Count of Dependent Children Under 15 Temporarily Absent (CDCAF)
This variable counts the number of dependent children aged under 15 years that were reported as temporarily absent from the family. It is applicable to couple families with children aged under 15 years.
How this variable is created
Count of Dependent Children Under 15 Temporarily Absent is a family variable that is derived from responses to the Persons Temporarily Absent question on the Census Household Form. People are counted as temporarily absent from their family when they are included in response to the Persons Temporarily Absent question. An image of this question is provided below.
Couple families with dependent children under 15 years accounted for 30.6% of all families reported in the 2016 Census. They include children who were with the family on Census night, and up to three children who were temporarily absent from the dwelling on Census night. 3.2% of families reported there were children aged under 15 years temporarily absent from the dwelling on Census night.
Variable history
This variable was first introduced in 1996. Prior to this year, information on dependent children was available in a variable called Dependent offspring present (CDPF). This was a single count of dependent children temporarily absent. No changes were made in 2016.
Non-response rate
Non-response rate only applies to data items that directly reflect responses to individual Census form questions. Count of Dependent Children Under 15 Temporarily Absent does not have a non-response rate as it is a derived value created during Census processing for applicable families. For more information, refer to Understanding Census data quality.
Data usage notes
People may be missed from the persons temporarily absent section of the form as they are not present in the household when the form is being filled out. This can occur in both family and group households. Additionally due to form limitations a maximum of three people can be reported and coded as temporarily absent from the dwelling. If more than three people are absent from the household the additional persons are unable to be included on the form.
Count of Dependent Children Under 15 Temporarily Absent should be used carefully when comparing to other family data from within the ABS and for external organisations or agencies. The definition of a family can differ between different statistical collections and may not match Census definitions.
Further information
A definition for Count of Dependent Children Under 15 Temporarily Absent is available in the 2016 Census Dictionary.
For information on family composition, see the data quality statement for Family Composition.
For information on the Relationship in Household question and data item, see the data quality statement for Relationship in Household.
For more information on Persons Temporarily Absent, see the Census Dictionary glossary entry.
Household form question image
Question 53 on the 2016 Census Household Paper Form:
A text only version of the online Census Household form is available from the Downloads tab.
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