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Useful experience for nannies/child carers includes:

• work with children, such as babysitting
• nursing work.

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.

Demand for nannies/child carers increasing

Demand for nannies/child carers is average, but expected to continue to increase.

The increased demand for nannies/child carers is due to:

• expensive living costs, which mean both parents need to work
• parents preferring in-home care to early childhood centres
• shortages of places in city early childcare centres.

Demand has increased the most in Auckland, Christchurch, Hawke's Bay, Queenstown, Tauranga and Christchurch.

According to the Census, 10,548 nannies/child carers worked in New Zealand in 2018.

Full-time work difficult to find for nannies/child carers

Nannies/child carers usually work part-time and it can be difficult to find full-time work due to parents only being funded for 20 hours a week childcare.

Nannies/child carers with qualifications, experience, good references and a full driver's licence are more likely to get a job.

Types of employers varied

Nannies/child carers may work for:

• nanny and in-home child care agencies
• families
• babysitting agencies.

Ashton Warner Academy

(09) 424 3055 - www.nannyacademy.ac.nz

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.

• Early childhood teacher job information

Nannies/child carers may specialise in working with:

• newborn babies
• babies aged four months and above
• twins and triplet babies
• young children with disabilities.

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.