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.

Key insight

In 2021, not providing unpaid child care was the most common response among residents aged 15 and over in Ryan (Qld), accounting for 68.7% (57 people). This share was higher than Mount Isa (C) (59.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in cared For Other Child Ren, which increased by 8 people and 10.9 percentage points.

Section overview

Unpaid childcare

Ryan (Qld) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises unpaid childcare for Ryan (Qld) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mount Isa (C) and change since 2016.

Unpaid childcare snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Ryan (Qld), with comparison markers for Mount Isa (C).

Ryan (Qld)
Mount Isa (C)

Provided Unpaid Child Care (All)

2021 count

22

% of total

26.5%

Change from 2016

+12.3pp

Cared For Own Child Ren

2021 count

11

% of total

13.3%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Cared For Other Child Ren

2021 count

11

% of total

13.3%

Change from 2016

+10.9pp

Cared For Own Child Ren And Other Child Ren

2021 count

5

% of total

6.0%

Change from 2016

+6.0pp

No Unpaid Child Care Provided

2021 count

57

% of total

68.7%

Change from 2016

+19.9pp

Not Stated

2021 count

10

% of total

12.0%

Change from 2016

-21.9pp

Data table

Unpaid childcare for Ryan (Qld). Unpaid childcare. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mount Isa (C).

Unpaid childcare for Ryan (Qld). Unpaid childcare. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mount Isa (C).
Unpaid childcare for Ryan (Qld). Unpaid childcare. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mount Isa (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Mount Isa (C)%Count%Mount Isa (C)%Countpp
Provided Unpaid Child Care (All)2226.5%28.8%1814.2%30.3%+4+12.3pp
Cared For Own Child Ren1113.3%21.2%1713.4%22.7%-6-0.1pp
Cared For Other Child Ren1113.3%6.4%32.4%6.6%+8+10.9pp
Cared For Own Child Ren And Other Child Ren56.0%1.2%00.0%1.0%+5+6.0pp
No Unpaid Child Care Provided5768.7%59.5%6248.8%55.9%-5+19.9pp
Not Stated1012.0%11.7%4333.9%13.8%-33-21.9pp
Total83100.0%100.0%127100.0%100.0%-440.0pp