This post aims to de-bunk what I affectionately (?) term as the glamourous ‘Insta-MUM’ myth.
... read moreForgetting the “care” in Childcare
Recently one of our nannies was providing regular respite care to the mother of a young child whose brother had significant special needs, as part of the service we offer to ‘families in crisis'. This respite service included providing care to the mother’s six-year-old son.
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Get your Social Media Profile Job Search-Ready
In a time where we are often online 24/7 with several platforms to get news, communicate with friends and colleagues and to share information, the question of our online presentation is almost as important as our actual real presence.
... read moreNine habits of great nannies
As we set about continuing to provide our clients with the best nannies available in Melbourne and Victoria, I think it’s also useful to remind ourselves from time to time of what it is that actually makes a great nanny. Here’s a list of the nine things I think really good nannies tend to do constantly, in no particular order:
... read moreCome to our Career Information Night tomorrow night!
Thinking of a career change? Want to know what’s involved in being a Nanny or Household Manager? Do you want to obtain a qualification in Childcare? Then come along tomorrow night, Tuesday 31st January at 6.00 p.m. Venue: Placement Solutions, Unit 20, 828 High Street, Kew East.
Placement Solutions together with Nurture Training College are offering a free career info session with experts giving you all the insights on top careers in nannying and household management and training opportunities for both of them. Receive a $99.00 voucher that can be used towards a Newborn Care Specialist course (non-transferable for March course).
... read moreNew Year – New Career
I am not sure what it was like for you but for me 2017 kicked off with a lot of new ideas, New Year’s resolutions and a completely blank page in the book. And I am not alone. A majority of people start the New Year with a different health plan, the intention to learn a new language, make more time for sports or pick up a new hobby; all ways to make sure 2017 will be the best year so far.
... read moreNew Year, New Requirements, New care & Assistance Needed NOW!!!
Are you finding the New Year has encroached too quickly and you are not ready for what 2017 has in store as yet? We can assist with both your child related needs and your Household needs now!
... read moreThe year in review
‘Where did that year go?’ has become the throwaway line of this time of year. We all get to December and wonder where the year went. However taking the time to reflect on the previous twelve months can provide a different perspective and a realisation that, in fact, quite a lot has happened. This year has been a year of accomplishments great and small for Placement Solutions.
... read moreSummer is here
It’s hard not to love summer and coming home after work to plenty more daylight. We can really enjoy spending time with our children outside at the end of the day.
Of course the other side of summer is that we must be mindful of the sun and its harsh UV rays.
... read moreThe ‘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.
... read moreHow is a Household Manager different to a Housekeeper or a cleaner??
Have you only ever heard of Cleaners and Housekeepers and wondering what differentiates a Household Manager to these services? Let us explain this for you.
... read moreMaking Dreams come true for the last 28 years!
Follow your dreams. Chase your passion. Live life to the fullest. What are you waiting for? Follow the yellow brick road into your dream career TODAY!
... read moreDinner and a movie?
Let me ask you this – when was the last time you had dinner and a movie? With your partner; a friend, your sister?
... read moreMeet Tonya Sakowicz of Newborn Care Solutions
For today’s new parent, there is an overwhelming volume of advice on offer, much of which changes almost week to week. Sadly this often creates confusion and even anxiety, making new parenthood much harder than it should be. For this reason alone I was very inspired by Tonya Sakowicz when I first met her, and I was keen to introduce her newborn care program to our Nurture Training College at the earliest opportunity.
... read morePhone manners matter
As important as the face-to-face interview is, your recruitment process begins a lot earlier. And while there are lots of articles out there that focus on your resume, a crucial part of the process is the first call from your potential future employer.
The recruiter is not just making a phone call to book you in for an interview, they are pre-screening you to see how you present yourself over the phone, and whether your answers are applicable and valid for the advertised position. This is your opportunity to make a positive first impression.
... read moreBe safe and go with a trusted agency
At Placement Solutions we only employ qualified, experienced nannies so you know your children are in expert hands. Our aim is to make sure that all children we care for are safe, happy and healthy. You children are so precious – we understand that – so we take the greatest of care when you put your trust in us. Placement Solutions nannies have a minimum of 3 years experience, have a formal qualification (or are working towards one), they have undergone “Speak Up” training so your child is protected, and of course they all have current Working with Children & Police Checks. In addition, all our nannies have current Level 2 First Aid certificates.
... read moreChristmas is coming – could you use some help with childcare?
We all know how crazy the lead up to Christmas can be. There are lists and preparations to make, shopping to do, oh and don’t forget the children! There are all the extra tasks to do and the children still need all the usual care and attention we normally supply – no reprieve there!
Have you ever considered some extra help? What if you could leave the kids with an expert child carer while you got on with all the extras?
... read moreAHCA Conference & AGM
The Australian Home Care Association’s (AHCA) annual conference and AGM, with educators, and representatives from in-home child care services travelling from around Australia to attend, was held in Melbourne on Friday the 2nd of September. The attendees had the opportunity of listening to keynote speakers from a range of areas related to the in-home child care sector.
... read morePEACE of mind for your interview with families
After the thorough screening process within our recruitment department you might go for another interview with our families for them to choose the best match for their family.
Such an interview usually takes place in the family’s homes and can be quite scary.
How do you succeed in one of those interviews?
We suggest you use a PEACE approach to your interviews.
... read moreExpecting a baby? A Newborn Care Specialist can assist.
So you are pregnant with your first child and maybe feeling overwhelmed. You originally thought this would be a walk in the park (with a pram) and your ‘motherly instincts’ would kick in and tell you how to manage. Now the time is nearly here and you are only weeks away from having your whole life turned upside down!
... read moreNannypalooza Oz - a great success!
It was a huge amount of work for the whole Placement Solutions team, but with the inaugural Nannypalooza Oz now behind us, we’re taking a deep breath and reflecting on what we believe was a great success. It was truly an honour to be the major sponsor of the conference, enabling the spirit of Nannypalooza to come to Australia for the first time.
... read more“Life Long Learning”- Professional Development is key!
Your career is in Your hands… Professional Development experience could be what makes you more attractive to a potential employer or client, as it could give you that edge within a recruitment process.
No matter what career path we choose, what is it that makes a professional stand apart from others in the field?
... read moreAre you wanting to privately recruit a Nanny?
Are you on the hunt for a nanny to suit your family but need some help from a Recruitment firm to assist with all of the checks? Look no further!!!
... read moreGet organised: hire a Household Manager
One of our most misunderstood services, often forgotten in the focus on in-home child care, is the provision of Household Managers. As we have a number of very satisfied customers who use this service, we thought it might be time to give these hardworking people some attention.
It can be hard to describe what a Household Manager can do because there are just so many options.
... read moreThe benefit of referrals – Word of Mouth
The recruitment process can be lengthy and time consuming. In the Childcare Industry, which unfortunately still partly operates under a “cash economy”, it is easy to see why nannies don’t always see themselves as professionals and why the whole process of recruitment can seem quite daunting.
Some nannies don’t fully utilise modern recruitment platforms such as Seek or Indeed when looking for new roles and this works to their disadvantage by precluding them from many worthwhile opportunities.
... read moreWe will find your Modern Day Equivalent Mary Poppins!
At Placement Solutions we pride ourselves in having the best quality professional nannies. Parents can rest assured and sleep easy at night knowing their children are in safe hands. We strive to always have happy, healthy and most of all safe children on our watch.
... read moreKnow the company that you are looking to work for…
You have secured an interview with Placement Solutions and you feel excited about the prospects of working for the agency as a Nanny or Household Manager. But a wave of dread comes across you, what do you really know about us? How do we differ from other agencies? What can we offer you? Are we the right fit for you? So many questions fill your mind…
... read moreWinter & School Holidays – What can I do to amuse the children?!
Winter, rain and muddy puddles - This is a regular concern parents have with this time of year when you can’t just play outside, go to the park or soak up some sunshine! As much as Melbourne Winters can be graced with rare days of beautiful sunshine, the majority of it is cold, gloomy and wet! It is always good to plan ahead before you find yourself stuck for ideas and the kids nagging you in the morning causing you headaches and unnecessary stressors. Below we have listed some ideas/events of how you can amuse your children/what child friendly activities are on this June holidays!
... read moreAnd about time too
We have been waiting for this for a long, long time. Finally we are hearing very strong noises from the Australian Tax Office confirming what we have been arguing, and in fact fighting for, for years. An ATO official investigating the tax implications of the Nanny Pilot Programme has confirmed that there are no circumstances – none – in which a nanny can be regarded as an independent contractor for tax purposes especially working through a private firm.
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