{"id":1183,"date":"2013-05-14T19:47:05","date_gmt":"2013-05-15T02:47:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.enannysource.com\/blog\/?p=1183"},"modified":"2013-05-14T19:47:05","modified_gmt":"2013-05-15T02:47:05","slug":"expert-insights-catching-up-with-philippa-christian-australias-best-nanny","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.enannysource.com\/blog\/index.php\/2013\/05\/14\/expert-insights-catching-up-with-philippa-christian-australias-best-nanny\/","title":{"rendered":"Expert Insights: Catching Up with Philippa Christian, Australia\u2019s Best Nanny"},"content":{"rendered":"

by\u00a0Michelle LaRowe<\/a>
\nEditor in Chief<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Sometimes the notification of a new Twitter follower catches your eye. This was just the case when I received a notification that \u201cAustralia\u2019s Number 1 Nanny\u201d was now following me. If someone\u2019s going to call themself the best nanny in their country, it goes without saying I want to learn more. So I reached out to Philippa Christian, the nanny behind the number, to learn why she\u2019s known as her country\u2019s best nanny. Here\u2019s what she had to say.<\/em><\/p>\n

eNannySource: \u00a0How long have you been a nanny?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Philippa<\/strong>:<\/strong> I have been working with children since I was 11 years old, so I guess that makes it 15 years now.\u00a0 I have always combined babysitting and nannying whilst at school, and once I graduated I took on permanent positions doing what I have always loved \u2013 caring for children. I could never see myself doing anything else because I truly feel that being involved with children as a nanny is one of the most rewarding careers of all.<\/p>\n

eNannySource:\u00a0 Tell us about your training and experience.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Philippa<\/strong>:<\/strong> Since the very beginning, I have continuously made time to train, not only for the sake of the children in my care, but also because I truly love learning about what I do.\u00a0 Whether it be attending a professional nanny school, completing online courses, updating my CPR and First Aid training or even reading parenting and nannying books and magazine articles, there is always something new to learn.<\/p>\n

Apart from working as a nanny, I have also trained nannies myself at the Australian Nanny Company on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia.\u00a0 This was a wonderful experience and gave me the opportunity to see how important it is to be on top of the latest information regarding childcare. \u00a0Along with the guidance from my mum and my gran, I have also gathered a lot of very useful advice from my relationships with other nannies, nanny agency owners, parents, my nanny mentors, my babysitting coach and even through networking online with other nannies overseas.<\/p>\n

I think that experience itself has been one of my best teachers. It has allowed for me to learn on the job, and I believe that learning how to handle a real-life situation has several great advantages over simply reading about it.\u00a0 For example, while nannying you can see what works best and what doesn\u2019t by trial and error.\u00a0 You soon learn to predict certain behaviours and have more of an instinct about how to manage certain problems the next time they come around.\u00a0 Once you can carry out the role and gain the confidence you need, it won\u2019t be long before you will know exactly what you are doing.<\/p>\n

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eNannySource: You call yourself Australia’s number 1 nanny. What makes you the best?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Philippa<\/strong>:<\/strong> As a nanny, your job is to serve others.\u00a0 As Australia\u2019s \u2018Number 1 Nanny\u2019 I plan on doing exactly that by the largest amount of numbers I can.<\/p>\n

Whilst serving nannies, babysitters and parents with the free advice and online certificates they can complete, I am using the money made by that to serve children in need from all of the countries I have been fortunate enough to visit whilst working as a celebrity nanny.\u00a0 I have always believed that success is measured not by what you can achieve for yourself, but by what you can achieve for others.\u00a0 As a nanny, every day you are helping children achieve their goals and building a solid foundation for their future.\u00a0 I have always loved this, and have decided to try and do it on a much larger scale.<\/p>\n

eNannySource: Can you tell us about your most interesting celebrity experience?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Philippa<\/strong>:<\/strong> Well this is a tricky question!\u00a0 I have worked for quite a few celebrities and have had to work through some pretty major headlines, some of which might be a little too obvious about who I would be talking about if I were to discuss those times.\u00a0 It\u2019s a really fun lifestyle \u2013 lots of holidays, five star hotels, private yachts, first class plane trips and meeting lots of other famous friends of the families along the way.\u00a0 But all of the luxury and glamour does come at a cost.\u00a0 Working for families like these, you have no social life, you are worked very, very hard and the expectations are extremely high.\u00a0 I\u2019ve always loved a challenge, and to this day I still work as a celebrity nanny.<\/p>\n

One of my most interesting experiences in this job would be a couple of years ago when I was on a cruise ship visiting islands in the South Pacific.\u00a0 The family I was working for were enjoying their time in the water together, so I decided to go for a short walk around the island and let them have some family time.\u00a0 As I was walking along a dirt road with palm trees and lots of bush land surrounding me, I noticed a group of natives standing in the bush looking out at the cruise ship and the tourists.\u00a0 The night before arriving on this island we were told on the ship that a lot of the natives have never seen \u2018light skinned\u2019 people before.\u00a0 As I kept walking a little boy who was probably about 3 or 4 ran out of the bushes and stood on the road in front of me, just staring at me.\u00a0 The women who were amongst the group of children were screaming at him, obviously wanting him to go back to them.\u00a0 I just stopped in complete silence not knowing what to do.\u00a0 I looked over at the women and smiled.\u00a0 Within seconds, they stopped screaming at the little boy and waved their hand to him as if to say, \u2018It\u2019s okay, you can go.\u2019\u00a0 The little boy walked up to me and gave me a hug.\u00a0 That was an incredible day and a day I will never forget.\u00a0 Although languages can separate us, a smile is universal.<\/p>\n

eNannySource: What’s the state of the nanny industry in Australia?<\/p>\n

<\/strong>Philippa<\/strong>:<\/strong> Unfortunately, nannies have never really been featured in this country up until now.\u00a0 They have definitely existed, but have not been officially recognised as a large group of people needing support. At the next Federal election in September, there will be a campaign promoting a \u2018National Nanny Rebate,\u2019 which is designed around giving families the choice of considering a home-based nanny rather than \u2018away from home child care\u2019 for their children, as the government is willing to provide in-home care at the same cost as day care.<\/strong><\/p>\n

eNannySource: How do you think nannies in the US and Australia are different?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Philippa<\/strong>:<\/strong> As far as I can see, the role of a nanny has always been an important part of American history.\u00a0 As a young girl, I loved to watch TV shows from the USA, and many of them were about families with a nanny!\u00a0 It seemed so wonderful that these children growing up in a family didn\u2019t just have their parents to help them, but also a caring friend that they could rely on to help them through many difficult situations.\u00a0 Our history hasn\u2019t really made a point of bringing nannies or \u2018mothers\u2019 helpers\u2019 into the limelight very much, and so it\u2019s a difficult job to compare the differences.<\/p>\n

I must say that I have noticed American nannies seem to be a lot more passionate about their work.\u00a0 Could one of the reasons for this be that there is a lot more available for nannies in America?\u00a0 In Australia, we don\u2019t yet have nanny conferences or nanny workshops, we don\u2019t have laws that protect nannies whilst at work, we don\u2019t have a recognition week or even a nanny association, but I\u2019m hoping that very soon this will all change as the more we can make available to our nannies, the more we can encourage them to take on one the best and most rewarding careers they could ever hope to find.\u00a0\u00a0 After all, a happy nanny equals a happy family!<\/p>\n

eNannySource: Tell us about the book you are writing.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Philippa<\/strong>:<\/strong> I am currently writing \u2018The Original Handbook for Australian Babysitters and Nannies.\u2019\u00a0 This has been a project of mine for the past six years.\u00a0 I really wanted to write it properly and not miss a thing.\u00a0 When I began babysitting, I would constantly be calling my Mum asking her so many questions \u2013 how do I get the baby to sleep if he keeps crying or how do I stop the kids from running away from the trolley when we are in the supermarket? Once I think I even asked her how to cut up an apple for the kids!<\/p>\n

This book will hopefully be the ultimate guide to caring for children and help turn good nannies into great nannies.\u00a0 It\u2019s really something I wish I had when I first started out.\u00a0 The book covers everything from nappy changing techniques to \u2018meals in minutes,\u2019 and goes on to explain things like child psychology and the different kinds of families you may have the opportunity to work for one day.<\/p>\n

eNannySource: What are your favourite nanny resources?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Philippa<\/strong>:<\/strong> My favourite nanny resources would be my Daily Diary and communication book.\u00a0 I have always believed that communication and a strong relationship with the parents of the children in your care is what makes a great nanny\/family relationship.\u00a0 The Daily Diary includes everything about the day, from the meals and drinks the children had to sleep times and even which activities they enjoyed.\u00a0 The diary covers exactly what happened during the time that Mum and Dad were not around.<\/p>\n

The communication book is a book containing everything that Mum and Dad really need to know.\u00a0 Examples could include a milestone that one of the children may have reached or are showing signs that they are on their way to reaching, certain things that need to be noted like a reminder for the parents to sign a school form or attend a school function or even things like unacceptable behaviour and the way I have handled the situation.\u00a0 Sometimes as a Nanny we need to discuss things with parents that aren\u2019t very easy, so a communication book is a great way of noting all those things down and going through each of them with the parent.<\/p>\n

For as long as she can remember, Philippa Christian has dreamed of becoming Australia\u2019s best nanny. She has worked nationally and internationally for a very large number of families, including some very well-known faces, and over the years has gained what she now feels is enough knowledge and experience to justify the title of, \u2018Australia\u2019s Number 1 Nanny.\u2019 Learn more about Philippa at <\/em>www.number1nanny.com.au<\/em>, where she hopes to use the experience and knowledge she\u2019s gained to put together an educational package to assist anyone and everyone who is involved or is planning on becoming involved in the caring of children.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by\u00a0Michelle LaRowe Editor in Chief Sometimes the notification of a new Twitter follower catches your eye. This was just the case when I received a notification that \u201cAustralia\u2019s Number 1 Nanny\u201d was now following me. If someone\u2019s going to call … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[103],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1183","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-expert-insights"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.enannysource.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1183","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.enannysource.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.enannysource.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.enannysource.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.enannysource.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1183"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.enannysource.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1183\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1185,"href":"http:\/\/www.enannysource.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1183\/revisions\/1185"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.enannysource.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1183"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.enannysource.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1183"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.enannysource.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1183"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}