IMPORTANT INFO FOR PARENTS

The purpose of the Babysitter’s List is to provide a free platform for child carers and parents to connect.

We are simply a community listing site that allows babysitters to advertise their services – we have nothing to do with any aspect of your dealings with the babysitters.

We operate as a matching service for Parents & Babysitters. You can search for a sitter based on your location anywhere in Victoria.

As a parent, if you want to be able to see the contact information for a sitter, you need to sign up and provide some basic personal information. 

The Working with Children Check (WWC Check) is a screening process for assessing people aged over 18 years who work with or care for children. It involves considering a person’s criminal history and relevant professional conduct findings. 

Before a Babysitter who is aged over 18 years can be listed on the site, the Babysitters List requires verification of their WWC Check from Working with Children Check Victoria (WWC Check Victoria). WWC Check Victoria will notify the Babysitter List if the Babysitter’s WWC Check is revoked or suspended. 

For further information, see WWC Check Victoria.

Other than verifying their WWC Check of Babysitters aged over 18, the Babysitters List does not conduct additional screening or background checks of Babysitters. You are strongly encouraged to conduct appropriate screening and checks of prospective Babysitters. For example, you may request to speak with a Babysitter’s referees about previous child-related work or confirm that they have a national police records check (www.police.vic.gov.au). 

Depending on your situation, you may have additional requirements, such as a current driver’s licence, first aid qualifications or anaphylaxis training. Any such requirements should be discussed with the prospective Babysitter.

Many babysitting jobs are likely to be ad-hoc, casual engagements. However, if you are engaging the same Babysitter on a recurring or regular basis, you may be in an employment relationship or an independent contractor relationship. This impacts on your legal obligations and entitlements. Please note the Babysitters List is not involved in any arrangements made between you and the Babysitter.

For information about employment relationships and independent contractor arrangements see the Fair Work Ombudsman. See also Business Victoria.

The Babysitters List does not set rates of pay. Rates of pay are agreed between you and the Babysitter. You should ensure that you are complying with any minimum rates of pay. Depending on the circumstances, it may also be relevant to discuss reimbursement of expenses incurred by the Babysitter (e.g. purchase of food for children, use of Babysitter’s car to transport children).

For information about minimum rates of pay, see the Fair Work Ombudsman.

Depending on the arrangement between you and the Babysitter, the Babysitter may be entitled to other minimum terms and conditions of employment, such as maximum weekly hours, leave entitlements and notice of termination. For information about minimum terms and conditions of employment, see the Fair Work Ombudsman.

In general, superannuation is payable to Babysitters who provide domestic services to you for more than 30 hours per week. For information about superannuation obligations, see the Australian Taxation Office.

There are general obligations on employers and others to provide a safe place of work. Depending on the circumstances, the Babysitter may be entitled to workers’ compensation if injured at work. For further information about health and safety at work and workers’ compensation, see WorkSafe Victoria.

You are responsible for complying with any minimum terms and conditions for Babysitters.

In some situations, you may be required to withhold PAYG tax. For further information about taxation, see the Australian Taxation Office.

Depending on the situation, you may wish to consider public liability insurance, or you may be required to obtain domestic workers compensation insurance. This may be taken as a separate policy or may be available under your home and contents policy. For further information, contact your insurer or WorkSafe Victoria.