Employment
Unpaid childcare
About this topic
Unpaid childcare records whether people aged 15 years and over spent time looking after a child without pay, including their own children and other people's children. It reflects the role of parents, grandparents, extended family, and community networks in caring for children.
This topic helps show how childcare is supported outside the paid care sector and can highlight the role of family-based care. It is best interpreted with household type, employment, and income, because unpaid childcare patterns are shaped by family structure, work arrangements, and access to formal childcare.
Interpretation notes
- This records unpaid childcare in the previous two weeks for people aged 15 years and over, including care for a person's own children and other children.
- It identifies whether childcare was provided, not the number of hours or whether care was regular, occasional, or shared with formal services.
Related topics
Key insight
In 2021, provided Unpaid Child Care (All) was the most common response among residents aged 15 and over in Central Desert (R), accounting for 46.7% (1,226 people). This share was higher than Regional NT (36.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in cared For Other Child Ren, which increased by 88 people and 3.1 percentage points.
Section overview
Unpaid childcare
Central Desert (R) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises unpaid childcare for Central Desert (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NT and change since 2016.
Unpaid childcare snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Central Desert (R), with comparison markers for Regional NT.
Provided Unpaid Child Care (All)
2021 count
1,226
% of total
46.7%
Change from 2016
-2.5pp
1,226
46.7%
-2.5pp
Cared For Own Child Ren
2021 count
565
% of total
21.5%
Change from 2016
-3.2pp
565
21.5%
-3.2pp
Cared For Other Child Ren
2021 count
552
% of total
21.0%
Change from 2016
+3.1pp
552
21.0%
+3.1pp
Cared For Own Child Ren And Other Child Ren
2021 count
110
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
110
4.2%
-2.4pp
No Unpaid Child Care Provided
2021 count
1,094
% of total
41.6%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
1,094
41.6%
+1.6pp
Not Stated
2021 count
298
% of total
11.3%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
298
11.3%
+0.5pp
Chart view
Unpaid childcare change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Provided Unpaid Child Care (All)
-49
-2.5pp
Cared For Own Child Ren
-75
-3.2pp
Cared For Other Child Ren
+88
+3.1pp
Cared For Own Child Ren And Other Child Ren
-60
-2.4pp
No Unpaid Child Care Provided
+56
+1.6pp
Not Stated
+19
+0.5pp
Data table
Unpaid childcare for Central Desert (R). Unpaid childcare. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NT.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NT% | Count | % | Regional NT% | Count | pp | |
| Provided Unpaid Child Care (All) | 1,226 | 46.7% | 36.2% | 1,275 | 49.2% | 34.4% | -49 | -2.5pp |
| Cared For Own Child Ren | 565 | 21.5% | 18.4% | 640 | 24.7% | 19.2% | -75 | -3.2pp |
| Cared For Other Child Ren | 552 | 21.0% | 13.8% | 464 | 17.9% | 11.7% | +88 | +3.1pp |
| Cared For Own Child Ren And Other Child Ren | 110 | 4.2% | 3.9% | 170 | 6.6% | 3.5% | -60 | -2.4pp |
| No Unpaid Child Care Provided | 1,094 | 41.6% | 51.6% | 1,038 | 40.0% | 49.0% | +56 | +1.6pp |
| Not Stated | 298 | 11.3% | 12.3% | 279 | 10.8% | 16.6% | +19 | +0.5pp |
| Total | 2,627 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,593 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +34 | 0.0pp |