Family Characteristics
CONTACT
Assistant Director
Family and Community Statistics Section
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Telephone (02) 6252 7030
Facsimile (02) 6252 8007
DESCRIPTION
This survey provides information on the social and demographic characteristics of families and households, with particular emphasis on the characteristics of children, such as their age and family relationships. It provides detailed information on family composition.
A population group of special interest in the survey was children aged 0-17 in step, blended and one-parent families. For these children and their families, information is available on family structure, child support, parental care arrangements and visiting arrangements.
SCOPE
Persons in scope of the Labour Force Survey. Excludes persons in non-private dwellings. Also excludes persons living in some remote and sparsely settled parts of Australia.
DISSEMINATION
Publication
Family Characteristics, Australia 1997 (cat. no. 4442.0).
Data Service
Customised unpublished data are available in a variety of formats.
Family Characteristics, States and Territories, Summary Tables (cat. no. 4442.0.40.001).
Data Details
Data are available at person and family levels. Some data are also available at household level.
Standard demographic, family and labour force information as for the Labour Force Survey.
Additional Demographic and Family Information
Age (children aged 0-17)
Sex (children aged 0-17)
Social marital status
Registered marital status
Child type
Whether child has a natural parent living elsewhere
Sex of natural parent living elsewhere
Family type
Family life-stage type
Family blending
Age of youngest child in family
Age of eldest child in family
Household type
Household life-stage type
Area of usual residence
Visiting Arrangements
Usual frequency of visits with natural parent living elsewhere
Frequency of overnight stays with natural parent living elsewhere
Procedures involved when deciding visiting arrangements
Whether have contact with natural parent living elsewhere by telephone/letters
Child Support
Frequency of child support payments received
Method of receipt of child support payments
Amount of child support received (including in-kind support)
Steps taken in reaching child support arrangement
Labour Force
Labour force status of couple/lone parent
Hours worked last week
Occupation
Industry
Income
Amount
Source
Education
School attendance
Type of educational institution attended and type of attendance
Educational attainment
GEOGRAPHIC COVERAGE
Australia, States and Territories.
FREQUENCY OF COLLECTION
Irregular. Latest survey 1997.
METHOD OF COLLECTION
Monthly Population Survey.
HISTORICAL DATA
Major family surveys were conducted in 1982 and 1992 (Families in Australia). Although these surveys differed in important respects from the Family Characteristics Survey, common data items are broadly comparable.
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