Perspectives on Migrants methodology

A couple family containing two or more children aged 0-17 years, of whom at least one is the natural or adopted child of both members of the couple, and at least one is the step child of either member of the couple. Blended families may also include other children who are not the natural children of either parent.

A child is:

• any person aged under 15 years in the household;
• a person of any age who is a natural, adopted, step or foster child of a couple or lone parent, usually resident in the same household, and who does not have a child or partner of their own usually resident in the household; or
• a person aged 15-17 years who was reported as being under the guardianship or care of another person aged 18 years and over in the household.
   

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 dependent children, non-dependent children and other related or unrelated 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.

A dependent child is a person who is a child (see child) aged under 15 years, or who is a child aged 15-24 years and a full-time dependent student.

A child who is 15-24 years of age and who attends a secondary or tertiary educational institution as a full-time student and who has no partner or child of his or her own usually resident in the same household.

Employed persons comprise all those aged 15 years and over who, during the reference week:

• worked for one hour or more for pay, profit, commission or payment in kind in a job or business or on a farm (comprising 'Employees', 'Employers' and 'Own account workers'); or
• worked for one hour or more without pay in a family business or on a farm (i.e. contributing family workers); or
• were employees who had a job but were not at work and were:
  • away from work for less than four weeks up to the end of the reference week; or
  • away from work for more than four weeks up to the end of the reference week and received pay for some or all of the four week period to the end of the reference week; or
  • away from work as a standard work or shift arrangement; or
  • on strike or locked out; or
  • on workers' compensation and expected to return to their job; or
• were employers or own account workers who had a job, business or farm, but were not at work.
   

Persons who usually worked 35 hours or more a week (in all jobs) and those who, although usually working less than 35 hours a week, worked 35 hours or more during the reference week.

Persons who usually work less than 35 hours a week (in all jobs) and either did so during the reference week, or were not at work in the reference week.

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, 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.

Person living in Australia who was born overseas. This is a diverse group of people including Australian citizens, permanent residents and longer term temporary residents.

A group household is a household consisting of two or more unrelated people where all persons are aged 15 years or over. There are no reported couple relationships, parent-child relationships or other blood relationships in these households.

A person living alone or a group of related or unrelated people who usually live in the same private dwelling.

A couple family containing at least one child aged 0-17 years who is the natural or adopted child of both members of the couple, and no child aged 0-17 years who is the step child of either member of the couple. Intact families may also include other children who are not the natural or adopted children of either parent, such as foster children.

Migrant families are identified on the basis of a key member's country of birth.

For couple based families the key member included both members of the couple or any other non-child family member (e.g. parent or sibling of one member of the couple). 

For lone parent families, the parent (or any other non-child family member) was considered the key member.

For other blood relationship families (e.g. siblings or other individuals related by blood, adoption, step or fostering), all family members were considered as key members.

A person who has no spouse or partner usually resident in the household but who forms a parent-child relationship with at least one child usually resident in the household.

The year of arrival of the most recently arrived key member of the family is prior to 2005.

MESC is used to describe people migrating from main English-speaking countries. Significant numbers of migrants that come from a MESC country (comprising of United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa and the United States of America) to Australia are likely to speak English.

A migrant family with one or more key member 'born in main English-speaking countries'.

Family where at least one 'key member' was born overseas.

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

Non MESC is used to describe people originating from countries where a language other than English is likely to be spoken by the majority of migrants. It is important to note that being from a non-main English-speaking country does not imply a lack of proficiency in English.

A migrant family with one or more key member 'born in other than main English-speaking countries'.

Note: for families where both key members are born overseas and are from both MESC and non-MESC countries, the family will be represented in both groups. Consequently the total number of MESC and non-MESC families exceeds the total number of migrant families.

Family where all 'key persons' in the family were born in Australia. Note that the family could include children (non-key members) who are born outside of Australia.

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.

A family of other related individuals residing in the same household. These individuals do not form a couple or parent-child relationship with any other person in the household and are not attached to a couple or one parent family in the household. For example, if two brothers are living together and neither is a spouse, a lone parent or a child, then they are classified as an 'other family'. However, if the two brothers share the household with the daughter of one of the brothers and her husband, then both brothers are classified as other related individuals and are attached to the couple family.

An individual who is related to members of the household, but who does not form a couple relationship or parent-child relationship (see child). He or she can be related through blood, step and in-law relationships and include any direct ancestors or descendants. Relatives beyond first cousin are excluded.

Other related individuals can form their own family type or can be attached to an already existing family. Those related individuals who reside in the same household and who do not form a couple or parent-child relationship with any other person in the household are classified as an 'other family'.

In cases where a couple family or one parent family has been formed, any persons who are related to members of these families and are usual residents of the household are other related individuals.

The year of arrival of the most recently arrived key member of the family is from 2005 to 2010.

Australian born person living in Australia, with at least one overseas born parent.

A couple family containing one or more children aged 0-17 years, none of whom is the natural or adopted child of both members of the couple, and at least one of whom is the step child of either member of the couple. A step family may also include other children who are not the natural children of either parent.

Australian born person living in Australia with one or more of their grandparents who may have been born overseas or who may have several generations of ancestors born in Australia.

Year of arrival in Australia is the year a person who was born overseas first arrived in Australia from another country, with the intention of staying in Australia for one year or more.