Family Characteristics Survey
CONTACT
Assistant Director
Family and Community Statistics Section
Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra
Telephone (02) 6252 7030
Facsimile (02) 6252 7784
DESCRIPTION
The Family Characteristics Survey provides information on the demographic characteristics of Australian families as well as details of living arrangements, child support and income. The survey provides education information with a focus on the characteristics of children aged 0-17 years and their parents.
Scope
Same as that used for the Labour Force Survey (see entry in this directory). Excludes persons in non-private dwellings.
The survey is conducted in both urban and rural areas in all States and Territories, but excludes persons living in certain remote and sparsely settled parts of Australia. The exclusion of these persons only has a minor impact on any aggregate estimates that are produced for individual States and Territories, with the exception of the Northern Territory.
DISSEMINATION
Publication
Australian Bureau of Statistics 1998, Family Characteristics, Australia, 1997 (cat. no. 4442.0), ABS, Canberra.
Data service
Unpublished tables are available on request. Customised tables are available in a variety of formats.
A set of tables is also available for each State and Territory as follows:
Australian Bureau of Statistics 1998, Family Characteristics, Summary Tables, 1997, (cat. nos. 4442.0.40.001-8), ABS, Canberra.
Release schedule
Results from the 2003 survey are expected to be available from September 2004.
DATA ITEMS
Data items are available at person and family level with some data items available at the household level, and include standard labour force items, basic demographics and socio-economic characteristics.
General
Family/household structure and relationship
Visiting arrangements
Child support
Income
Education
School attendance
Whether currently studying full-time/part-time
Type of educational institution attending and type of attendance
Educational attainment
Number of children attending school/educational institution full-time
GEOGRAPHY
Data are available for Australia, each State and Territory and capital city/balance of state (excluding Territories).
METHOD OF COLLECTION
Supplementary survey to the Labour Force Survey.
TIMING OF COLLECTION
Reference Period
In 2003, data was collected in the June supplementary survey, while in 1997, data was collected in April.
Frequency of Collection
Irregular.
Historical Data
Major family surveys were conducted in 1982 and 1992 and published as Australia's Families (Cat. no. 4418.0). Although these surveys differed in important respects from the Family Characteristics Survey, common data items are broadly comparable. Family Characteristics was first conducted in 1997 and is expected to be conducted again in April 2002.
Results from the 2003 survey are expected to be released in September 2004. It is planned that the survey will be run again as a supplementary survey in June 2006, along with new questions on Family Transitions and History.
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