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, not providing unpaid child care was the most common response among residents aged 15 and over in Longreach (R), accounting for 63.4% (1,881 people). This share was lower than Regional Qld (66.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in cared For Own Child Ren, which decreased by 52 people and 1.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Unpaid childcare
Longreach (R) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises unpaid childcare for Longreach (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.
Unpaid childcare snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Longreach (R), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
Provided Unpaid Child Care (All)
2021 count
678
% of total
22.9%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
678
22.9%
-1.4pp
Cared For Own Child Ren
2021 count
491
% of total
16.6%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
491
16.6%
-1.7pp
Cared For Other Child Ren
2021 count
169
% of total
5.7%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
169
5.7%
-0.1pp
Cared For Own Child Ren And Other Child Ren
2021 count
24
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
24
0.8%
+0.5pp
No Unpaid Child Care Provided
2021 count
1,881
% of total
63.4%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
1,881
63.4%
-1.1pp
Not Stated
2021 count
401
% of total
13.5%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
401
13.5%
+2.3pp
Chart view
Unpaid childcare change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Provided Unpaid Child Care (All)
-41
-1.4pp
Cared For Own Child Ren
-52
-1.7pp
Cared For Other Child Ren
-3
-0.1pp
Cared For Own Child Ren And Other Child Ren
+14
+0.5pp
No Unpaid Child Care Provided
-31
-1.1pp
Not Stated
+69
+2.3pp
Data table
Unpaid childcare for Longreach (R). Unpaid childcare. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | pp | |
| Provided Unpaid Child Care (All) | 678 | 22.9% | 25.4% | 719 | 24.3% | 27.2% | -41 | -1.4pp |
| Cared For Own Child Ren | 491 | 16.6% | 18.7% | 543 | 18.3% | 19.6% | -52 | -1.7pp |
| Cared For Other Child Ren | 169 | 5.7% | 6.0% | 172 | 5.8% | 6.8% | -3 | -0.1pp |
| Cared For Own Child Ren And Other Child Ren | 24 | 0.8% | 0.8% | 10 | 0.3% | 0.8% | +14 | +0.5pp |
| No Unpaid Child Care Provided | 1,881 | 63.4% | 66.2% | 1,912 | 64.5% | 62.9% | -31 | -1.1pp |
| Not Stated | 401 | 13.5% | 8.4% | 332 | 11.2% | 9.9% | +69 | +2.3pp |
| Total | 2,966 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,964 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +2 | 0.0pp |