6224.0.55.001 - Labour Force, Australia: Labour Force Status and Other Characteristics of Families, Jun 2011 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 28/09/2011   
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GLOSSARY


This publication, Labour Force Status and Other Characteristics of Families (cat. no. 6224.0.55.001) is produced from data collected in the June Labour Force Survey. It includes detailed family data not featured in the monthly Labour Force, Australia (cat. no. 6202.0) or Labour Force, Australia, Detailed - Electronic Delivery (cat. no. 6291.0.55.001) publications.

Since these products are all based on data collected in the Labour Force Survey, the Glossary of publication Labour Force, Australia (cat. no. 6202.0) is relevant to all three publications. Additional information is provided in Labour Statistics: Concepts, Sources and Methods (cat. no. 6102.0.55.001) and Labour Force Survey Standard Products and Data Item Guide (cat. no. 6103.0).

The following glossary items are provided as they relate specifically to family characteristics.


IN THIS SECTION


Child
Couple Family
Dependant
Family
Family Head
Family Type
Father
Household
Husband/Head
Jobless Family
Lone Parent Family
Mother
Non-dependent Child
Non-private Dwelling
Opposite-sex Couple
Other Families
Private Dwelling
Relationship in Household
Same-sex Couple
Social Marital Status
Single Fathers
Single Mothers
Tertiary Educational Institution
Usual Resident
Wife/Partner


Child

A child is defined as any individual under the age of 15, usually resident in the household, who forms a parent-child relationship with another member in the household. This includes otherwise related or unrelated children under the age of 15.

In order to be classified as a child, the person can have no partner or child of his/her own usually resident in the household. If a person is under the age of 15 and has a child or partner/spouse these relationships are not recorded.

The types of parent-child relationships which can be formed are via a natural, adoptive, step, foster or child dependency relationship. The child dependency relationships may be an otherwise related or unrelated child under the age of 15 (e.g. nephew or niece).

The categories are designed to identify families with different structures and needs. Dependency, as used in these classifications, refers to economic dependency and is only applied to the part of the population that can be described as ‘children’.

The dependency criterion is based on the barriers to full-time employment: age and student status. Essentially, once a child turns 15 and becomes eligible to be included in the labour force, they lose their dependency status unless they are attending full-time education at either school or a tertiary educational institution and continue to live in the same household as their parents.

See also Non-dependent Child.

Couple Family

A couple family is based on two persons who are in a registered or de facto marriage and who are usually resident in the same household (see Social Marital Status). The family may or may not include any number of dependants, non-dependants and other related individuals. A couple family may also consist of a couple without children present in the household.

A 'couple relationship' includes same-sex couples.
Dependant

A dependant is a family member who is either:
  • under 15 years of age (ie children);
  • aged 15–19 and attending school or aged 15–24 and attending a tertiary educational institution full time (ie dependent students)
In order to be classified as a dependant, the person can have no partner or child of his/her own usually resident in the household. A separate family in the household is formed in this instance. If a person is under the age of 15 years and has a child or partner/spouse these relationships are not recorded.

Family

A family is defined in LFS as two or more persons, one of whom is at least 15 years of age, who are related by blood, marriage (registered or de facto), adoption, step or fostering, and who are usually resident in the same household.

The basis of a family is formed by identifying the presence of either a couple relationship, lone parent-child relationship or other blood relationship. Some households therefore, contain more than one family.

Non-related persons living in the same household are not counted as family members (unless under 15 years of age).

Other related individuals (brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles) may be present in the household. If more than one family is present these people can only be associated with the primary family.
Family Head

Any person without a spouse present:
  • with a son or daughter aged under 15 present; or
  • without a son or daughter aged under 15 present, but with a son or daughter aged 15 or over present (provided that the son or daughter has no spouse, son or daughter of his/her own present).
Where a family has no person falling into either of these categories, the family head is generally defined to be the eldest person in the family.

No family head is determined for a couple family.Family Type

The categories for family type are:
  • Couple family
    • Couple family with dependants
      • Couple family with children under 15
      • Couple family without children under 15, but with dependent students
    • Couple family without dependants
      • Couple family without dependants, but with children 15 years or older (ie non-dependent child)
      • Couple family without children
  • Lone parent family
    • Lone parent family with dependants
      • Lone parent family with children under 15
      • Lone parent family without children under 15, but with dependent students
    • Lone parent family without dependants, but with children 15 years or older (ie non-dependent child)
  • Other families

Father

The male parent of an opposite-sex couple with dependants and/or children. The relationship between a father and a child/dependant can be formed via a natural, adoptive, step, foster or child dependency relationship.

Household

A group of one or more persons in a private dwelling who consider themselves to be separate from other persons (if any) in the dwelling, and who make regular provision to take meals separately from other persons, i.e. at different times or in different rooms. Lodgers who receive accommodation but not meals are treated as separate households. Boarders who receive both accommodation and meals are not treated as separate households. A household may consist of any number of families and non-family members.


Husband/Head

In a couple family, the Husband/Head is the male partner of an opposite-sex couple, or the eldest partner of a same-sex couple. It applies to both registered marriages and de facto relationships.

Jobless Family

A jobless family is a family where neither the parents nor any dependants over 15 are employed.

In a jobless family, all of the family members are either unemployed or not in the labour force.

Families that have no employed members but do have members that are undetermined in the scope of the labour force survey, such as members of the permanent Australian defence force, are not included in the number of jobless families.

Lone Parent Family

A lone parent family consists of a person who has no spouse or partner usually present in the household, but who forms a parent-child relationship with at least one child usually resident in the household. The child may be either dependent or non-dependent.

If a lone parent has no children or dependants usually resident in the household, they are classified as a person living alone and are not regarded as a family.

Previously referred to as sole parents.
Mother

The female parent of an opposite-sex couple with dependants and/or children. The relationship between a mother and a child/dependant can be formed via a natural, adoptive, step, foster or child dependency relationship.

Non-dependent Child

A non-dependent child is defined as any individual aged 15 years and over, usually resident in the household, who forms a parent-child relationship with another member in the household.

In order to be classified as a child, the person can have no partner or child of his/her own usually resident in the household. A separate family in the household is formed in this instance.

The types of parent-child relationships which can be formed are via a natural, adoptive, step, or foster relationships.

The categories are designed to identify families with different structures and needs. Dependency, as used in these classifications, refers to economic dependency and is only applied to the part of the population that can be described as ‘children’.

The dependency criterion is based on the barriers to full time employment: age and student status. Essentially, once a child turns 15 and becomes eligible to be included in the labour force, they lose their dependency status unless they are attending full-time education at either school or a tertiary educational institution and continue to live in the same household as their parents.

See also Child.

Non-private Dwelling

An establishment which provides a communal type of accommodation, such as a hotel, motel, hospital or other institution. Family data is not collected from non-private dwellings.
Opposite-sex Couple

Two persons of the opposite sex who are in a couple relationship and are usually resident in the same household. Also known as a 'straight' relationship.
Other Families

Families which are neither couple families nor one parent families, as defined. They include families in which there is no parent, for example, a family head living with a brother or sister.
Private Dwelling

A residential structure which is self-contained, owned or rented by the occupants, and intended solely for residential use. A private dwelling may be a flat, part of a house, or even a room, but can also be a house attached to, or rooms above shops or offices. Family data is only collected from private dwellings.
Relationship in Household

The relationship of all persons usually resident in a household to the household reference person (ie Family Head). Where the relationship to the household reference person is other than a couple relationship or a parent-child relationship, a closer relationship to another household member is recorded, if one exists.
Same-sex Couple

Two persons of the same sex who are in a couple relationship and are usually resident in the same household. Also known as a gay, lesbian or homosexual relationship.Social Marital Status

Social marital status is the relationship status of an individual with reference to another person who is usually resident in the household. A marriage exists when two people live together as husband and wife, or partners, regardless of whether the marriage is formalised through registration. Individuals are, therefore, regarded as married if they are in a de facto relationship, or if they are living with the person to whom they are registered as married.Single Fathers

A lone parent family where the parent is male.
Single Mothers

A lone parent family where the parent is female.
Tertiary Educational Institution

A Technical and Further Education (TAFE) college, university, or other educational institution, excluding primary schools and secondary schools (ie High School)
Usual Resident

A person who usually lives in that particular dwelling and regards it as their own or main home.Wife/Partner

In a couple family, the Wife/Partner is the female partner of an opposite-sex couple, or the youngest partner of a same-sex couple. It applies to both registered marriages and de facto relationships.