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 Colo Vale, accounting for 65.6% (926 people). This share was lower than Wingecarribee (A) (69.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in not providing unpaid child care, which increased by 138 people and 4 percentage points.
Section overview
Unpaid childcare
Colo Vale - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises unpaid childcare for Colo Vale in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Wingecarribee (A) and change since 2016.
Unpaid childcare snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Colo Vale, with comparison markers for Wingecarribee (A).
Provided Unpaid Child Care (All)
2021 count
418
% of total
29.6%
Change from 2016
-2.1pp
418
29.6%
-2.1pp
Cared For Own Child Ren
2021 count
310
% of total
22.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
310
22.0%
0.0pp
Cared For Other Child Ren
2021 count
91
% of total
6.4%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
91
6.4%
-1.9pp
Cared For Own Child Ren And Other Child Ren
2021 count
12
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
12
0.8%
-0.6pp
No Unpaid Child Care Provided
2021 count
926
% of total
65.6%
Change from 2016
+4.0pp
926
65.6%
+4.0pp
Not Stated
2021 count
67
% of total
4.7%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
67
4.7%
-1.7pp
Chart view
Unpaid childcare change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Provided Unpaid Child Care (All)
+12
-2.1pp
Cared For Own Child Ren
+28
0.0pp
Cared For Other Child Ren
-15
-1.9pp
Cared For Own Child Ren And Other Child Ren
-6
-0.6pp
No Unpaid Child Care Provided
+138
+4.0pp
Not Stated
-15
-1.7pp
Data table
Unpaid childcare for Colo Vale. Unpaid childcare. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Wingecarribee (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Wingecarribee (A)% | Count | % | Wingecarribee (A)% | Count | pp | |
| Provided Unpaid Child Care (All) | 418 | 29.6% | 24.5% | 406 | 31.7% | 26.8% | +12 | -2.1pp |
| Cared For Own Child Ren | 310 | 22.0% | 18.1% | 282 | 22.0% | 18.1% | +28 | 0.0pp |
| Cared For Other Child Ren | 91 | 6.4% | 5.8% | 106 | 8.3% | 7.9% | -15 | -1.9pp |
| Cared For Own Child Ren And Other Child Ren | 12 | 0.8% | 0.6% | 18 | 1.4% | 0.8% | -6 | -0.6pp |
| No Unpaid Child Care Provided | 926 | 65.6% | 69.9% | 788 | 61.6% | 64.6% | +138 | +4.0pp |
| Not Stated | 67 | 4.7% | 5.6% | 82 | 6.4% | 8.6% | -15 | -1.7pp |
| Total | 1,412 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,279 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +133 | 0.0pp |