Care usually attended
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Description
Graph 1 shows 2011 overall care usage at 52.2%. This proportion is made up of Formal care only at 13.6%, Informal care only at 28.5% and Using both at 10.1%.
Graph 2 shows 2014 overall care usage at 48.1%. This proportion is made up of Formal care only at 15.3%, Informal care only at 24.2% and Using both at 8.5%.
Graph 3 shows 2017 overall care usage at 49.3%. This proportion is made up of Formal care only at 17.4%, Informal care only at 22.2% and Using both at 9.7%.
The proportion of children aged 0 to 12 years who usually attended formal and/or informal care decreased from 2011 (52.2%) to 2014 (48.1%) and was about the same in 2017 (49.3%). Breaking this down into the various care arrangements:
- Use of Formal care only (e.g. Long day care) increased slowly from 13.6% in 2011 to 15.3% in 2014, then to 17.4% in 2017.
- Use of Informal care only (e.g. grandparents) decreased slightly from 28.5% in 2011 to 24.5% in 2014, to 22.2% in 2017.
- The proportion of children using a combination of both formal and informal care changed little from 10.1% in 2011, dipping to 8.5% in 2014, then rebounding to 9.7% in 2017.
Care attended last week
ABS data on the use of care back to 1996 shows little change in the use of care in the week before the survey (Endnote A) by children aged 0 to 11 years (Endnote B). The proportion of children in care in 1996 was 45% while it was 47% in 2017.
Over this longer time period, some interesting trends include:
- The proportion of children in formal care increased gradually from 9% in 1996 to 19% in 2017.
- The proportion of children in informal care decreased gradually from 31% in 1996 to 19% in 2017.
- The proportion of children using a package of both formal and informal care increased slightly from 6% in 1996 to 9% in 2017.
Costs and hours of care
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Description
Graph 1 shows mean cost after subsidies per week in 2011 was $74.30, in 2014 was $100.50 and in 2017 was $110.50. In 2017 dollars, adjusted using changes in the Consumer Price Index.
Graph 2 shows mean hours per week in 2011 was 15.2 hours, in 2014 was 16 hours and in 2017 was 16 hours.
After adjusting for inflation, the average usual weekly cost of formal care (after subsidies) (Endnote C) increased from $74.30 in 2011 to $110.50 in 2017, however the average usual weekly hours were about the same over the period. (Tables 6 & 8)
Endnotes
Endnote A: Prior to 2008 the survey collected data for the child's week prior to the survey (also known as last week). In 2008 the survey collected data for the child's usual week. Some time-series going back to 2008 for the child's usual week are supplemented by time-series going back to 1996 for the child's week prior to the survey (also known as last week).
Endnote B: Prior to 2005 the survey included families with children aged 0 to 11 years. From 2005 the survey included families with children aged 0 to 12 years. Some time-series going back to 2005 for children aged 0 to 12 years are supplemented by time-series going back to 1996 for children aged 0 to 11 years.
Endnote C: The subsidies that were available to eligible families were the Child Care Benefit and the Child Care Rebate.