The majority of au pairs employed in Australia are being exploited, a study has found.

The survey of nearly 1,500 au pairs found that young people were coming to Australia for a "cultural exchange", but often ended up in full-time roles caring for children, cooking, cleaning, and performing household tasks.

A majority were found to be working 36-hour weeks, and nearly a third of those surveyed worked 40 hours a week or more, working "like housekeepers" despite being employed on the terms and pay of a babysitter.

Au pairs reported being forced to work with a fever, being "on call all hours of the night" and in one case even being "physically hit and sworn at" by children in a family described as "lovely" by their agency.

On average, those working as au pairs were paid around $17.10 (£9.80) for their work, a figure that included the estimated cost of room and board.


Although only 3% of au pairs were male, the average hourly wage was 25% higher for male than female participants, reflecting the fact that they were paid the same but worked fewer hours.

"The demand for au pairing is often explained by Australian families' need for affordable childcare," the report co-author Dr Berg, who researches precarious labour at the University of Technology Sydney, said in a statement.

"But the study indicates many families are taking advantage of the large supply of working holidaymakers to obtain cheap housekeeping services as well."

The exploitative labour conditions are in spite of the fact that wealthier families tend to employ au pairs - a third of respondents to the survey were employed by the most advantaged 10% of suburbs in Australia.

More than two in five of the au pairs surveyed experienced serious problems like feeling forced to work more than expected, not getting paid or being verbally abused, and many found it difficult to get help.

The study follows previous scandals over the exploitation of the 900,000 temporary workers in Australia, with a recent survey finding about one-third were paid half the minimum wage.

Among its recommendations to combat the exploitation of au pair workers, the authors of the study recommended that the Australian government resourced flexible and affordable childcare for families.

It also said a government funded service should provide assistance in disputes and give information clear information to au pairs and their employers about rights and responsibilities.