1. Be aware of your own unconscious bias
Unconscious bias is a subtle, unconscious form of discrimination or stereotyping based on someone's race, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, weight, age and more. “As a host family searching for your au pair, there is almost certainly some unconscious bias at work — it's impossible to eliminate completely,” says Reannon from Premier Au Pair. But there are ways to interrupt it during matching, just as in any other situation.
The first step is to notice the thoughts going through your head as you review a profile. What makes you interested in some candidates and not others? It can help to ask yourself questions like:
- How does an au pair's nationality influence my interest in them?
- Am I making judgments based on appearance?
- Am I dismissing candidates based on gender, religion, age and so on?
Once you're more aware of your bias, you can challenge your own stereotypes and judge candidates on what matters most: their experience, qualifications and personality.
2. Voice your commitment to inclusion
Au pairs are more aware than ever of how issues like social injustice, racism and politics affect society — not just at home but in Australia too — and they want to know prospective host families' views. “It's becoming very common for au pairs to ask host families during the interview how they feel about these issues and what they do about them,” says Reannon. “Be prepared for deeper conversations.”
Reannon advises families to be proactive in sharing their views, not just ready to discuss them. One way is to include relevant detail in your host family profile — for example, photos of your family at a Pride event show that you support the LGBTQ+ community. She also loves this inclusive line from one family's profile: “We hope you'll feel comfortable being yourself around us, and we look forward to having you care for and teach our kids.” Making your commitment clear helps au pairs feel at ease and comfortable asking follow-up questions.
3. Review your interview questions
It's also worth making sure your questions are inclusive regarding sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, religion and more. For instance, a family might assess maturity or independence by asking whether a candidate has lived away from their parents or travelled. For many au pairs the answer is no — not for lack of desire, but because those opportunities were out of reach financially. Better follow-ups might be: “Do you do your own laundry? Cook your own meals? Clean your own room? How independent would you say you are, on a scale of one to ten?”
“How do you celebrate Christmas?” can also be alienating. Many of our au pairs are Christian, but others practise Islam, Judaism or Buddhism. “What's your favourite holiday?” is a friendlier alternative that lets a candidate share about their religion if they wish. The lesson: look critically at your questions and make sure they're inclusive and appropriate.
4. Ask questions and be curious
Australian host mum Jade has some simple but wise advice on inclusion: “Ask questions of those around you. Be curious about other people's lives and take the time to listen to their stories. That alone goes a very long way.”
It's true in almost any situation, including interviewing au pairs. The more you get to know a candidate for who they really are, the easier it is to tell whether they're the best fit for your family. Being inclusive isn't only about the interview — it's about being open to candidates with a different orientation, background or religion, because the power of cultural exchange is rooted in learning from our differences. We encourage you to make the most of welcoming someone with a fresh perspective into your home.