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 Ngaanyatjarraku (S), accounting for 48.4% (515 people). This share was higher than Regional WA (26.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in not providing unpaid child care, which increased by 79 people and 10.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Unpaid childcare
Ngaanyatjarraku (S) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises unpaid childcare for Ngaanyatjarraku (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Unpaid childcare snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Ngaanyatjarraku (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
Provided Unpaid Child Care (All)
2021 count
515
% of total
48.4%
Change from 2016
+2.8pp
515
48.4%
+2.8pp
Cared For Own Child Ren
2021 count
194
% of total
18.2%
Change from 2016
+2.8pp
194
18.2%
+2.8pp
Cared For Other Child Ren
2021 count
252
% of total
23.7%
Change from 2016
+2.9pp
252
23.7%
+2.9pp
Cared For Own Child Ren And Other Child Ren
2021 count
69
% of total
6.5%
Change from 2016
-2.9pp
69
6.5%
-2.9pp
No Unpaid Child Care Provided
2021 count
395
% of total
37.1%
Change from 2016
+10.9pp
395
37.1%
+10.9pp
Not Stated
2021 count
152
% of total
14.3%
Change from 2016
-14.1pp
152
14.3%
-14.1pp
Chart view
Unpaid childcare change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Provided Unpaid Child Care (All)
-35
+2.8pp
Cared For Own Child Ren
+8
+2.8pp
Cared For Other Child Ren
+1
+2.9pp
Cared For Own Child Ren And Other Child Ren
-44
-2.9pp
No Unpaid Child Care Provided
+79
+10.9pp
Not Stated
-191
-14.1pp
Data table
Unpaid childcare for Ngaanyatjarraku (S). Unpaid childcare. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | pp | |
| Provided Unpaid Child Care (All) | 515 | 48.4% | 26.4% | 550 | 45.6% | 27.7% | -35 | +2.8pp |
| Cared For Own Child Ren | 194 | 18.2% | 18.7% | 186 | 15.4% | 20.0% | +8 | +2.8pp |
| Cared For Other Child Ren | 252 | 23.7% | 6.5% | 251 | 20.8% | 6.7% | +1 | +2.9pp |
| Cared For Own Child Ren And Other Child Ren | 69 | 6.5% | 1.2% | 113 | 9.4% | 1.0% | -44 | -2.9pp |
| No Unpaid Child Care Provided | 395 | 37.1% | 62.2% | 316 | 26.2% | 60.0% | +79 | +10.9pp |
| Not Stated | 152 | 14.3% | 11.4% | 343 | 28.4% | 12.3% | -191 | -14.1pp |
| Total | 1,065 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,207 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -142 | 0.0pp |