1136.0 - Directory of Education and Training Statistics, 2007  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 06/07/2007   
   Page tools: Print Print Page  
Contents >> Statistical Collections >> Preschool >> Child Care Survey

Child Care Survey

CONTACT

Family and Community Statistics Section
Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra
Telephone (02) 6252 5742

DESCRIPTION

The Child Care Survey was conducted throughout Australia in June 2005 as a supplementary survey to the ABS monthly Labour Force Survey.

The Child Care Survey collected information about formal and informal child care for children aged 0-12 years. In this context, formal child care refers to regulated care that takes place away from the child's home, for example long day care, before and/or after school care and family day care. Informal care refers to non-regulated care that takes place in the child's home or elsewhere. It includes care by family members, friends, neighbours, babysitters and nannies. Parents often use a combination of formal and informal child care for their children. The survey also collected information on the receipt and non-receipt of the Child Care Benefit, and the income and working arrangements of parents with children aged 0-12 years.

Reference Period

Information was obtained through interviews conducted over a two-week period between 6–17 June 2005. Data collected on the use of child care related to the week prior to the interview, with the exception of Tasmania where it related to 23–29 May 2005 to avoid Tasmanian school holidays.

Frequency of Collection


3 Yearly

Method of collection

In each selected household, detailed information about the child care arrangements for each child was collected for a maximum of two children. Information was obtained from an adult who permanently resided in the selected household and was always either the child's parent, step-parent or guardian. In selected households with more than two children aged 0-12 years, two children were randomly selected and the complete set of child care information was collected for them. Summary information was collected for the additional children including: number attending child care; Child Care Benefit arrangements; and the cost of formal and informal care.

DISSEMINATION

Release schedule


The results of the 2005 Child Care Survey were released in June 2006

Publications

Child Care, Australia, June 2005 (ABS cat. no : 4402.0)
Child Care, Australia, Expanded Confidentialised Unit Record File, Technical Manual, Jun 2005 (ABS cat. no. 4402.0.55.002)


Geography

Data are available for Australia, state and territory, and capital city/balance of state (excluding territories).

Data Service

Customised tables are available on request, including a set of state/territory tables. A Confidentialised Unit Record File (CURF) is available.

Child Care, Australia, Expanded Confidentialised Unit Record File, June 2005 (ABS cat. no. 4402.0.55.001)

DATA ITEMS


Demographic

Characteristics of family
Characteristics of parents
Characteristics of child

Whether attended school
Main language spoken at home by child
Country of Birth
Age of Child
Age in months of child
Sex of Child
Characteristics of children

Child care
Child care arrangements, including preschool
Type of care arrangements used
Days of attendance
Hours of care
Cost of care
Reasons for use of child care
Benefits
    Historical Data

    The ABS has conducted a similar survey approximately every three years since 1969. This was a change in scope in 2005 compared with previous surveys, which covered children aged 0-11 years only.

    Initially conducted in May 1969, then in May 1973, May 1977, June 1980, November 1984 then 3 yearly in June from 1987 except in 1990 and 1996 when the topic was conducted in November and March respectively.



    Previous PageNext Page