About the Author

Louise Dunham is the CEO of Placement Solutions, a Melbourne-based niche recruitment firm specialising in the placement of nannies and household organisers. Louise established this business in 1988. Louise served on the National Steering Committee that wrote the Interim In-Home Care Standards that are used to set quality guidelines within the in-home childcare sector. She is a passionate advocate for the need for nannies to be developed and recognised as childcare professionals and to be legally paid and supported as having a valuable role to play within the greater childcare sector. In 2012, Louise attained a board position with the USA-based International Nanny Association (INA), the first non-American to take such a position in its then 31-year history. She served as chair of the INA's Ethics Committee from 2012 until 2017 and also served as the association's vice president. Louise has also been a vice president on the board of the Australian Home Childcare Association (AHCA), the peak body for the in-home childcare sector in Australia, overseeing the marketing and public relations functions. In addition to establishing Placement Solutions, Louise has also set up Just Family Nanny Payroll Services (catering for both her regular clients and other clients who self-employ a nanny but choose to outsource their payroll and other legal administrative responsibilities) and Nurture Training College an RTO (providing formal qualifications in the nationally accredited Diploma and Certificate 3 in Early Childhood Education and Care and nanny specific short courses and electives). Louise is a former high school english and history teacher. She spends her spare time delving into family history, writing, gardening and being a granny nanny to her grandson.

Reviews

"Louise Dunham is THE expert on putting the CARE into childcare. State of the Nanny is a wonderful resource for families considering employing a nanny, and for nannies themselves. A thoroughly engaging book that eloquently discusses the political and personal whilst keeping the most important people - the children - as a highest value." --
Pinky McKay, lactation consultant and parenting advisor, and best selling author of Sleeping Like a Baby, Toddler Tactics, and other titles. "A timely call for recognition of nannies everywhere, but also for a return to an older set of values that enveloped our local societies and enabled working women for centuries to conduct their economic work outside of the home..." --
Jacalyn S Burke, author The Nanny Time Bomb - Navigating the crisis in child care