Traveller, nanny or housekeeper? Study reveals need to regulate au pair market to prevent exploitation

As a landmark report details widespread abuse of au pairs in Australia, current and former au pairs tell SBS German of the negative experiences they encountered in their work.

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While popular discussion of au pairs in Australia centres around Peter Dutton’s ministerial interventions, a new report from the University of Technology Sydney and Macquarie University has detailed a need to regulate the au pair market to prevent the exploitation of individuals working as au pairs.

Australia currently has one of the least regulated au pair sectors in the world, according to the study, which is the first of its kind to extensively examine the living and working conditions of au pairs working here.

“There is no official definition, no regulation, and no legal rules or even guidelines,” says Dr Laurie Berg from the University of Technology Sydney's Faculty of Law, one of the report's authors.

More in English via SBS German.