Count of dependent children under 15 years in family temporarily absent (CDCAF)

Latest release
Census of Population and Housing: Census dictionary
Reference period
2026

Definition

This variable counts the number of dependent children under 15 years in the family who were temporarily away from the household on Census night.

Scope

Families with children aged under 15 years

Categories

Code Category 
0 No dependent children under 15 years temporarily absent 
1 One dependent child under 15 years temporarily absent 
2 Two dependent children under 15 years temporarily absent 
3 Three dependent children under 15 years temporarily absent 
4 Four or more dependent children under 15 years temporarily absent 
@ Not applicable 

Number of categories: 6 

Not applicable (@) category comprises: 

  • couple families with no children  
  • couple families with no children aged under 15 years
  • one parent families with no dependent children aged under 15 years
  • other families 
  • non-family households 
  • non-classifiable households 
  • unoccupied private dwellings 
  • non-private dwellings 
  • migratory, offshore and shipping SA1s 

See Understanding supplementary codes for more information. 

Question(s) from the Census form

For each person away, complete the following questions:

How this variable is created

This variable is derived from responses to the relationship in household (RLHP) and persons temporarily absent (PTA) questions on the Census form.

History and changes

This variable was first introduced in 1996.  

Before 2016, information on dependent children was provided in the dependent offspring present (CDPF) variable, which gave one count of dependent children who were temporarily absent.  

In 2026, a new category was added, raising the highest category from ‘Three dependent children under 15 years temporarily absent’ to ‘Four or more dependent children under 15 years temporarily absent’.

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