Setting the standard for ethical childcare since 2007

My love for children started out as being the second oldest cousin to a flurry of younger cousins who I adored. I went on to Au Pair in The US for a year that solidified that I wanted to work with children in some way or another. I returned to South Africa and went into studying Psychology and branched into Child Psychology. I worked as an au pair for over 10 years and loved becoming part of the family.

I am in contact with every family I have ever au paired for and I am deeply passionate about Au pairing from both the candidates’ side as well as from the family’s side. Having two children of my own now, gives me great perspective of the importance of placing the right candidate with our children.

Being an au pair gave me the knowledge of what it takes to do well in this industry. I love the fact that Au pairing is no longer just a stepping stone but is becoming a full-fledged fulfilling career option for passionate candidates. Au Pair Extraordinaire is at the forefront of this change and I am here for it!

With over 12 years of experience at Au Pair Extraordinaire, I have developed an in depth understanding of the Au Pair placement industry and the unique needs of the families and candidates I work with.

As a mom myself, I understand first hand the importance of finding the right person to become part of a family's support system. I appreciate that every family is different and that finding the right childcare professional is about more than qualifications and experience but also about trust, compatibility and finding someone who genuinely fits into the family's lifestyle and values.

Over the years, I have worked with families across a wide range of circumstances from everyday childcare and after school support to complex academic, special-needs and household management requirements. My extensive industry experience, combined with my personal understanding of family life, allows me to approach each placement with both professional expertise and genuine empathy.

I joined Au Pair Extraordinaire in January 2023, initially as a Candidate Manager, and worked my way up to becoming a Recruiter. I am naturally a creative and structured person, so I really enjoy the combination of still being involved in the childcare world while also having the administrative side of things that I love.

My background is a combination of Au Pairing and Administrative positions, which are probably my two strongest fields and passions. I absolutely love working with children, seeing them grow and develop into little people, and I love that I get to combine this with my attention to detail, creativity and love for working with people. It really feels like the perfect position for me and the best of both worlds!

I absolutely love the challenge of finding the right match between a family and a candidate. Every family has different needs, personalities and dynamics, and I enjoy getting to know them and finding someone who will fit into their world. There is nothing better than hearing about a successful placement, knowing that the candidate is thriving and that the family has the support they need. That is what makes this job so rewarding for me

With a background in Marketing, Content Creation and Client Relations, I’m passionate about connecting with people and making a difference. I also hold a BSc in Human Physiology and Microbiology, which I initially pursued to make a difference in people’s lives, but ultimately taught me that I thrive when working directly with people.

Having always loved working with children, being the eldest of three, and having au paired both abroad in the Netherlands and locally through APEO, moving into Childcare Recruitment felt like a natural next step. It allows me to combine my love for working with children and people with my passion for connecting families with the right candidates.

I’m a confident, energetic people-person who brings strong communication skills and a natural spark to my role at APEO. As a Recruiter, I source and shortlist candidates based on each family’s requirements, working closely with families, candidates and our recruitment team to create strong, long-term matches.

I love taking initiative, building genuine connections and bringing positive energy to everything I do.

I come from a family of teachers, so working with children and being involved in education has always been a big part of my life. I spent 10 years in the classroom, mainly teaching Grade R, but I have actually been an au pair for even longer than I was a teacher, which has given me a real understanding of the role from both sides. I have a BEd in Foundation Phase, specialising in Early Childhood Development, and continued my studies in Special Needs Education and Curriculum Development, eventually completing my Master’s in Curriculum Development.

Becoming a Candidate Liaison felt like a natural next step for me, as it brings together my experience in teaching, childcare and au pairing. I love getting to know our candidates, understanding what they have to offer and being part of the process that brings an au pair and family together.