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Data sources and definitions

Data source		Indicators using this source
ABS 2001 Census of Population and Housing.		National (7); State (7)
ABS Births Collection.		National (38-41); State (38-41)
ABS Child Care Survey.		National (44-49); State (42-47)
ABS Labour Force Survey.		National (4-6, 8-23); State (4-6, 8-23)
ABS Marriages and Divorces Collection.		National (26-30, 33-35); State (26-30, 33-35)
AIHW Perinatal Data Collection 1999.		National (42-43)
Australian Demographic Statistics (ABS cat. no. 3101.0).		National (1-3, 24-25, 31-32, 36-37); State (1-3, 24-25, 31-32, 36-37)

for any group of families, the total number of family members divided by the number of families in the group.
Reference: Labour Force Status and Other Characteristics of Families, Australia (ABS cat. no. 6224.0).

the delivery of a child irrespective of the duration of pregnancy who, after being born, breathes or shows any evidence of life such as a heartbeat.
Reference: Births, Australia (ABS cat. no. 3301.0).

births where the father was not registered as married to the mother at the time of the birth, whether or not the parents were living together at the time of the birth, and whether or not the child may subsequently have been adopted or become legitimate.
Reference: Births, Australia (ABS cat. no. 3301.0).

births outside registered marriage where the father's name is recorded on the birth certificate.
Reference: Births, Australia (ABS cat. no. 3301.0).

a related or unrelated person aged under 15 years who forms a parent-child relationship with one person aged 15 years or over resident in the household.
Reference: Labour Force Status and Other Characteristics of Families, Australia (ABS cat. no. 6224.0).

a family based on two persons who are in a registered or de facto marriage and who are usually resident in the same household. The family may include any number of dependents, non-dependents and other related individuals. It is not necessary for a parent-child relationship to be formed, thus a couple family can consist of a couple without children present in the household.
Reference: Labour Force Status and Other Characteristics of Families, Australia (ABS cat. no. 6224.0).

a couple family with no dependent children or other family members (e.g. non-dependent children) present.
Reference: Labour Force Status and Other Characteristics of Families, Australia (ABS cat. no. 6224.0).

the number of divorces granted in the calendar year per 1,000 of the estimated resident population at 30 June of that year.
Reference: Marriages and Divorces, Australia (ABS cat. no. 3310.0).

the number of marriages registered in the calendar year per 1,000 of the estimated resident population at 30 June of that year.
Reference: Marriages and Divorces, Australia (ABS cat. no. 3310.0).

two people who live together in a consensual union who are not registered as married to each other.
Reference: 1996 Census of Population and Housing.

decree absolute of dissolution of marriage.
Reference: Marriages and Divorces, Australia (ABS cat. no. 3310.0).

divorces of couples with unmarried children of the registered marriage who were aged under 18 years at the time of application for divorce. Under the Family Law Act 1975, adopted and ex-nuptial children and children from a former registered marriage may be included (in certain cases). Children who are registered as married or aged 18 years and over are not subject to custody and guardianship orders and are excluded.
Reference: Marriages and Divorces, Australia (ABS cat. no. 3310.0).

persons aged 15 years and over who either worked during the reference week for pay, profit, commission, payment in kind or without pay for one hour or more in a family business, or who had a job but were not at work. Also includes employers, own account workers or contributing family workers who had a job, business or farm, but were not at work.
Reference: Labour Force, Australia (ABS cat. no. 6203.0).

quarterly estimates of the Australian population are obtained by adding to the estimated population at the beginning of each period the components of natural increase (on a usual residence basis) and net overseas migration. For the States and Territories, account is also taken of estimated interstate movements involving a change of usual residence.
Reference: Australian Demographic Statistics (ABS cat. no. 3101.0).

two or more persons, one of whom is aged 15 years and over, who are related by blood, marriage (registered or de facto), adoption, step or fostering; and who are usually resident in the same household. The basis of a family is formed by identifying the presence of a couple relationship, lone parent-child relationship or other blood relationship. Some households will, therefore, contain more than one family.
Reference: Labour Force Status and Other Characteristics of Families, Australia (ABS cat. no. 6224.0).

regulated care, away from the child's home. Includes preschool; before and after school care; long-day care; family day care; occasional care and other formal care.
Reference: Child Care, Australia (ABS cat. no. 4402.0).

a person living alone or a group of related or unrelated people who usually reside and eat together.
Reference: Australian Demographic Statistics (ABS cat. no. 3101.0).

non-regulated care, arranged by the child's parent/guardian, either in the child's home or elsewhere. It includes care by (step) brothers or sisters; care by relatives (including non-custodial parents) and by non-relatives such as friends, neighbours, nannies or baby sitters. It may have been paid or unpaid.
Reference: Child Care, Australia (ABS cat. no. 4402.0).

a person who has no spouse or partner present in the household but who forms a parent-child relationship with at least one dependent or non-dependent child usually resident in the household.
Reference: Labour Force Status and Other Characteristics of Families, Australia (ABS cat. no. 6224.0).

a person who makes provision for his/her food and other essentials for living without combining with any other person to form part of a multi-person household. He or she may live in a dwelling on their own or share a dwelling with another individual or household.
Reference: Australian Demographic Statistics (ABS cat. no. 3101.0).

the age at which half the given population is older and half is younger.
Reference: Population by Age and Sex, Australian States and Territories (ABS cat. no. 3201.0).

actually the median age of mothers at first confinement. A confinement is a pregnancy which results in at least one live birth: multiple births (e.g. twins) may be involved.
Reference: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Australia's Mothers and Babies (1996).

the median interval between the date of registered marriage and the date of separation.
Reference: Marriages and Divorces, Australia (ABS cat. no. 3310.0).

the number of hours of care per week at which half the children who received formal and/or informal childcare fall below the value and half above.
Reference: Child Care, Australia (ABS cat. no. 4402.0).

a family consisting of a lone parent with at least one dependent or non-dependent child (regardless of age) who is also usually resident in the household. The family may also include any number of other dependent children, non-dependent children and other related individuals.
Reference: Labour Force Status and Other Characteristics of Families, Australia (ABS cat. no. 6224.0).

refer to formally registered marriages for which the partners hold a marriage certificate.
Reference: Marriages and Divorces, Australia (ABS cat. no. 3310.0).

the average number of children a woman would bear during her lifetime if she conformed to the current age-specific fertility rates throughout her reproductive life.
Reference: Births, Australia (ABS cat. no. 3301.0).

multiple births (e.g. twins or triplets) may be involved at the time of first birth.
Reference: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Australia's Mothers and Babies (1998).