Frequently asked questions

The Household PA is personalised household assistance delivered by me, Leah Gibbs, for households around Toronto and Lake Macquarie in NSW. I help with everyday jobs such as cooking, laundry, errands, organising and household admin, and I also offer small-pet visits and holiday home check-ins.

No. I do not offer cleaning, such as vacuuming, mopping or bathrooms, and I do not do ironing or bed-making. The Household PA is about the everyday jobs that keep a household running.

Home cooking and meal preparation, laundry, shopping and errands, household administration, technology help, and decluttering and organising. I also offer small-pet visits and holiday home check-ins. Heavy lifting and specialist removal work are not included.

No. Childcare is not a service I offer.

No. I do not provide aged care, medical, personal care or disability support. I am a personal assistant for everyday household life.

Yes. I hold Police, NDIS and Working With Children checks, a NSW Food Handlers Certificate, and I am fully insured.

It depends on the tasks. For some jobs, like tech help or decluttering, it helps to have you there. For others, like laundry or meal preparation, we can agree access beforehand. Tell me what you have in mind in your enquiry.

No. You can book a one-off visit or ask for regular weekly or fortnightly visits where suitable. There is no prepaid subscription.

Household assistance has a two-hour minimum, so a weekday visit starts at $140. Short home and pet visits do not have the two-hour minimum.

Yes. During a booked household visit, we can combine whichever suitable tasks matter most to you. We agree the priorities beforehand.

You provide the ingredients and cooking equipment for any meal preparation, and you pay for groceries and other purchases. Household cleaning is not a service I offer, so no cleaning equipment is needed.

Yes, I can help prepare meals in your own kitchen using your ingredients and equipment. We talk through the meals and dietary preferences beforehand.

Yes. After you send an enquiry, I prepare a personalised quote and send it to you to review. Submitting a request does not automatically confirm a booking.

Yes. Full payment is required upfront to secure your appointment. I will provide a clear quote or invoice so you know exactly what you are paying for.

Rather than a separate deposit, I ask for full payment upfront once your booking details have been agreed. This also applies to holiday home checks and small-pet visits.

Payment instructions and available options will be provided with your invoice. Bank transfer is available, along with any secure online payment options enabled for your booking.

I understand that plans can change. Please give me at least 48 hours notice. If you cancel with more than 48 hours notice, you can receive a full refund or choose a credit towards another booking. Cancellations within 48 hours may be subject to an applicable, reasonable and previously disclosed cancellation fee.

Of course! Just get in touch as soon as possible and I will do my best to find another suitable time.

Your quote will include the agreed services and applicable travel charges. Groceries, ingredients, purchases, parking, tolls and additional errands may cost extra where agreed in advance.

All amounts are in Australian dollars. Your quote and invoice will show exactly what you are charged.

Yes, I visit suitable small pets for feeding, fresh water, companionship and simple agreed routines. Pets need to be suitable for safe handling and care, and we may start with a quick chat or meet-and-greet.

I can take friendly small dogs for a short walk of up to 20 minutes. I do not walk large or reactive dogs, and I do not do long walks.

Yes. A holiday home check-in can include collecting mail, watering plants, moving bins and checking agreed doors and windows. It is a general home check, not a monitored security service or property inspection.

Yes. These visits require full payment upfront to reserve your agreed dates.

Please tell me about any medication in your enquiry. Whether I can help is something we discuss and agree before you book, and I do not provide veterinary or specialist care.

I will let you know straight away and we will follow the vet or emergency contact you have given me. I am not a veterinary service.

No. I do not offer overnight pet sitting or boarding. Visits are short and by arrangement.

Yes. A short walk can be added to a home and small-pet visit for $20, for suitable friendly small dogs.

Usually, yes. We may start with a quick chat or a meet-and-greet so your pet and I can get to know each other and I can learn their routine.

We agree what updates you would like before your booking, such as a short message after each visit. Tell me what suits you.

I am based in Toronto and help households around Toronto and Lake Macquarie. Tell me your address when you enquire and I will confirm whether I can visit.

Travel within the first 10 km of Toronto is included. Beyond that, I charge $1/km on the one-way distance over 10 km, so 18 km from Toronto means $8 extra for that visit. For errands in my car, it is $1 per actual kilometre driven plus the hourly time, and the same distance is never charged twice.

Yes! The Household PA is a personally operated business, so you will deal directly with me. One familiar face, practical help and more time for you.

You can call or text me on 0419 747 097, or email helloleahgibbs@gmail.com.

Yes! I understand that not everyone is available during the day. The Household PA offers early morning and evening appointments, with weekday evening services available until 10pm by arrangement.

Weekday evening assistance between 5pm and 10pm is $95 per hour, with a two-hour minimum for general household assistance. Short home and pet visits have separate fixed prices.

Yes, subject to availability. Evening appointments are available until 10pm, with all work scheduled to finish by that time. For general household assistance, the two-hour minimum means a standard appointment would need to begin no later than 8pm.

Yes. Early morning appointments between 6am and 8am are available Monday to Friday by arrangement at $95 per hour.

Absolutely! Saturday and Sunday appointments are available by arrangement. Saturday general household assistance costs $85 per hour, and Sunday assistance costs $95 per hour, with a two-hour minimum.

Yes. Short visits may be arranged for suitable small pets, including feeding, fresh water and brief companionship. All pet arrangements must be confirmed in advance.

No. The Household PA does not provide overnight household assistance, overnight pet sitting or 24-hour care.

You are welcome to send an enquiry, but I cannot guarantee same-day availability. The Household PA is not an emergency response or on-call service.

Yes, subject to availability. Weekly and fortnightly evening appointments may be arranged for households that prefer a regular helping hand after work.

Absolutely! I can shop at Woolworths, Coles, ALDI and other suitable local shops. Just provide your shopping list, preferences and budget.

Yes, where the retailer permits authorised collection. We'll confirm the collection details before your booking.

I can discuss suitable Costco shopping requests. Any service is subject to Costco's membership conditions and confirmation that the proposed arrangement is permitted.

I can assist with suitable returns and parcel drop-offs where the retailer or carrier permits them. Please ensure return labels, authorisations and relevant information are ready.

Some pharmacy collections may be possible with appropriate authorisation. Please enquire first so we can confirm the pharmacy's requirements and whether the collection is suitable.

Errand kilometres are charged at $1 per actual kilometre driven, in addition to the applicable hourly rate. Any additional travel or parking charges are explained in your quote.

General household assistance has a two-hour minimum. A small shopping task can often be combined with other errands or household jobs to make the most of your booking.

It's practical personal assistant support for the everyday administrative jobs involved in running a household, including bookings, paperwork, appointments, phone calls and organising.

Yes. I can help sort bills, organise paperwork, keep track of due dates and set up reminders. I don't provide financial advice, manage bank accounts or make payments without the client's direct involvement and approval.

Absolutely. I can contact tradespeople, request quotes, help arrange suitable appointment times and follow up on outstanding enquiries. You approve the provider, quote and any work carried out.

Yes. I can provide patient help with routine online forms and everyday digital tasks. You remain responsible for reviewing and submitting important declarations, and I won't collect or store your passwords.

Yes, with their knowledge and permission. I can assist with making routine appointments, organising reminders and helping with everyday paperwork.

Yes! That's one of the benefits of The Household PA. During your booked household assistance time, we can agree on a practical mix of tasks such as administration, laundry, shopping or organising.

There's a two-hour minimum for standard household assistance. I generally recommend three hours if you've got a few jobs to work through. We'll discuss what's realistic before confirming your booking.

I take your privacy seriously. I'll only ask for information reasonably needed for the agreed work and use appropriate methods for handling sensitive details. I don't require your banking passwords or personal account passwords.

No. I offer practical organisation and administrative assistance only. Financial, legal, tax and medical decisions remain with you and your qualified advisers.

Not at all! I can help you with the basics and explain everything in simple, everyday language.

Absolutely. I can help you create a Facebook account, understand the settings, connect with friends and family, share photographs and feel more comfortable using the platform.

Yes. I can help with printer setup, connecting compatible printers to your home Wi-Fi, printing and scanning documents, and simple troubleshooting.

No. My service focuses on everyday technology assistance rather than hardware repairs, complex technical problems or specialist IT services. If something requires a qualified technician, I'll let you know.

Yes. I can help you navigate compatible smart TVs, connect to Wi-Fi and get familiar with streaming apps such as Netflix, Stan and YouTube.

Yes. I can guide you through using online forms and websites such as myGov. You'll remain in control of your personal information, passwords and account access.

No. I won't collect or store your passwords. Where a login is required, you enter your own details.

Of course! I'm happy to explain the steps as we go so you feel more confident doing things independently next time.

Yes. The Household PA provides personalised assistance in your home across Toronto and surrounding Lake Macquarie suburbs, subject to availability and travel arrangements.

Technology help is booked as household assistance, with a two-hour minimum. Two hours is usually plenty for a couple of jobs, and you can add more time if you need it.

Yes, if you would like. Some people like a son, daughter or friend to sit in and learn alongside them.

I do not sell devices. If you are choosing a new phone, tablet or printer, I am happy to talk through what to look for, and I can help set it up once you have it.

Yes, subject to availability. Some people like a regular visit to keep learning at a comfortable pace, while others prefer a one-off.

Yes, by prior arrangement. Weekday evenings are available until 10pm and weekends are by arrangement. Evening appointments finish by 10pm.

I can talk through everyday online safety with you, like what a suspicious message looks like and what to do about it. I do not offer advanced cybersecurity services.

Yes, by arrangement. Household assistance is my main focus, but I also help with selected business administration, website and digital tasks when I can.

Yes. I can assist with website content, updates and selected improvements. Larger projects are quoted separately.

Not as a standard service. Larger website projects can be discussed and quoted separately, and I will tell you honestly if something is better suited to a specialist.

No. I can assist with selected marketing tasks and social media updates by request, but The Household PA is not a marketing agency and does not offer ongoing marketing packages.

No. I do not manage passwords, carry out banking transactions, or give financial, legal or tax advice, and I do not repair computer hardware or provide advanced cybersecurity.

Business and digital assistance is quoted individually, based on the work involved. I send you a clear quote before any work starts.

You can certainly ask! If it is a small task, we can discuss it. Specialist website or marketing work is scoped and quoted separately before proceeding.