Work from home as a Mummy Nanny

A Mummy Nanny is exactly what it says. As a mummy you also become a nanny and you look after other people's children alongside your own.

In a lot of cases, this arrangement is done privately, perhaps with someone you know in Mothers' group who is going back to work and is happy to employ you to look after her child. However, a lot of Nanny agencies also now advertise this option.

From a parent's perspective, it is cheaper than hiring a full time nanny. The cost of a nanny would be about $20 + per hour. A mummy nanny would charge from $14 upwards per hour.

There are very strict rules and regulations governing looking after children in your own home. In fact it is illegal to be paid to look after children in your home, without being registered with the government, either directly, or through a Family Day Care scheme. However, as a nanny you are generally looking after children in their home not yours, so the responsibility for public liability insurance, safety etc, falls on the parent. A nanny arrangement is also a private contract.

I have tried to find out what regulations there are governing nannying, and whether you can have a private arrangement which allows you to bring the children to your home, but I have not yet had success. I will keep you posted...

I have also approached two nanny agencies in Sydney with the idea of becoming a mummy nanny and it seemed that it's good when you have one child, but when you have two, parents are less interested. If they just have one child, the balance is wrong. This is where a private arrangement may work.

Let me know your experiences...

Work from Home in Party Plans

Party Plan is form of direct sales involving selling or marketing products at social events.

Almost all of us have been to a Tupperware party at one time or another (now, come on, you can't deny it...). I have to say, the first time I was invited, I thought it was something my mother did, but ten years later it seems quite normal.

Tupperware is one of the world's leading direct selling companies and has been running for over 50 years (so your Grandma probably went to a Tupperware party aswell...), but there are plenty of others. Just look in the back of the Sydney's Child magazine and you'll see adverts for Party Plan opportunities in Children's Toys and books.

Others that come to mind are Nutrimetrics, Avon cosmetics and Enjo, selling environmentally friendly cleaning products.

There are many more out there: you just have to search on Google under Party Plan Australia to find websites listings Party Plan businesses.

Here is one that has a good list of party plan businesses:

http://www.partyplans.com.au/

Although I have labelled Party Plan businesses as work at home, technically they are home based work opportunities, as you need to set aside time outside the home for the actual parties. It is possible to run these businesses around your family commitments, but you will need to have time of an evening or a weekend to attend parties.

With most Party Plan businesses, there is an initial outlay for your 'kit'. This might be money up front, or can be recouped through the sales you make in your first month or two.

So how much money can you make?

As with pretty much anything, that depends on how much time and energy you are prepared to commit. It may simply provide additional 'pocket money' or it can provide a very decent income.

The main drawback, I think, is that it is all about sales, and that does not come naturally to a lot of people. It's amazing how excited a group of people can get when confronted with a table full of plastic items they never knew they needed until now, but the challenge is to get them there in the first place. It's a bit of an imposition to rely on friends and family to get you started, but that's the easiest way to go. Just be careful not to pressure anyone.

The hard bit is then getting the follow on parties, from their friends, and their friends' friends. There are books out there that tell you how to make money through direct sales without hassling your friends and family. I haven't checked these out - they may be helpful, or it may be a way for someone to get rich by telling you how to do it. I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has checked out any of these direct selling tips...

Work from home in Family Day Care

Family Day Care Mums provide care in their own homes for up to 5 children, including their own, up to the age of 12, but generally under school age. Family Day Care schemes are run through local councils or independent organisations such as a church, but with all schemes there is a central office that provides support, training, resources and regulation of the business.

To become a Family Day Carer, you will need a current first aid certificate and a working with children police check which the scheme will arrange on your behalf. You do not need any formal qualifications in child care, although a child care certificate or diploma would be useful, and may allow you to charge more for your care than an unqualified carer. (Rates you can charge vary from scheme to scheme)

Ideally you would have experience with children (not hard if you're a mum!) and you must enjoy looking after young children. Your scheme will provide training which will cover things like safety, hygeine, policies and procedures, and how to program your week to cover each child's needs. Family Day Care Schemes often run a playgroup you can attend with the children, which is a good place to meet other Family Day Care mums.

As with all child care, Family Day Care is regulated through the government to ensure quality care is provided. Your home will be checked to ensure it meets rigorous safety standards, and you will need to have current public liability insurance to cover your business.

How much money can you earn in Family Day Care?

The hours you work and the number of children you care for are, to a large extent, up to you. Carers in the Northern Beaches area of Sydney area charge between $60 and $80 a day per child.

See www.familydaycareaustralia.com.au for more information