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 Noarlunga Downs, accounting for 67.1% (2,208 people). This share was higher than Onkaparinga (C) (66.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in not providing unpaid child care, which increased by 1,825 people, while its share fell by 10 percentage points.
Section overview
Unpaid childcare
Noarlunga Downs - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises unpaid childcare for Noarlunga Downs in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Onkaparinga (C) and change since 2016.
Unpaid childcare snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Noarlunga Downs, with comparison markers for Onkaparinga (C).
Provided Unpaid Child Care (All)
2021 count
935
% of total
28.4%
Change from 2016
+15.5pp
935
28.4%
+15.5pp
Cared For Own Child Ren
2021 count
629
% of total
19.1%
Change from 2016
+11.3pp
629
19.1%
+11.3pp
Cared For Other Child Ren
2021 count
274
% of total
8.3%
Change from 2016
+2.9pp
274
8.3%
+2.9pp
Cared For Own Child Ren And Other Child Ren
2021 count
29
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
29
0.9%
+0.1pp
No Unpaid Child Care Provided
2021 count
2,208
% of total
67.1%
Change from 2016
-10.0pp
2,208
67.1%
-10.0pp
Not Stated
2021 count
148
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
-5.2pp
148
4.5%
-5.2pp
Chart view
Unpaid childcare change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Provided Unpaid Child Care (All)
+871
+15.5pp
Cared For Own Child Ren
+590
+11.3pp
Cared For Other Child Ren
+247
+2.9pp
Cared For Own Child Ren And Other Child Ren
+25
+0.1pp
No Unpaid Child Care Provided
+1,825
-10.0pp
Not Stated
+100
-5.2pp
Data table
Unpaid childcare for Noarlunga Downs. Unpaid childcare. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Onkaparinga (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Onkaparinga (C)% | Count | % | Onkaparinga (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Provided Unpaid Child Care (All) | 935 | 28.4% | 29.4% | 64 | 12.9% | 30.8% | +871 | +15.5pp |
| Cared For Own Child Ren | 629 | 19.1% | 19.8% | 39 | 7.8% | 20.4% | +590 | +11.3pp |
| Cared For Other Child Ren | 274 | 8.3% | 8.5% | 27 | 5.4% | 9.3% | +247 | +2.9pp |
| Cared For Own Child Ren And Other Child Ren | 29 | 0.9% | 1.0% | 4 | 0.8% | 1.0% | +25 | +0.1pp |
| No Unpaid Child Care Provided | 2,208 | 67.1% | 66.1% | 383 | 77.1% | 62.8% | +1,825 | -10.0pp |
| Not Stated | 148 | 4.5% | 4.5% | 48 | 9.7% | 6.5% | +100 | -5.2pp |
| Total | 3,290 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 497 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +2,793 | 0.0pp |