Count of dependent children in family (CDCF)

Latest release
Census of Population and Housing: Census dictionary
Cite
Reference period
2021

Definition

This variable counts the number of dependent children in the family. A dependent child is a person who is either a child under 15 years of age, or a dependent student aged 15-24 years. It includes up to three dependent children who were temporarily absent from the dwelling on Census Night.

Scope

Families with children in family households

Categories

CodeCategory
Couple family with:
00No dependent children
01One dependent child
02Two dependent children
03Three dependent children
04Four dependent children
05Five dependent children
06Six or more dependent children
One parent family with:
07No dependent children
08One dependent child
09Two dependent children
10Three dependent children
11Four dependent children
12Five dependent children
13Six or more dependent children
Not applicable:
@@Not applicable

Number of categories: 15

Not applicable (@@) category comprises:

  • Couple families with no children
  • Other families
  • Non-family/Non-classifiable households
  • Unoccupied private dwellings
  • Non-private dwellings
  • Migratory, off-shore and shipping SA1s

Question(s) from the Census form

What is the person’s relationship to Person 1/Person 2?

What is the person’s relationship to Person 1/Person 2?
What is Person 2's relationship to Person 1? Examples of other relationships: Son-in-law, Grand-daughter, Uncle, Boarder. More information Husband or wife of Person 1 De facto partner of Person 1 Child of Person 1 Stepchild of Person 1 Brother or sister of Person 1 Unrelated flatmate or co-tenant of Person 1 Other relationship to Person 1 (please specify)

More information

Additional information relating to the question on: What is the person’s relationship to Person1/Person 2?
What is Person 2's relationship to Person 1? Examples of other relationships: Son-in-law, Grand-daughter, Uncle, Boarder. More information If more than one response applies, select only the option that shows the relationship that most closely applies.

What is Person 1's date of birth?

What is Person 1's date of birth?
What is Person 1's date of birth? If date of birth is not known, please select 'Don't know date of birth' and provide Person 1's age. More information Day Month Year OR Don't know date of birth Age

More information

Additional information relating to the question on: What is Person 1's date of birth?
What is Person 1's date of birth? If date of birth is not known, please select 'Don't know date of birth' and provide Person 1's age. More information It is important to note: •Date of birth is the date that the person was born. •Age is required only if the person's date of birth is not known. Please report age at Census night – Tuesday 10 August 2021. If the person is less than one year old and their date of birth is not known, enter '0' in the age box.

Is Person 1 attending a school or any other education institution?

Is Person 1 attending a school or any other education institution?
Is Person 1 attending a school or any other education institution? Include tertiary education and vocational education and training providers (e.g. TAFE and private training providers). Include external, online or correspondence study. More information No Yes, full-time student Yes, part-time student

More information

Additional information relating to the question on: Is Person 1 attending a school or any other education institution?
Is Person 1 attending a school or any other education institution? Include tertiary education and vocational education and training providers (e.g. TAFE and private training providers). Include external, online or correspondence study. More information Select full-time student or part-time student based on whether the institution considers the person to be a full-time or part-time student. For a person who attends only hobby or recreational courses, select 'No'. If the person is currently studying at home because of lockdowns or other COVID-related reasons, but usually attends a school or other education institution, select one of the 'Yes' options.

For each person away, complete the following questions:

The Census asks a number of questions for usual residents who were temporarily absent on Census night, these are known as persons temporarily absent (PTA) questions. The PTA questions below are used to derive this variable.

Name of each person who usually lives in this dwelling, but was away on Tuesday 10 August 2021
List the people who were away on the night of Tuesday 10 August 2021 but usually live in this dwelling. Remember that people listed here will need to complete a Census form for where they were in Australia on Census night. People away List Person Away 1 - Any person who usually lives in this dwelling, but was away. Add another person away

Example

Example response relating to the question: • Name of each person who usually lives in this dwelling, but was away on Tuesday 10 August 2021
List the people who were away on the night of Tuesday 10 August 2021 but usually live in this dwelling. Remember that people listed here will need to complete a Census form for where they were in Australia on Census night. People away Person 4 Surname - Any person who usually lives in this dwelling, but was away. Add another person away
What is the person’s date of birth and age?
What is Person 4's date of birth? If date of birth is not known, please give age. More information Date of birth Day Month Year OR Age

More information

Additional information relating to the question: What is the person’s date of birth and age?
What is Person 4's date of birth? If date of birth is not known, please give age. More information It is important to note: • Date of birth is the date that the person was born. • Age is required only if the person's date of birth is not known. Please report age at Census night – Tuesday 10 August 2021. If the person is less than one year old and their date of birth is not known, enter '0' in the age box.
Is the person a full-time student?
Is Person 4 a full-time student? More information No Yes

More information

Additional information relating to the question on: Is the person a full-time student?
Is Person 4 a full-time student? More information Select 'Yes' if the institution considers the person to be a full-time student. Select 'No' if the institution considers the person to be a part-time student. For a person who attends only hobby or recreational courses, select 'No'. For a child who attends a preschool or preschool program (including early childhood education and centre based day care providers): • Select 'Yes' if they attend at least 15 hours a week on average. • Select 'No' if they attend less than 15 hours a week on average.
What is the person’s relationship to Person 1/Person 2?
What is Person 4's relationship to Person 1/Person 2? Examples of other relationships: Son-in-law, Grand-daughter, Uncle, Boarder. More information Husband or wife of Person 1 De facto partner of Person 1 Child of both Person 1 and Person 2 Child of Person 1 only Child of Person 2 only Unrelated flatmate or co-tenant of Person 1 Other relationship to Person 1 (please specify)

More information

Additional information relating to the question on: What is the person’s relationship to Person 1/Person 2?
What is Person 4's relationship to Person 1/Person 2? Examples of other relationships: Son-in-law, Grand-daughter, Uncle, Boarder. More information If more than one response applies, select the option that shows the relationship that most closely applies.

How this variable is created

This variable is created from responses to relationship in household, age, attendance at an educational institution and persons temporarily absent (PTA) questions on the Census form. 

It counts the number of dependent children in couple families and one parent families.

The Family composition (FMCF) variable is used to determine whether the family is a couple family or a one parent family. 

Dependent children present in the household are counted if they are part of the family and are classified as one of the following Relationship in household (RLHP) categories:

  • children under 15 (categories 31-36)
  • dependent student (categories 41-43)

Dependent children who are temporarily absent from the household on Census Night are counted from the following variables:

  • Count of dependent children under 15 temporarily absent (CDCAF)
  • Count of dependent students (15-24 years) temporarily absent (CDSAF)

History and changes

This variable was first introduced in 2011.

No changes have been made for 2021.

Data use considerations

Usual residents may not be included in the household’s Census form because they were away from the dwelling on Census Night. In this case they should be included in the Persons temporarily absent section of the form. This can occur in both family and group households. 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 people are unable to be included on the form.

Care should be taken when comparing this variable to other family data from within the ABS or external organisations or agencies. The definition of a family can differ between different statistical collections and may not match Census definitions.

This variable does not have a non-response rate as it is created during Census processing by using responses from more than one question on the Census form. 

Related variables and glossary terms

  • Count of non-dependent children in family (CNCDF)
  • Relationship in household (RLHP)
  • Child

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