GLOSSARY
Actively involved
Active parental involvement refers to parents' behaviour during the activity. Actively involved parents take part in the activity with the child. For most activities, this excludes simply watching the child engaging in the activity, however transporting the child to and from sport, outdoor games or other physical activities and remaining with the child during the activity, are included.
Additional formal care or preschool required
Includes instances in which children were already attending care or preschool and parents wanted them to attend more, as well as instances in which children did not attend any care or preschool and parents wanted them to attend. Does not include instances in which parents/guardians want to change service providers but not type or quantity of service.
Approved care
Child care providers that meet the requirements of the Australian Government quality assurance system, such as having a license to operate; qualified and trained staff; and meeting health, safety and other quality standards.
Before and after school care
Care provided for school aged children before school, after school, during school holidays and on 'pupil free days'. Estimates of children's attendance at before and after school care include children who attend only before school care, only after school care, or both.
Child Care Benefit (CCB)
Assistance in the form of a payment made by the Australian Government to help with the costs of child care for families who use a child care service approved by, or registered with, the government.
Child Care Rebate (CCR)
The Child Care Rebate covers 50 per cent of out-of-pocket child care expenses for approved child care up to the maximum legislated amount per year per child. The Child Care Rebate is available to families who have used approved child care during the year, been eligible for Child Care Benefit and have passed the work, training, study test some time during the week the approved care was provided.
Cost of care
Within this publication, cost of care is reported as the net cost of care to the parents after the CCB and CCR have been deducted.
Couple family
A couple family is based on two persons who are in a couple relationship and who are usually resident in the same household. To be included in CEaCS, a couple family must also have at least one child aged 0-12 usually resident. A 'couple relationship' includes same-sex couples.
Family
Two or more persons, one of whom is at least 15 years of age, who are related by blood, marriage (registered or de facto), adoption or fostering; and who are usually resident in the same household. Only families with children aged 0-12 years are included in CEaCS.
Family day care
A type of formal care provided in the home environment of a registered carer.
Father
The male parent or guardian usually resident in the same household as the child.
Formal care
Regulated care away from the child's home. The main types of formal care are long day care, before and/or after school care, family day care and occasional care.
Full-time/part-time workers
Full-time workers are employed persons who usually work 35 hours or more a week as well as those who, although they usually work less than 35 hours a week, worked 35 hours or more during the reference week. Part-time workers are employed persons who usually work less than 35 hours a week and who did so during the reference week.
Government establishment
Includes any preschool/kindergarten conducted or managed principally by a state, territory or federal government agency.
Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage (IRSD)
A Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) index derived from Census variables related to disadvantage, such as low income, low educational attainment, unemployment, and dwellings without motor vehicles.
Informal care
Non-regulated care either in the child's home or elsewhere. It includes paid or unpaid care by: (step) brothers or sisters, grandparents, other relatives (including a non-resident parent), other (unrelated) people such as friends, neighbours, nannies or babysitters and other organisations (e.g. crèche at gyms and health centres).
Informal learning
Unstructured learning activities that occur in daily life, such as reading, musical activities and physical activities.
Last week
The survey reference week. For interviews conducted between 8 and 14 June 2014, the reference week was 1 to 7 June. For interviews conducted between 15 to 21 June, the reference week was 8 to 14 June.
For interviews conducted for the additional follow up in September, the reference week was 24 to 30 August 2014.
Long day care
A centre-based form of child care service providing all-day or part-time care for children.
Mean
The value often referred to as the 'average'. The mean of a variable is calculated by summing the values of all observations in a data set and then dividing by the number of observations in the set.
Median
The value that divides the population into two equal parts.
Mother
The female parent or guardian usually resident in the same household as the child.
Multiple response
Indicates that more than one category can be chosen for a particular data item.
Non-government establishment
Includes any preschool/kindergarten conducted or managed by a non-government institution or organisation, including a Catholic school or preschool/kindergarten or an independent school or preschool/kindergarten.
Non-resident parent
A child's natural or adoptive parent who is not usually resident in the same household as the child.
Occasional care
Services usually provided at a centre on an hourly or sessional basis for short periods or at irregular intervals.
One parent family
A one parent family is based on a person who has no spouse or partner usually present in the household, but who forms a parent-child relationship with at least one child usually resident in the household. To be included in CEaCS, a one parent family must have at least one child aged 0-12 years usually resident.
Other person care
Informal care by an individual who provides care but is not a relative and is not registered under the family day care program (including friends, babysitters and nannies).
Other relative care
Informal care by relatives of the child excluding parents, (step) brothers and sisters and grandparents.
Parent/guardian
Natural, step, foster or adoptive parents are considered parents in CEaCS. A guardian is a person who has the designated responsibility for a minor child, whether or not it is a legal or informal arrangement. In this publication, when the term 'parent' is used, this includes guardians.
Preschool
A structured, play-based education program, delivered by a degree qualified teacher, primarily aimed at children in the year before they commence full-time schooling. The program may be delivered in a dedicated preschool, a long day care centre or other educational setting.
Registered care
Child care provided by persons and institutions that are registered with the Department of Human Services as registered care providers.
Remoteness
The Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) was used to define remoteness. The Remoteness Structure is described in detail in the publication Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS): Volume 5 - Remoteness Structure, July 2011 (cat. no. 1270.0.55.005).
Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA)
A suite of indexes created from 2011 Census data. For each index, every geographic area in Australia is given a SEIFA number which shows how disadvantaged that area is compared with other areas in Australia. Each index summarises a different set of social and economic variables.
Weekly income of parents
Total gross income received from all sources by the parent or parents in the family.
Work arrangements
Arrangements such as flexible working hours, or working from home, used by employed parents to assist them to care for their children.
Quality Declaration 
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