Skip past navigation to main part of page
 
Melbourne Institute Homepage
Skip past navigation to main part of page
---

Child Care Variables

The variables from the child care grids in the Household Questionnaire are used to make a number of summary variables (which are shown in the table below). The children referred to in this section of the HQ are those living in the household aged under 15 and these are split into two groups:

  • School-aged children – these children are of an age to attend school (that is, from aged 4 or 5, depending on the State, to 15).
  • Children not yet at school – these children are aged 0 to 3 or 4, depending on the State, who are not yet of an age to attend school.8

The child care questions have changed a number of times across the waves in the following ways:

  • The reason the child care was used – In wave 1, only information about child care used while the parents were working was collected. From wave 2, questions were included about the child care used so parent could undertake non–employment related activities (such as studying, excercising, shopping, etc).
  • The level of detail collected for non–employment related child care – For waves 2 through 4, summary information was collected about the use of non-employment related child care. From wave 5, these grids contain a similar level of detail to the employment related child care grids.
  • The level of detail collected for the cost of employment related child care – In Wave 1, the cost of each type of child care for each child was collected. From wave 2 onwards, the total cost for each type of child care for the two groups of children (school aged and those not yet at school) was collected.
  • The level of detail for relatives looking after children –The types of child care that made reference to ‘relatives’ in waves 1 to 3 were split into ‘grandparents’ and ‘other relatives’ from wave 4.

The child care summary variables indicate whether a particular type of child care is used, along with the hours and cost (summed across the relevant children).

Table 19: Derived child care variables

Table 19a: Child care used for school–aged children during term time while parents work
Variable Description
_CSU_ME DV: Childcare used – Me or my partner – Any school–age child – during term – While parents work
_CSU_BS DV: Childcare used – The child’s brother or sister – Any school–age child – during term – While parents work
_CSU_SF DV: Childcare used – Child looks after self – Any school–age child – during term – While parents work
_CSU_WP DV: Childcare used – Child comes to my workplace – Any school–age child – during term – While parents work
_CSU_OS DV: Childcare used – Out of hours pw care at childs school – Any school–age child – during term – While parents work
_CSU_OE DV: Childcare used – Out of hours pw care elsewhere - Any school–age child – during term time – While parents work
_CSU_RU1 DV: Childcare used – A relative who lives with us – Any school–age child – during term time – While parents work
_CSU_RE1 DV: Childcare used – A relative who lives elsewhere – Any school–age child – during term time – While parents work
_CSU_GU2 DV: Childcare used – Child’s grandparent who lives with us – Any school–age child – during term time – While parents work
_CSU_GE2 DV: Childcare used – Child’s grandparent who lives elsewhere – Any school–age child – during term time – While parents work
_CSU_AU2 DV: Childcare used – Other relative who lives with us – Any school–age child – during term time – While parents work
_CSU_AE2 DV: Childcare used – Other relative who lives elsewhere – Any school–age child – during term time – While parents work
_CSU_FO DV: Childcare used – A friend or neighbour coming to our home – Any school–age child – during term time – While parents work
_CSU_FT DV: Childcare used – A friend or neighbour in their home – Any school–age child – during term time – While parents work
_CSU_PS DV: Childcare used – A paid sitter or nanny – Any school–age child – during term time – While parents work
_CSU_FD DV: Childcare used – Family day care – Any school–age child – during term time – While parents work
_CSU_FC2 DV: Childcare used – Formal outside of school hours care – Any school–age child – during term time – While parents work
_CSU_OP DV: Childcare used – Other parent not living in household/expartner – Any school–age child – during term time – While parents work
_CSU_BR DV: Childcare used – Not applicable – Boarding school – Any school–age child – during term time – While parents work
_CSU_O1 DV: Childcare used – Other 1 (Specify) – Any school–age child – during term time – While parents work
_CSU_O2 DV: Childcare used – Other 2 (Specify) – Any school–age child – during term time – While parents work
_CSU_NA DV: Childcare used – Not Answered – Any school–age child – during term time – While parents work
_CSH_BS DV: Total hours – The childs brother or sister – All school–age children – during term time – While parents work
_CSH_SF DV: Total hours – Child looks after self – All school–age children – during term time – While parents work
_CSH_WP DV: Total hours – Child comes to my workplace – All school–age children – during term time – While parents work
_CSH_OS DV: Total hours – Out of hours care at childs school – All school–age children – during term time – While parents work
_CSH_OE DV: Total hours – Out of hours care elsewhere – All school–age children – during term time – While parents work
_CSH_RU1 DV: Total hours – A relative who lives with us – All school–age children – during term time – While parents work
_CSH_RE1 DV: Total hours – A relative who lives elsewhere – All school–age children – during term time – While parents work
_CSH_GU2 DV: Total hours pw – Child’s grandparent who lives with us – All school–age children – during term time – While parents work
_CSH_GE2 DV: Total hours pw – Child’s grandparent who lives elsewhere – All school–age children – during term time – While parents work
_CSH_AU2 DV: Total hours pw – Other relative who lives with us – All school–age children – during term time – While parents work
_CSH_AE2 DV: Total hours pw – Other relative who lives elsewhere – All school–age children – during term time – While parents work
_CSH_FO DV: Total hours – A friend or neighbour coming to our home – All school–age children – during term time – While parents work
_CSH_FT DV: Total hours – A friend or neighbour in their home – All school–age children – during term time – While parents work
_CSH_PS DV: Total hours – A paid sitter or nanny – All school–age children – during term time – While parents work
_CSH_FD DV: Total hours – Family day care – All school–age children – during term time – While parents work
_CSH_FC2 DV: Total hours pw – Formal outside of school hours care – All school–age children – during term time – While parents work
_CSH_O1 DV: Total hours – Other specify 1 – All school–age children – during term time – While parents work
_CSH_O2 DV: Total hours – Other specify 2 – All school–age children – during term time – While parents work
_CSCTC DV: Childcare total cost ($) for all school age children during term, across all types of care. While parents work
1 For waves 1 to 3 (‘Relatives’ were replaced by ‘grandparents’ and ‘other relatives’ from wave 4).
2 From wave 4.

 

Table 19b: Child care used for school–aged children during holidays while parents work
Variable Description
_CHU_ME DV: Childcare used – Me or my partner – Any school–age child – during school holidays – While parents work
_CHU_BS DV: Childcare used – The child’s brother or sister – Any school–age child – during school holidays – While parents work
_CHU_SF DV: Childcare used – Child looks after self – Any school–age child – during school holidays – While parents work
_CHU_WP DV: Childcare used – Child comes to my workplace – Any school–age child – during school holidays – While parents work
_CHU_VS DV: Childcare used – Vacation care at childs school – Any school–age child – during school holidays – While parents work
_CHU_VE DV: Childcare used – Vacation care elsewhere – Any school–age child – during school holidays – While parents work
_CHU_RU1 DV: Childcare used – A relative who lives with us – Any school–age child – during school holidays – While parents work
_CHU_RE1 DV: Childcare used – A relative who lives elsewhere – Any school–age child – during school holidays – While parents work
_CHU_GU2 DV: Q9 Childcare used – Child’s grandparent who lives with us – Any school–age child – during school holidays – While parents work
_CHU_GE2 DV: Childcare used – Child’s grandparent who lives elsewhere – Any school–age child – during school holidays – While parents work
_CHU_AU2 DV: Childcare used – Other relative who lives with us – Any school–age child – during school holidays – While parents work
_CHU_AE2 DV: Childcare used – Other relative who lives elsewhere – Any school–age child – during school holidays – While parents work
_CHU_FO DV: Childcare used – A friend or neighbour coming to our home – Any school–age child – during school holidays – While parents work
_CHU_FT DV: Childcare used – A friend or neighbour in their home – Any school–age child – during school holidays – While parents work
_CHU_PS DV: Childcare used – A paid sitter or nanny – Any school–age child – during school holidays – While parents work
_CHU_FD DV: Childcare used – Family day care – Any school-age child – during school holidays – While parents work
_CHU_VC2 DV: Childcare used – Vacation care – Any school–age child – during school holidays – While parents work
_CHU_BR DV: Childcare used – Not applicable – Boarding school – Any school–age child – during school holidays – While parents work
_CHU_O1 DV: Childcare used – Other 1 (Specify) – Any school–age child – during school holidays – While parents work
_CHU_O2 DV: Childcare used – Other 2 (Specify) – Any school–age child – during school holidays – While parents work
_CHU_NA DV: Childcare used – Not Answered – Any school–age child – during school holidays – While parents work
_CHH_BS DV: Total hours – The child’s brother or sister – All school–ge children – during school holidays – While parents work
_CHH_SF DV: Total hours – Child looks after self – All school–age children – during school holidays – While parents work
_CHH_WP DV: Total hours – Child comes to my workplace – All school–age children – during school holidays – While parents work
_CHH_VS DV: Total hours – Vacation care at childs school – All school–age children – during school holidays – While parents work
_CHH_VE DV: Total hours – Vacation care elsewhere – All school–age children – during school holidays – While parents work
_CHH_RU1 DV: Total hours –ndash; A relative who lives with us –ndash; All school–ndash;age children –ndash; during school holidays –ndash; While parents work
_CHH_RE1 DV: Total hours –ndash; A relative who lives elsewhere –ndash; All school–age children –ndash; during school holidays – While parents work
_CHH_GU2 DV: Total hours pw – Child’s grandparent who lives with us – All school–age children – during school holidays – While parents work
_CHH_GE2 DV: Total hours pw – Child’s grandparent who lives elsewhere – All school–age children – during school holidays – While parents work
_CHH_AU2 DV: Total hours pw – Other relative who lives with us – All school–age children – during school holidays – While parents work
_CHH_AE2 DV: Total hours pw – Other relative who lives elsewhere – All school–age children – during school holidays – While parents work
_CHH_FO DV: Total hours – A friend or neighbour coming to our home – All school–age children – during school holidays – While parents work
_CHH_FT DV: Total hours – A friend or neighbour in their home – All school–age children – during school holidays – While parents work
_CHH_PS DV: Total hours – A paid sitter or nanny – All school–age children – during school holidays – While parents work
_CHH_FD DV: Total hours – Family day care – All school–age children – during school holidays – While parents work
_CHH_VC2 DV: Total hours pw – Vacation care – All school–age children – during school holidays – While parents work
_CHH_O1 DV: Total hours – Other specify 1 – All school–age children – during school holidays – While parents work
_CHH_O2 DV: Total hours – Other specify 2 – All school–age children – during school holidays – While parents work
_CHCTC DV: Childcare total cost ($) for all school age children during school holidays, across all types of care. While parents work
1 For waves 1 to 3 (‘Relatives’ were replaced by ‘grandparents’ and ‘other relatives’ from wave 4).
2 From wave 4.

 

Table 19c: Child care used for children not yet at school while parents work
Variable Description
_CPU_ME DV: Childcare used – Me or my partner – Any child not yet at school – While parents work
_CPU_BS DV: Childcare used – The child’s brother or sister – Any child not yet at school – While parents work
_CPU_RU1 DV: Childcare used – A relative who lives with us – Any child not yet at school – While parents work
_CPU_RE1 DV: Childcare used – A relative who lives elsewhere – Any child not yet at school – While parents work
_CPU_GU2 DV: Childcare used – Child’s grandparent who lives with us – Any not yet at school child – While parents work
_CPU_GE2 DV: Childcare used – Child’s grandparent who lives elsewhere – Any not yet at school child – While parents work
_CPU_AU2 DV: Childcare used – Other relative who lives with us – Any not yet at school child – While parents work
_CPU_AE2 DV: Childcare used – Other relative who lives elsewhere – Any not yet at school child – While parents work
_CPU_FO DV: Childcare used – A friend or neighbour coming to our home – Any child not yet at school – While parents work
_CPU_FT DV: Childcare used – A friend or neighbour in their home – Any child not yet at school – While parents work
_CPU_PS DV: Childcare used - A paid sitter or nanny - Any child not yet at school - While parents work
_CPU_FD DV: Childcare used – Family day care – Any child not yet at school – While parents work
_CPU_WD DV: Childcare used – Long day care centre at workplace – Any child not yet at school – While parents work
_CPU_PD DV: Childcare used – Private or community long day care centre – Any child not yet at school – While parents work
_CPU_KP DV: Childcare used – Kindergarten/pre–school – Any child not yet at school – While parents work
_CPU_O1 DV: Childcare used – Other 1 (Specify) – Any child not yet at school – While parents work
_CPU_O2 DV: Childcare used – Other 2 (Specify) – Any child not yet at school – While parents work
_CPU_OP DV: Childcare used – Other parent not living in household/expartner – Any child not yet at school – While parents work
_CPU_NA DV: Childcare used – Not Answered – Any child not yet at school – While parents work
_CPH_BS DV: Total hours pw – The child’s brother or sister – All children not yet at school – While parents work
_CPH_RU1 DV: Total hours pw – A relative who lives with us – All children not yet at school – While parents work
_CPH_RE1 DV: Total hours pw – A relative who lives elsewhere – All children not yet at school – While parents work
_CPH_GU2 DV: Total hours pw – Child’s grandparent who lives with us – All not yet at school children – While parents work
_CPH_GE2 DV: Total hours pw – Child’s grandparent who lives elsewhere – All not yet at school children – While parents work
_CPH_AU2 DV: Total hours pw – Other relative who lives with us – All not yet at school children – While parents work
_CPH_AE2 DV: Total hours pw - Other relative who lives elsewhere - All not yet at school children - While parents work
_CPH_FO DV: Total hours pw – A friend or neighbour coming to our home – All children not yet at school – While parents work
_CPH_FT DV: Total hours pw – A friend or neighbour in their home – All children not yet at school – While parents work
_CPH_PS DV: Total hours pw – A paid sitter or nanny – All children not yet at school – While parents work
_CPH_FD DV: Total hours pw – Family day care – All children not yet at school – While parents work
_CPH_WD DV: Total hours pw – Long day care centre at workplace – All children not yet at school – While parents work
_CPH_PD DV: Total hours pw - Private or community long day care centre - All children not yet at school - While parents work
_CPH_KP DV: Total hours pw - Kindergarten / preschool - All children not yet at school - While parents work
_CPH_O1 DV: Total hours pw – Other specify 1 – All children not yet at school – While parents work
_CPH_O2 DV: Total hours pw – Other specify 2 – All children not yet at school – While parents work
_CPCTC DV: Childcare total cost ($) for all children not yet at school across all types of care – While parents work
1 For waves 1 to 3 (‘Relatives’ were replaced by ‘grandparents’ and ‘other relatives’ from wave 4).
2 From wave 4.

 

Table 19d: Cost for child care used while parents work (to make wave 1 comparable)
Variable Description
ACSC_WP DV: Total cost pw – All school age children – Child comes to workplace – during term – while parents work
ACSC_OS DV: Total cost pw – All school age children – Out of hours care at childs school – during term – while parents work
ACSC_OE DV: Total cost pw – All school age children – Out of hours care elsewhere – during term – while parents work
ACSC_RU DV: Total cost pw – All school age children – A relative who lives with us – during term – while parents work
ACSC_RE DV: Total cost pw – All school age children – A relative who lives elsewhere – during term – while parents work
ACSC_FO DV: Total cost pw – All school age children – A friend or neighbour coming to our home – during term – while parents work
ACSC_FT DV: Total cost pw – All school age children – A friend or neighbour in their home – during term – while parents work
ACSC_PS DV: Total cost pw – All school age children – A paid sitter or nanny – during term – while parents work
ACSC_FD DV: Total cost pw – All school age children – Family day care – during term – while parents work
ACSC_O1 DV: Total cost pw – All school age children – Other specify 1 – during term – while parents work
ACSC_O2 DV: Total cost pw – All school age children – Other specify 2 – during term – while parents work
ACHC_WP DV: Total cost pw – All school age children – Child comes to my workplace – during school holidays – while parents work
ACHC_VS DV: Total cost pw – All school age children – Vacation care at childs school – during school holidays – while parents work
ACHC_VE DV: Total cost pw – All school age children – Vacation care elsewhere – during school holidays – while parents work
ACHC_RU DV: Total cost pw – All school age children – A relative who lives with us – during school holidays – while parents work
ACHC_RE DV: Total cost pw – All school age children – A relative who lives elsewhere – during school holidays – while parents work
ACHC_FO DV: Total cost pw – All school age children – A friend or neighbour coming to our home – during school holidays - while parents work
ACHC_FT DV: Total cost pw – All school age children – A friend or neighbour in their home – during school holidays – while parents work
ACHC_PS DV: Total cost pw – All school age children – A paid sitter or nanny – during school holidays – while parents work
ACHC_FD DV: Total cost pw – All school age children – Family day care – during school holidays – while parents work
ACHC_O1 DV: Total cost pw – All school age children – Other specify 1 – during school holidays – while parents work
ACHC_O2 DV: Total cost pw – All school age children – Other specify 2 – during school holidays – while parents work
ACPC_RU DV: Total cost pw – All children not yet at school – A relative who lives with us – while parents work
ACPC_RE DV: Total cost pw – All children not yet at school – A relative who lives elsewhere – while parents work
ACPC_FO DV: Total cost pw – All children not yet at school – A friend or neighbour coming to our home – while parents work
ACPC_FT DV: Total cost pw – All children not yet at school – A friend or neighbour in their home – while parents work
ACPC_PS DV: Total cost pw – All children not yet at school – A paid sitter or nanny – while parents work
ACPC_FD DV: Total cost pw – All children not yet at school – Family day care – while parents work
ACPC_WD DV: Total cost pw – All children not yet at school – Long day care centre at workplace – while parents work
ACPC_PD DV: Total cost pw – All children not yet at school – Private or community long day care centre – while parents work
ACPC_KP DV: Total cost pw – All children not yet at school – Kindergarten / preschool – while parents work
ACPC_O1 DV: Total cost pw – All children not yet at school – Other specify 1 – while parents work
ACPC_O2 DV: Total cost pw – All children not yet at school – Other specify 2 – while parents work

 

Table 19e: Child care used for school–aged children while parents do not work
Variable Description
_CNSU_BS3 DV: Childcare used – The child’s brother or sister – Any children school aged – not employment related
_CNSU_GU3 DV: Childcare used – Child’s grandparent who lives with us – Any children school aged – not employment related
_CNSU_GE3 DV: Childcare used – Child’s grandparent who elsewhere – Any children school aged – not employment related
_CNSU_AU3 DV: Childcare used – Other relative who lives with us – Any children school aged – not employment related
_CNSU_AE3 DV: Childcare used – Other relative who lives elsewhere – Any children school aged – not employment related
_CNSU_FO3 DV: Childcare used – A friend or neighbour coming to our home – Any children school aged – not employment related
_CNSU_FT3 DV: Childcare used – A friend or neighbour coming in their home – Any children school aged – not employment related
_CNSU_PS3 DV: Childcare used – A paid sitter/nanny – Any children school aged – not employment related
_CNSU_FD3 DV: Childcare used – Family day care – Any children school aged – not employment related
_CNSU_PD3 DV: Childcare used – Private/community long day care centre – Any children school aged – not employment related
_CNSU_FC3 DV: Childcare used – Formal outside of school hours care – Any children school aged – not employment related
_CNSU_013 DV: Childcare used – Other specify 1 – All children school aged – not employment related
_CNSU_023 DV: Childcare used – Other specify 2 – All children school aged – not employment related
_CNSU_NA3 DV: Childcare used – No answered – All children school aged – not employment related
_CNSU_NP3 DV: Childcare used – None – All children school aged – not employment related
_CNSH_BS3 DV: Total hours pw – The child’s brother or sister – All children school aged – not employment related
_CNSH_GU3 DV: Total hours pw – Child’s grandparent who lives with us – All children school aged – not employment related
_CNSH_GE3 DV: Total hours pw – Child’s grandparent who elsewhere – All children school aged – not employment related
_CNSH_AU3 DV: Total hours pw – Other relative who lives with us – All children school aged – not employment related
_CNSH_AE3 DV: Total hours pw – Other relative who lives elsewhere – All children school aged – not employment related
_CNSH_FO3 DV: Total hours pw – A friend or neighbour coming to our home – All children school aged – not employment related
_CNSH_FT3 DV: Total hours pw – A friend or neighbour in their home – All children school aged – not employment related
_CNSH_PS3 DV: Total hours pw – A paid sitter/nanny – All children school aged – not employment related
_CNSH_FD3 DV: Total hours pw – Family day care – All children school aged – not employment related
_CNSH_PD3 DV: Total hours pw – Private/community long day care centre – All children school aged – not employment related
_CNSH_FC3 DV: Total hours pw – Formal outside of school hours care – All children school aged – not employment related
_CNSH_013 DV: Total hours pw – Other 1 – All children school aged – not employment related
_CNSH_023 DV: Total hours pw – Other 2 – All children school aged – not employment related
_NSCTC3 DV: Childcare total cost ($) for all school age children across all types of care. Not employment related
3 From wave 5.

 

Table 19f: Child care used for children not yet at school while parents do not work
Variable Description
_CNPU_BS3 DV: Childcare used – The child’s brother or sister – Any children not yet at school – not employment related
_CNPU_GU3 DV: Childcare used – Child’s grandparent who lives with us – Any children not yet at school – not employment related
_CNPU_GE3 DV: Childcare used – Child’s grandparent who lives elsewhere – Any children not yet at school – not employment related
_CNPU_AU3 DV: Childcare used – Other relative who lives with us – Any children not yet at school – not employment related
_CNPU_AE3 DV: Childcare used – Other relative who lives elsewhere – Any children not yet at school – not employment related
_CNPU_FO3 DV: Childcare used – A friend or neighbour coming to our home – Any children not yet at school – not employment related
_CNPU_FT3 DV: Childcare used – A friend or neighbour in their home – Any children not yet at school – not employment related
_CNPU_PS3 DV: Childcare used – A paid sitter/nanny – Any children not yet at school – not employment related
_CNPU_FD3 DV: Childcare used – Family day care – Any children not yet at school – not employment related
_CNPU_PD3 DV: Childcare used – Private/community long day care centre – Any children not yet at school – not employment related
_CNPU_KP3 DV: Childcare used – Kindergarten/pre–school – Any children not yet at school – not employment related
_CNPU_013 DV: Childcare used – Other 1 (Specify) – Any children not yet at school – not employment related
_CNPU_023 DV: Childcare used – Other 2 (Specify) – Any children not yet at school – not employment related
_CNPU_NA3 DV: Childcare used – No answer – Any children not yet at school – not employment related
_CNPU_NP3 DV: Childcare used – None – Any children not yet at school – not employment related
_CNPH_BS3 DV: Total hours pw – The child’s brother or sister – All children not yet at school – not employment related
_CNPH_GU3 DV: Total hours pw – Child’s grandparent who lives with us – All children not yet at school – not employment related
_CNPH_GE3 DV: Total hours pw – Child’s grandparent who lives elsewhere – All children not yet at school – not employment related
_CNPH_AU3 DV: Total hours pw – Other relative who lives with us – All children not yet at school – not employment related
_CNPH_AE3 DV: Total hours pw – Other releative who lives elsewhere – All children not yet at school – not employment related
_CNPH_FO3 DV: Total hours pw – A friend or neighbour coming to our home – All children not yet at school – not employment related
_CNPH_FT3 DV: Total hours pw – A friend or neighbour in their home – All children not yet at school – not employment related
_CNPH_PS3 DV: Total hours pw – A paid sitter/nanny – All children not yet at school – not employment related
_CNPH_FD3 DV: Total hours pw – Family day care – All children not yet at school – not employment related
_CNPH_PD3 DV: Total hours pw – Private/community long day care centre – All children not yet at school – not employment related
_CNPH_KP3 DV: Total hours pw – Kindergarten/pre–school – All children not yet at school – not employment related
_CNPH_013 DV: Total hours pw – Other specify 1 – All children not yet at school – not employment related
_CNPH_023 DV: Total hours pw – Other specify 2 – All children not yet at school – not employment related
_NPCTC3 DV: Childcare total cost ($) for all children not yet at school across all types of care – not employment related
3 From wave 5.

 

Endnotes:

8 Up to wave 4, the questionnaire referred to the children not yet at school as ‘pre-school’ children. The shorter name was used in the questionnaire for space reasons but the interviewers were briefed on the intent of these questions to include all children who were not yet at school (not just those who aged 3 or 4 who are attending pre-school). The variable labels relating to the children not yet at school have been revised to use the ‘not yet at school’ terminology rather than the ‘pre-school’ terminology. Back to where you were

 
top of pagetop of page

HILDA Contact us

Contact the University : Disclaimer & Copyright : Privacy : Accessibility