Helping Hands Nannying Agency – Terms and Conditions

1. Introduction

This agreement is made between Helping Hands Nannying Agency ("Helping Hands Armadale") and the Parents/Guardians utilising the booking services provided by Helpinghands Armadale for the engagement of Babysitters or Nannies for the care of their children. These terms and conditions govern all bookings and services provided by Helpinghands Armadale.

By placing a booking, the Parent/Guardian agrees to be bound by these terms and conditions.

2. Definitions

• Babysitter/Nanny – The individual engaged to care for the child/children of the Parent/Guardian.

• Parent/Guardian – The person responsible for the care and control of the child/children for whom the booking is made.

• Working with Children Check – A background check required under applicable laws to verify the suitability of an individual to work with children.

• Words in the singular include the plural where applicable.

3. Role of Helping Hands

Helpinghands Armadale acts solely as a booking agency and does not employ or contract Babysitters or Nannies directly. The Parent/Guardian is responsible for engaging the Babysitter/Nanny as an independent contractor. It is the Parent/Guardian’s responsibility to assess and approve the suitability of the Babysitter/Nanny for their specific childcare needs.

Helpinghands Armadale conducts a Working with Children Check on all Babysitters/Nannies before offering their services. However, Helpinghands Armadale does not provide any guarantee regarding the Babysitter/Nanny’s suitability for a specific child or household.

By completing a registration form or making a booking, the Parent/Guardian acknowledges and accepts these terms and conditions.

4. Fees and Payment

4.1 Search Fee

• A non-refundable Search Fee of $75 is payable to HelpingHands Armadale for assistance in finding a suitable Nanny.

• This fee covers a 4-month search period. If no Nanny is found within this time, helpinghands Armadale will credit $20 into the parent/gaurdian profile or reassess if our services are suitable for that family’s needs. If the family’s needs are found unrealistic for Helpinghands Armadale’s services, the search fee will be forfeited.

• Helping Hands will take REASONABLE STEPS to provide suitable Nanny options, and the Parent/Guardian must not unreasonably decline potential candidates.

• Upon payment of the Search Fee, the Parent/Guardian’s payment details will be securely stored via Stripe.

4.2 Monthly Subscription Fee

• Once a Nanny has been placed, a $125 Monthly Subscription Fee is charged via direct debit.

• Payment starts on the Nanny’s first working day, which the Parent/Guardian must notify Helpinghands Armadale of. Failure to do so while utilizing the Nanny’s services may result in back payment.

• The subscription fee is billed one month in advance (or as close to if not applicable)

• If the Parent/Guardian engages two Nannies, the Monthly Subscription Fee increases to $140 per month.

• If a monthly receipt is required, it must be requested via email to Helpinghandsreception@mail.com

• This monthly subscription will cover the first 6 months of service. If the nanny is still required after this 6 month period, parents can chose to opt out of the subscription and bare sole responsibility for the nanny. No extra support or benefits will be supplied after this 6 month period if the subscription is not renewed.

4.3 What the Monthly Subscription Fee Covers

The Monthly Subscription Fee includes:

• Quality Control – Nannies vetted by Helpinghands Armadale with all required certifications.

• Reliability – If a Nanny is unavailable, Helpinghands Armadale will attempt to find a temporary replacement. If no replacement is found, the Parent/Guardian will receive a pro-rata credit for the missed days.

• Casual Babysitting hotline – Waiver of the standard $25 booking fee for casual babysitting when using the engaged Nanny outside regular hours.

This fee remains payable regardless of whether the Parent/Guardian utilises all services included.

5. Cancellations and Adjustments

5.1 Nanny Unavailability

• If a replacement is needed for less than 36 hours, a replacement cannot be guaranteed, but helpinghands Armadale will try to the best of our ability.

• If a replacement is needed for less than one week, 36 hours’ notice is required.

• If a replacement is needed for more than one week, seven days’ notice is required.

• If no replacement is found, the subscription fee will be adjusted pro-rata.

5.2 Planned Absences

• If the Parent/Guardian is away and does not require the Nanny, seven days’ notice must be given to adjust fees accordingly (e.g., no fee will be charged if absent for a full month).

• If the Nanny is not required due to unforeseen circumstances (e.g., illness), the weekly subscription fee will be waived pro-rata with proper notification.

• If less than 12 hours notice is given to the nanny, the fee will not be waived.

5.3 Payment Processing

• Monthly fees are debited through Stripe.

• If an invoice is requested but remains unpaid two weeks after the due date, the agency will proceed with direct debit.

6. Nanny Compensation and Conduct

6.1 Nanny Rates and Payment

• Helpinghands Armadale does not set Nanny/Babysitter rates. Rates are determined by the individual, generally $25-$35 per hour based on experience and qualifications.

• The Parent/Guardian pays the Nanny directly via bank transfer, either weekly or fortnightly.

• The Nanny is an independent contractor responsible for their own tax and superannuation. An Australian Business Number (ABN) is recommended.

• Nannies are advised to obtain personal liability insurance.

6.2 Treatment of the Nanny

• The Nanny/Babysitter must be treated with respect, dignity, and professionalism at all times.

• Any concerns should be reported to Helpinghands Armadale for resolution.

• If mistreatment of the Nanny or Babysitter is found after investigation, the family will be banned from the Helpinghands Armadale services, and any outstanding fees must be paid in full within two weeks of ban.

7. Casual Babysitting Services

7.1 Booking Fees (without subscription)

• Casual babysitting bookings incur a $25 fee per booking.

• Same-day bookings (24 hours or less before shift) include a $15 rush fee, bringing the total to $40.

• Out-of-town bookings (outside metropolitan Melbourne) incur a $40 daily booking fee. This is unless the sitter is within 25 km of the family location, in which case the standard $25 booking fee will be charged.

7.2 Booking Fees (with Hotline Subscription)

• Once the subscription has been approved by Helpinghands Armadale, a $100 Monthly Subscription Fee is charged via direct debit.

• Payment starts when family is approved, the Parent/Guardian will be notified within 5 working days from the date of the request.

• The subscription fee is billed one month in advance

• The Parent/Guardian can book casual sitters as frequently as required within the months subscription.

• Booking subscription strictly only applies to the Parent/Guardian the subscription name is under. Any additional children not documented in the original booking form will incur an extra fee of $10 an hour billed directly to the sitter.

• If a Parent/Gaurdian is found to be abusing this system, their subscription will be cancelled immediately, and all outstanding fees will be due within two weeks of cancellation

• Helpinghands Armadale do not offer credits or refunds if a family doesn’t use this service each week. However, if two weeks notice is given, a hold can be placed on the subscription.

• Helpinghands Armadale must be notified 7 days in advance if sitter is required at a location other than the Parent/Gaurdian’s documented address. Change of location with less than 24 hour notice must be directly to the sitter.

• If a monthly receipt is required, it must be requested via email to Helpinghandsreception@mail.com

7.3 Cancellation Policy (without subscription)

• Cancellations made 36+ hours before the scheduled time are eligible for a refund or booking credit.

• Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the scheduled time result in forfeiture of the booking credit.

• For same-day bookings or those made within 12 hours of the scheduled time, the booking fee is $25 plus a $10 rush fee. If no sitter is found, the Parent/Guardian is refunded $10.

7.4 Cancellation Policy (With Hotline Subscription)

• Cancellations made 24+ hours before the scheduled time will not result in extra charges, however no refund or credit will be given for monthly subscription.

• Cancellations made less than 12 hours before the scheduled time, will not incur extra charges for first time offence, however if Helpinghands Armadale recognise a pattern of cancellation from Parent/Guardian, the HelpingHands Armadale strike program will apply.

·       For same-day bookings or those made within 12 hours of the scheduled time, Helpinghands Armadale will use all resources possible to find a sitter, however under these circumstances a sitter cannot be guaranteed. 

8. Strike Policy

8.1 Introduction

·      The Strike Policy is a system implemented by Helping Hands Armadale to ensure that all sitters and parents/guardians uphold a high standard when using the service.

·      This policy is designed to promote fair use of the platform and ensure all users engage with Helping Hands Armadale in good faith.

8.2 Strike Accumulation and Review

·      Parents/guardians who accumulate 3 strikes within a 6 month period will be subject to a review of their account by Helping Hands Armadale.

·      Helping Hands Armadale reserves the right to refuse service to any parent/guardian based on the findings of the review.

·      If a parent/guardian is excluded from the service as a result of the strike program review, any active subscriptions may be cancelled at Helping Hands Armadale's discretion.

·      All outstanding fees must be paid in full within 2 weeks of receiving notice of cancellation.

8.3 Conditions for Receiving a Strike A parent/guardian will receive a strike under the following circumstances:

·       Cancelling a sitter within 12 hours of the scheduled job more than twice within a 1 month period.

·       Sitter or Nanny will receive a strike under the following circumstances:

·       A) Cancelling a routine nannying shift within 24 hours of the scheduled time.

·       B) Cancelling a confirmed casual nannying job within 12 hours of the scheduled time.

8.4 Strike Program Scope

·      The Strike Policy applies to any job that has been mutually agreed upon and confirmed between the sitter/nanny and the parent/guardian.

·      Strikes are recorded internally and are visible only to the Helping Hands Armadale administration team.

8.5 Enforcement

·      Helping Hands Armadale reserves the right to enforce the Strike Policy at its sole discretion.

·      Users who repeatedly violate the terms of this policy may face suspension or termination of their access to the platform.

·      Any disputes regarding strikes must be formally submitted to Helping Hands Armadale for review.

By using the Helping Hands Armadale platform, all sitters, nannies, parents, and guardians agree to abide by this Strike Policy. Failure to comply may result in penalties, including but not limited to service restrictions or account termination.

9. Kick to Kick Program

·      The Kick to Kick Program is a service provided by HelpingHands Armadale, operating under the same principles as the babysitting program.

·      This program is designed to offer children a structured outdoor activity session, focusing on football skills and engagement.

9.2 Service Structure and Payment

·      The Kick to Kick Program operates at a set rate of $60 per session.

·      Payment is made to HelpingHands Armadale, at the time of booking

·      Each session runs for 90 minutes and consists of football activities at a local park, including skill development and recreational play.

·      The sitter will return the child home at the conclusion of the session.

·      If additional children attend the session, an extra charge of $30 per child will apply

9.3 Service Limitations

·      The set rate of $60 covers one child per session.

·      This service does not include additional babysitting once the child has been returned home unless previously arranged and approved by both the sitter and HelpingHands Armadale, in which case standard babysitting fees and policies will apply.

·      Any extension of care beyond the agreed session must be booked separately through HelpingHands Armadale and may incur additional charges.

9.4. Qualifications and Safety

·      All Kick to Kick coaches are required to have a valid Working with Children Check

·      Coaches are certified to meet the Helping Hands Armadale standard to ensure a safe and high-quality experience for children.

·      All Kick to Kick coaches have a background in AFL football and are equipped to provide coaching knowledge to the children.

·      Not all Kick to Kick coaches are required to have formal coaching qualifications; relevant qualifications will be listed on sitters individual profiles.

·      HelpingHands Armadale is not responsible for any injuries sustained during the session but ensures that all reasonable safety precautions are taken.

9.5 General Terms

·      By booking a Kick to Kick session, parents/guardians agree to the terms outlined in this policy.

·      Helping Hands Armadale reserves the right to modify the terms of this service as necessary and will notify users of any changes.

·      Cancellations and rescheduling requests must be communicated in accordance with HelpingHands Armadale’s general booking policies.

By using the Kick to Kick Program, parents, guardians, and sitters agree to abide by these terms and conditions to ensure a structured, enjoyable, and safe experience for all participants.

10. Unauthorised Use of HelpingHands Armadale Nannies and Sitters

• Parents/Guardians must not engage Helping Hands Nannies outside of the agency without proper authorisation.

• Unauthorised engagement of a HelpingHands Armadale Nanny may result in permanent exclusion from the service.

11. Agreement to Terms

By utilising HelpingHands Armadale services, the Parent/Guardian agrees to:

1. Abide by all fees and payment obligations.

2. Treat Nannies/Babysitters with respect and fairness.

3. Communicate all relevant details regarding bookings, changes, and cancellations promptly.

4. Not engage HelpingHands Armadale Nannies privately outside of agency agreements.

Failure to comply with these terms may result in account suspension, termination, or legal action to recover outstanding amounts.

For inquiries or assistance, please contact Helping Hands via email at helpinghandsreception@mail.com