Supporting modern au pair experiences

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Taking the myths out of hosting. We make it simple to get it right, so families can focus on what matters.

Au Pairs

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Join a community backed by trusted resources and people who've been there - so you can make the most of every moment.

  • Moving to Australia as an au pair was one of the best experiences of my life - but it wasn't always easy. You're navigating a new country, a new family, a new culture and, in many cases, a new workplace, all at the same time. There are so many things you're expected to just "figure out", from understanding Australian family life to knowing your rights, responsibilities and what's considered normal. Having Bec from Kokun made such a difference. Instead of relying on Facebook advice or learning through trial and error, I had trusted guidance and the confidence to have regular feedback conversations with my host family.

  • Starting as an au pair in Australia comes with so many questions - about routines, expectations, communication, and even small everyday things. What I found most helpful about Kokun is how clearly everything is explained. The information is practical, realistic, and easy to come back to when you need it. It helps you understand not just what to do, but why - which makes settling in much easier and less stressful.

  • As a parent, sending your child overseas is exciting - and nerve-racking. Knowing there was a clear framework, practical guidance, and someone thoughtful in the background made a real difference. Kokun gave us confidence that our daughter was settling in well and understood what was expected of her.

  • I’ve had tough hosting experiences - the kind no one prepares you for. In one case, an au pair agreed to our curfew upfront. We invested a lot of time and care before and after her arrival: helping her set up a phone, bank account and WWCC, having her shadow me for a week, and welcoming her into our family life. Then, once settled, she realised the curfew didn’t work for her because partying mattered more than she’d expected. We had to call it in that moment. Not later. Not quietly letting our home be disrupted. Holding that boundary was awful - and then having to live in the tension afterward was even harder. I desperately wished for an independent, external support person to help manage it. That experience is why Kokun exists.

  • Sometimes nothing is wrong - you just don’t click. They want to socialise and invite friends over. You’re introverted and just want your house to feel like… your house. Then come the comments - about what your kids eat (yes, chicken nuggets and plain pasta are toddler staples), how you parent, or how their parents did things (we were never allowed to watch tv...). Suddenly you’re feeling parent shamed from a 19-year-old with no kids. It’s not dramatic. But it’s exhausting; and surprisingly hard to address when you’re living together. Having independent support to sense-check what’s reasonable, and help reset expectations, can make all the difference.

  • We once hosted an au pair who was very much a clock-watcher. The minute she was ‘off the clock’, she completely disengaged from family life - ignoring us, coming home late, and cooking for herself while we were all sitting together watching TV. Nothing she did was technically wrong, but it felt uncomfortable and isolating in a home that’s meant to be shared. It made us realise how important it is to talk about expectations beyond just hours and duties - and how hard those conversations are to manage when you’re already living together. Having independent, external support to help navigate that dynamic would have made the experience far easier.

  • “Finding a caregiver who shows initiative and understands shared living boundaries can be difficult. The Kokun interview guide provides a brilliant framework for testing competence and maturity through practical examples. It helped me identify candidates who don’t just wait for instructions but actively scan for what's needed. I highly recommend this for any family looking to find a reliable, self-sufficient caregiver.”

Built on real experience.

Kokun (pronounced 'cocoon') is redefining the modern au pair experience by combining employment expertise with practical, human support.

For most families, an au pair arrangement isn't just cultural exchange - it's childcare, and that usually means employment.

Unlike a business, you don't have a HR department to help you navigate employment in your own home. Managing expectations, giving feedback, setting boundaries and resolving conflict all become far more personal when the person you employ also lives with your family. That's where Kokun comes in.

We make the employment side of hosting an au pair simple - from contracts, payroll and compliance to practical HR advice.

Unlike traditional agencies, our support isn't limited to families who use our placement service. Whether you found your au pair through Kokun, another agency or independently, we believe every family deserves access to expert guidance.

Because when employment is done well, everyone benefits.

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