Westlake Girls’ High School
Nanny/Child Carer Kaitiaki Tamariki
Nannies/child carers are responsible for the care, wellbeing and education of infants, toddlers and children in the home.
Nannies/child carers may do some or all of the following:
- feed, wash and dress children
- plan and supervise the children's daily activities
- play and do learning activities with children
- care for sick children in the home
- keep records of children's learning and development
- do everyday household tasks such as cleaning and laundry
- plan and prepare meals for children and family members
- drive children to and from early childhood services, school or other activities
- supervise and help school-aged children with homework.
Physical Requirements
Nannies/child carers need to be reasonably fit and healthy.
Useful Experience
Useful experience for nannies/child carers includes:
- work with children, such as babysitting
- nursing work.
Personal Qualities
Nannies/child carers need to be:
- caring
- organised and responsible
- good at solving problems
- skilled at communicating and listening
- creative
- motivated and patient
- firm, fair and consistent.
Skills
Nannies/child carers need to have:
- knowledge of children's learning and development
- the ability to relate to and care for babies, toddlers and young children
- the ability to positively guide children's behaviour
- knowledge and understanding of the New Zealand Early Childhood Curriculum, Te Whāriki
- first aid skills
- a good knowledge of nutrition, as well as cooking skills.
Conditions
Nannies/child carers:
- may work part time or full time for one or more families.
- may work in their own homes, or in the homes of the children they care for. Some may live with the family they work for.
- spend time working indoors and outdoors in a variety of conditions, and often drive babies or children to activities in their local area.
Subject Recommendations
No specific secondary education is required for this job, but health education, home economics (food and nutrition), music, dance and drama, painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking combined and te reo Māori to at least NCEA Level 2 are useful.
Related Courses
Nanny/Child Carers can earn around $23-$30 per hour.
Pay for nannies/child carers varies depending on their qualifications and experience, and location.
- Unqualified nannies/child carers with less than one years' experience usually earn minimum wage.
- Qualified nannies/child carers with more than one years' experience can earn up to $30 an hour.
- Nannies/child carers who look after newborn babies may earn a higher rate.
Nannies/child carers who live with the families they work for usually receive free accommodation and food, but their wages may be reduced to cover those costs.
Sources: PORSE; Nannies Plus; Rock My Baby, 2022.
Nannies/child carers may progress to work in early childhood centres. They may work as untrained staff members, or complete training to become early childhood teachers.
Nannies/child carers may specialise in working with:
- newborn babies
- babies aged four months and above
- twins and triplet babies
- young children with disabilities.
Years Of Training
There are no specific entry requirements to become a nanny/child carer. However, most employers prefer you to have a qualification such as a New Zealand Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 3 or 4) or a New Zealand Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 5).
Nannies/child carers can earn a qualification while working.
Most employers require you to have a full driver's licence.
The Vulnerable Children Act 2014 means that if you have certain serious convictions, you can’t be employed in a role where you are responsible for, or work alone with, children.
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