Nanny
What the work is
Assists parents in the provision of ongoing care and supervision for babies and children, usually in the child's home.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Provides care and supervision for children in their home
- Assists with daily routines and activities
- Engages children in age-appropriate activities and play
- Monitors children's safety and wellbeing
- Administers medication and follows any specific health care instructions
- Prepares and serves meals and snacks
- Assists with educational activities
- Organises outings and recreational activities
- Communicates regularly with parents to provide updates
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in a family home after school, with a kitchen, a backyard and two children to look after. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- A child who struggled with reading reads you a whole page without stopping
- The afternoon flows from snack to park to homework with hardly a grumble
- A parent comes home and the children run to tell them about the day
Hard days
- A toddler meltdown in a supermarket aisle while everyone watches
- Two parents giving you different instructions about the same thing
- A long day with a child who is unwell and wants only their mum
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 431331, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.