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 North Melbourne, accounting for 76% (10,045 people). This share was lower than Melbourne (C) (81.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in cared For Own Child Ren, which increased by 345 people and 2.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Unpaid childcare
North Melbourne - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises unpaid childcare for North Melbourne in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Melbourne (C) and change since 2016.
Unpaid childcare snapshot
2021 distribution by category for North Melbourne, with comparison markers for Melbourne (C).
Provided Unpaid Child Care (All)
2021 count
1,973
% of total
14.9%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
1,973
14.9%
+1.7pp
Cared For Own Child Ren
2021 count
1,605
% of total
12.1%
Change from 2016
+2.7pp
1,605
12.1%
+2.7pp
Cared For Other Child Ren
2021 count
339
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
339
2.6%
-0.9pp
Cared For Own Child Ren And Other Child Ren
2021 count
29
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
29
0.2%
-0.1pp
No Unpaid Child Care Provided
2021 count
10,045
% of total
76.0%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
10,045
76.0%
+1.8pp
Not Stated
2021 count
1,203
% of total
9.1%
Change from 2016
-3.5pp
1,203
9.1%
-3.5pp
Chart view
Unpaid childcare change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Provided Unpaid Child Care (All)
+209
+1.7pp
Cared For Own Child Ren
+345
+2.7pp
Cared For Other Child Ren
-123
-0.9pp
Cared For Own Child Ren And Other Child Ren
-14
-0.1pp
No Unpaid Child Care Provided
+121
+1.8pp
Not Stated
-479
-3.5pp
Data table
Unpaid childcare for North Melbourne. Unpaid childcare. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Melbourne (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Melbourne (C)% | Count | % | Melbourne (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Provided Unpaid Child Care (All) | 1,973 | 14.9% | 10.7% | 1,764 | 13.2% | 10.5% | +209 | +1.7pp |
| Cared For Own Child Ren | 1,605 | 12.1% | 8.2% | 1,260 | 9.4% | 7.3% | +345 | +2.7pp |
| Cared For Other Child Ren | 339 | 2.6% | 2.3% | 462 | 3.5% | 3.0% | -123 | -0.9pp |
| Cared For Own Child Ren And Other Child Ren | 29 | 0.2% | 0.1% | 43 | 0.3% | 0.1% | -14 | -0.1pp |
| No Unpaid Child Care Provided | 10,045 | 76.0% | 81.3% | 9,924 | 74.2% | 77.3% | +121 | +1.8pp |
| Not Stated | 1,203 | 9.1% | 8.1% | 1,682 | 12.6% | 12.2% | -479 | -3.5pp |
| Total | 13,220 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 13,372 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -152 | 0.0pp |