1286.0 - Family, Household and Income Unit Variables, 2005  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 01/06/2005   
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This document was added or updated on 23/04/2007.

OUTPUT


STANDARD OUTPUT CATEGORIES

50. The following are the recommended standard output categories for data on 'Family composition':

Couple family with no children
Couple family with
children under 15
and dependent students
and non-dependent children
and no non-dependent children
and no dependent students
and non-dependent children
and no non-dependent children
no children under 15
and dependent students
and non-dependent children
and no non-dependent children
and no dependent students
and non-dependent children
One parent family with
children under 15
and dependent students
and non-dependent children
and no non-dependent children
and no dependent students
and non-dependent children
and no non-dependent children
no children under 15
and dependent students
and non-dependent children
and no non-dependent children
and no dependent students
and non-dependent children
Other family


51. The hierarchical structure of the classification allows the flexibility to output statistics at the level of the classification that best suits the purpose for which the statistics are required.

52. As output requirements will vary, alternative output labels and structures have been presented in this standard. There are two different approaches which can be taken: outputting at one level at a time, or outputting more than one level in an aggregated or hierarchical structure. Standard labels for these two approaches have been provided below to ensure comparability of published results.

Output labels for level 1

Couple family with no children
Couple family with children
One parent family
Other family

NOTE: this structure requires a footnote stating: The categories 'Couple family with children' and 'One parent family' may include children under 15, dependent students and non-dependent children.

Output labels for level 2

Couple family with no children

Couple family with children under 15
Couple family with no children under 15

One parent family with children under 15
One parent family with no children under 15

Other family

NOTE: this structure requires a footnote stating: The categories 'Couple family with children under 15', 'Couple family with no children under 15', 'One parent family with children under 15' and 'One parent family with no children under 15' may include dependent students and non-dependent children.

Output labels for level 3

Couple family with no children

Couple family with children under 15 and dependent students
Couple family with children under 15 and no dependent students
Couple family with no children under 15 and with dependent students
Couple family with non-dependent children only

One parent family with children under 15 and dependent students
One parent family with children under 15 and no dependent students
One parent family with no children under 15 and with dependent students
One parent family with non-dependent children only

Other family

NOTE: this structure requires a footnote stating: The categories 'Couple family with children under 15 and dependent students', 'Couple family with children under 15 and no dependent students', 'Couple family with no children under 15 and with dependent students', 'One parent family with children under 15 and dependent students', 'One parent family with children under 15 and no dependent students' and 'One parent family with no children under 15 and with dependent students' may include non-dependent children.

Output labels for level 4

Couple family with no children

Couple family with children under 15, dependent students and non-dependent children
Couple family with children under 15, dependent students and no non-dependent children
Couple family with children under 15, no dependent students and with non-dependent children
Couple family with children under 15, no dependent students and no non-dependent children

Couple family with no children under 15, and with dependent students and non-dependent children
Couple family with no children under 15, and with dependent students and no non-dependent children
Couple family with no children under 15, and no dependent students and with non-dependent children

One parent family with children under 15, dependent students and non-dependent children
One parent family with children under 15, dependent students and no non-dependent children
One parent family with children under 15, no dependent students and with non-dependent children
One parent family with children under 15, no dependent students and no non-dependent children

One parent family with no children under 15, with dependent students and non-dependent children
One parent family with no children under 15, with dependent students and no non-dependent children
One parent family with no children under 15, no dependent students and with non-dependent children

Other family


Mandatory footnotes and other output information

53. Although all output stated above is standard, there are additional mandatory requirements for footnotes and glossary entries.
  • There must be glossary definitions for every standard output label used.
  • The categories 'With children under 15', 'With no children under 15 and with dependent students' and 'With non-dependent children only' are mutually exclusive; the category 'With children under 15' may or may not include the presence of dependent students and non-dependent children; similarly the category 'With no children under 15 and with dependent students' may or may not include non-dependent children.
  • Within all levels of the broad categories 'Couple family with no children', 'Couple family with children', and 'One parent family', other related individuals may be present in the family.


Output categories and code structure for same-sex couples

54. Where information is required on the type of couple in a family, a code number called the 'type of couple identifier' can be applied which identifies the types of couples as follows:

5 Opposite-sex couple
7 Same-sex male couple
8 Same-sex female couple

55. It is envisaged that the type of couple identifier (whether a same-sex or opposite-sex couple) will generally be used only in conjunction with the super group level (level 1). However, if data quality permits, it may be applied at any level of the classification. The dissemination of data about opposite-sex and same-sex couples at more detailed levels will depend upon the willingness of people to identify themselves in these categories and upon the sample size of the collection.

56. The numbers 5, 7, 8 can be added to the first, second, third or fourth digits of the 'Family composition' code to produce aggregate output which distinguishes between same-sex and opposite-sex couples at the required level of the classification. For example, aggregate data making this distinction at the broadest level can be produced using the following codes:

1Couple family with no children
15Opposite-sex couple with no children
17Same-sex male couple with no children
18Same-sex female couple with no children
2Couple family with children
25Opposite-sex couple with children
27Same-sex male couple with children
28Same-sex female couple with children
3One parent family
9Other family

57. The following statement is a mandatory footnote for the same-sex couple output classification:
  • Within all levels of the broad categories 'Couple family with no children', 'Couple family with children', and 'One parent family', other related individuals may be present in the family.


CROSS-CLASSIFIED OUTPUT STRUCTURE

58. In many circumstances the most useful application of 'Family composition' will be in combined output with 'Household composition'. Though a cross-classified output based purely on the outputs available for 'Family composition' and 'Household composition' is feasible, many users are more interested in an output structure which reflects a focus on aspects of the data collected, such as the presence or absence of dependent children within the family and whether people other than just parents and their dependent children are also present in the household or not. Such other people are non-dependent children, other related individuals in the family, or non-family members in the household.

59. Published output using either of the two structures below should be labelled 'Family composition of household'. The same title is applied to either structure because the short structure is an aggregation of some categories of the detailed structure and thus fully compatible.

Detailed output structure

60. The first recommended standard cross-classified output structure is below. The table has mandatory explanatory requirements in the form of footnotes or glossary entries which are detailed in the 'Summary information' section below.

One family households
Couple family with dependent children
Couple family with dependent children only
Couple family with dependent children and other persons
One parent family with dependent children
One parent family with dependent children only
One parent family with dependent children and other persons
Couple only
Other one family households
Multiple family households
Multiple family households with dependent children
Multiple family households with no dependent children
Non-family households
Lone person
Group household


61. If required, the output can feature two extra subtotals as follows:
  • Total households with dependent children
  • Total households with no dependent children

62. The categories of the detailed output structure provided above may be aggregated in a variety of ways in order to best fulfil user requirements. For example separate information on Lone persons and Group households may not be required, in which case output could be published at the Non-family household level. However, in the interests of comparability across collections a shorter aggregated version of the structure is explained below and is recommended for use where possible.

63. The detailed information required to construct this output tabulation is too lengthy for inclusion as footnotes to the table. This information is specified below under the heading 'Detailed description of table categories'. The summary information outlines the information contained in the detailed description to aid interpretation of the table; it should be included as footnotes, in a glossary or as explanatory material to any published output.

Summary information

64. The information required is:

a. The expression 'other persons' refers to non-dependent children, other related individuals, and non-family members in the household.

b. The categories 'Couple family with dependent children only', 'One parent family with dependent children only' and 'Couple only' do not contain any non-dependent children, any related individuals, or any non-family members in the household.

c. The category 'Other one family households' comprises the 'Family composition' category Other family, and the 'Family composition' category One parent family with no children under 15, no dependent students and with non-dependent children.


Detailed description of table categories

65. The following information defines the exact content of each category in the detailed output structure above:

a. Dependent children are children aged under 15 years, and dependent students. Dependent students are full-time students aged 15-24 years.

b. The expression 'other persons' refers to non-dependent children, other related individuals, and non-family members in the household.

c. 'Other related individuals' are persons who report a 'Relationship in household' to the Family reference person of the following relationships:

61Brother/sister
62Father/mother
63Non-dependent grandchild
64Grandfather/grandmother
65Cousin
66Uncle/Aunt
67Nephew/niece
69Other related individual not elsewhere classified
They are identified by cross-classification of the family with 'Relationship in household' data.

d. The categories 'Couple family with dependent children only', 'One parent family with dependent children only' and 'Couple only' do not contain any non-dependent children, any related individuals, or any non-family members in the household.

e. The category 'Couple family with dependent children only' comprises the following 'Family composition' categories, where the 'Household composition' category is 11 One family household with only family members present, and there are no 'other related individuals' present:
  • 2112 Couple family with children under 15, dependent students and no non-dependent children
  • 2122 Couple family with children under 15, no dependent students and no non-dependent children
  • 2212 Couple family with no children under 15, with dependent students and no non-dependent children

f. The category 'Couple family with dependent children and other persons' includes the following 'Family composition' categories:
  • 2111 Couple family with children under 15, dependent students and non-dependent children
  • 2121 Couple family with children under 15, no dependent students and with non-dependent children
  • 2211 Couple family with no children under 15, with dependent students and non-dependent children
It also includes the following 'Family composition' categories where the 'Household composition' category is 12 One family household with non-family members present, or when 'other related individuals' are present:
  • 2112 Couple family with children under 15, dependent students and no non-dependent children
  • 2122 Couple family with children under 15, no dependent students and no non-dependent children
  • 2212 Couple family with no children under 15, with dependent students and no non-dependent children

g. The category 'One parent family with dependent children only' comprises the following 'Family composition' categories, where the 'Household composition' category is 11 One family household with only family members present, and there are no 'other related individuals' present:
  • 3112 One parent family with children under 15, dependent students and no non-dependent children
  • 3122 One parent family with children under 15, no dependent students and no non-dependent children
  • 3212 One parent family with no children under 15, with dependent students and no non-dependent children

h. The category 'One parent family with dependent children and other persons' includes the following 'Family composition' categories:
  • 3111 One parent family with children under 15, dependent students and non-dependent children
  • 3121 One parent family with children under 15, no dependent students and with non-dependent children
  • 3211 One parent family with no children under 15, with dependent students and non-dependent children
It also includes the following 'Family composition' categories where the 'Household composition' category is 12 One family household with non-family members present, or when 'other related individuals' are present:
  • 3112 One parent family with children under 15, dependent students and no non-dependent children
  • 3122 One parent family with children under 15, no dependent students and no non-dependent children
  • 3212 One parent family with no children under 15, with dependent students and no non-dependent children

i. The category 'Couple only' comprises the 'Family composition' category 1222 Couple family with no children under 15, no dependent students and no non-dependent children, where the 'Household composition' category is 11 One family household with only family members present, and there are no 'other related individuals' present.

j. The category 'Other one family households' comprises the 'Family composition' category 1222 Couple family with no children under 15, no dependent students and no non-dependent children, where the 'Household composition' category is 12 One family household with non-family members present; the 'Family composition' category 2221 Couple family with no children under 15, no dependent students and with non-dependent children; the 'Family composition' category 3221 One parent family with no children under 15, no dependent students and with non-dependent children; and the 'Family composition' category 9222 Other family.

Short structure

66. The second recommended standard cross-classified output structure is below. It represents an aggregated version of the Detailed structure above and is fully compatible with it. The table has mandatory explanatory requirements in the form of footnotes or glossary entries which are detailed beneath the output structure.

One family households
Couple family with dependent children
One parent family with dependent children
Couple only
Other one family households
Multiple family households
Non-family households
Lone person
Group household


67. The footnotes or information required are:

a. The categories 'Couple family with dependent children' and 'One parent family with dependent children' may contain non-dependent children, other related persons and non-related persons.

b. The category 'Other one family households' comprises the 'Family composition' category Other family, the 'Family composition' category One parent family with no children under 15, no dependent students and with non-dependent children, and Couple families with no dependent children but with other persons.



MEASUREMENT ISSUES AND RELATED CLASSIFICATIONS


MEASUREMENT ISSUES

68. Care needs to be exercised when drawing conclusions about what is included in the various output categories. The 'Family composition' classification is a relatively small classification which attempts to categorise a wide range of families into single categories. For example the level 1 group can be misleading in relation to the category of one-parent families. This category includes the traditional notion of a lone parent with young children as well as a mature person living with an aged parent.


RELATED CLASSIFICATIONS

69. The 'Family composition' classification is closely connected with several other classifications. These include:
  • 'Relationship in household'
  • 'Household composition'
  • 'Registered marital status'
  • 'Social marital status'
  • 'Income unit composition'



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