Nanny

He may not look like Mary Poppins, but male nanny James Wright has his own kind of magic when it comes to looking after children. Wright is tackling a traditional female-oriented occupation as a male nanny-or “manny” -and is one of only two on the Sydney staff of Dial an Angel.

Wright says in the beginning he found it hard to get jobs.

“There is strong resistance at first, but once I have had a chance to meet the family in person they always come around,” he says.

Then, once he got his first gig, he was inundated with requests from families, requesting him to look after their children. Typically, Wright looks after boys and girls between the ages of three and 12. He says he has no difficultly relating to his young charges.

Wright says universal communicators such as art, music, sports and games, are a terrific way of relating to and bonding with children in those age groups.

“I am always on top of new fads, TV shows and the latest music, which helps me bridge the gap between ages,” he says.
Wright has been looking after children for the past eight years, in Australia, the UK and in New York.

The musician first started nannying between gigs to pay the rent but it wasn’t long before he started to enjoy it as a job.

He has worked for families full-time and also works casually through a child care agency. He says he was inspired to look after children after spending time with his niece about eight years ago.

“I realised I could look after and be inspired by children,” he says.
He has recently returned to Sydney from New York with his wife, Shelley, to set up his own music business, called my-oo-zik.

Right now, it’s a juggling act, trying to establish the business and work nannying jobs. Wright says his wife, Shelley, loves that he already has lots of practice with kids before they start their own family.

As well as working as a nanny with Dial an Angel, Wright also works at an after-school care facility three days a week, at Rose Bay in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

How to be .. a nanny
Entry to this occupation is improved if you possess qualifications. A Diploma of Children’s Services or a Diploma of Out of School Hours may help. Contact Dial an Angel on 93624225 or visit www.dialanangel.com.au