Count of dependent children under 15 in family temporarily absent (CDCAF)

This variable counts the number of dependent children aged under 15 years that were reported as temporarily absent from the family.

Families which include children aged under 15 years

This variable is derived from the persons temporarily absent (PTA) questions on the Census form to count the number of children under 15 who were absent from the family on Census Night. Dependent children under 15 are classified if they form a parent child relationship and are 0-14 years of age.

This variable was first introduced in 1996. Prior to 2016, information on dependent children was available in a variable called Dependent offspring present (CDPF). This was a single count of dependent children Temporarily absent.

No changes have been made for 2021.

Usual residents may not be included in the household’s Census form because they were away from the dwelling on Census Night. In this case they should be included in the persons temporarily absent section of the form. This can occur in both family and group households. Due to form limitations, a maximum of three people can be reported and coded as temporarily absent from the dwelling. If more than three people are absent from the household, the additional people are unable to be included on the form.

Care should be taken when comparing this variable to other family data from within the ABS or external organisations or agencies. The definition of a family can differ between different statistical collections and may not match Census definitions.

This variable does not have a non-response rate as it is created during Census processing by using responses from more than one question on the Census form.

• Count of dependent children under 15 in family (CDCUF)
• Relationship in household (RLHP)
• Child
• Temporarily absent

• People
• Household and families: Census