2901.0 - Census Dictionary, 2011  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 23/05/2011   
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Child

This is a person of any age who is a natural, adopted, step, foster or nominal son or daughter of a couple or lone parent, usually resident in the same household. A child is also any individual under 15, usually resident in the household, who forms a parent-child relationship with another member of the household. This includes otherwise related children less than 15 years of age and unrelated children less than 15 years of age.

In order to be classified as a child, the person can have no identified partner or child of his/her own usually resident in the household. A separate family in the household is formed in this instance. If a person is aged under 15 and has a partner and/or a spouse these relationships are not recorded.

There are three types of children identified by the Relationship in Household classification:
    • child under 15;
    • dependent student; and
    • non-dependent child.
Children aged under 15 years and dependent students are together referred to as dependent children.

Dependent child: A dependent child is a person who is either a child under 15 years of age, or a dependent student (see Dependent student below). To be regarded as a child the person can have no identified partner or child of his/her own usually resident in the household.

Dependent student: This refers to a natural, adopted, step, or foster child who is 15-24 years of age and who attends a secondary or tertiary educational institution as a full-time student and for whom there is no identified partner or child of his/her own usually resident in the same household.

Non-Dependent child: This refers to a natural, adopted, step or foster child of a couple or lone parent usually resident in the household, who is aged 15 years and over and is not a full-time student aged 15-24 years, and who has no identified partner or child of his/her own usually resident in the household.

Variables relevant to children are :
    • Child Type (CTPP);
    • Count of All Children in Family (CACF);
    • Count of Dependent Children Aged Under 15 Temporarily Absent (CDCAF);
    • Count of Dependent Children in Family (CDCF);
    • Count of Dependent Students (15-24 years) Temporarily Absent (CDSAF);
    • Count of Non-Dependent Children in Family (CNDCF); and
    • Count of Non-Dependent Children Temporarily Absent (CNDAF).

Characteristics of children or parents who were temporarily absent on Census Night are not available.

See also Couple family, Family, Foster child, Nominal child, One-parent family, Step child.





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