Unpaid care activities among the Indigenous population: Analysis of the 2011 Census

Mandy Yap and Dr. Nicholas Biddle

This work is funded by the Commonwealth Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs as well as the State/Territory Governments

Care economy• What we do know..

– Care economy is significant for Australia (Hoenig and Page 2012)

– Unpaid care or informal sector substantial part of the care economy – many dimensions and categories (Adams 2010)

– Gender equity perspective • women bear the burden disproportionately economically (Kelly 2006;

Cassells et al 2009) • Less time for recreation and leisure activities (Cassells et al 2011)

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Care economy

• But..– very little is known on the circumstances of Indigenous males

and females undertaking unpaid work

– Despite the fact that they are disproportionately representedA large proportion of unpaid family carers are in regional and remote areas, are Indigenous, have their own health problems, and young (Edwards et al 2009)

– Aspects particular to Indigenous population providing or receiving care

• Fertility trends and health conditions• Location• Kinship, family structures and connection to country

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Census collection of caring activities

• Since 2006, collection of information of unpaid work in the census

• Allows for small area analysis

• Covers Indigenous and non-Indigenous population

• Limitations

Census questions• In the last week did the person spend time doing unpaid domestic

work for their household?

• In the last two weeks did the person spend time providing unpaid care, help or assistance to family members or others because of a disability, a long term illness or problems related to old age?

• In the last two weeks did the person spend time looking after a child, without pay?

• In the last twelve months did the person spend any time doing voluntary work through an organisation or group?

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Distribution and location of the Indigenous population 2011

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Providing unpaid care for own children or other children in the last two weeks, 2011

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Relationship in household for those reported undertaking unpaid child care, 2011

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Provided unpaid child care by Indigenous region, 2011

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Undertook at least five hours of domestic work in the last two weeks, 2011

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Undertaking of domestic work in the last two weeks by hours, 2011

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Provided unpaid assistance for someone with a disability, long term illness or problems related to old age, 2011

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Provided unpaid assistance for someone with a disability, long term illness or problems related to old age by Indigenous Region, 2011

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Distribution of Indigenous males and females with a profound or severe disability by type of household, 2011

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Provision of assistance for disability or long term illness or unpaid child care by need of assistance, 2011

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Provision of assistance for disability or long term illness or unpaid child care by labour force status, 2011 (% of column)

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Provision of assistance for disability or long term illness or unpaid child care by labour force status, 2011 (% of column)

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Provision of assistance for disability or long term illness or unpaid child care by labour force status, 2011 (% of row)

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Provision of assistance for disability or long term illness or unpaid child care by labour force status, 2011 (% of row)

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Implications for Indigenous population

• Specific words for care, disability, or volunteer may be culturally biased

• Disability rates are higher amongst Indigenous population – demand for care

• Need for informal care more prevalent in remote and regional areas where formal services not necessarily present

• Skill shortages in child care and social professions - Indigenous carers is a potential workforce

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Gender implications

• Fertility and family formation

• Men have poorer health

• Implications for labour force participation as well as education

• Different life course – education and employment occurring at later stages of life

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Volunteering, 2011

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