The following pages will ask you for information about your family.
The definitions below are meant to be a guide to help you understand the variations within families at your school. They are by no means definitive or exhaustive, but rather provide a broad picture of the different family units you may encounter at the school.
CASES21 recognises family groups by their family ID key. Siblings are defined as those students that share a primary family record.
The primary family
The primary family is defined as the ‘family or parent the student mostly lives with’ although some students live within a shared custody or dual living arrangement, the primary family may consist of only one adult.
• Adult A is defined as the primary carer
• Adult B is defined as the other carer
In some families, there will only be one adult carer, in which case Adult B is left blank.
In certain situations, the status or identity of Adults A and B may shift due to changes in the family’s circumstances, for example if there is a change in family status (either Adult A’s or Adult B’s relationship breaks up), custody (either Adult A or Adult B takes over the full-time care of the student after their relationship breaks up).
The alternative family
The alternative family is defined as the ‘family or parent the student lives with some of the time, or who they have regular contact with’. Some examples of alternative families may include, but are not limited to, a biological parent and a step-parent, a biological parent living alone, a relative/s the child sometimes lives with, or a foster parent.
In the alternative family:
• Adult A is defined as the primary carer within the alternative family unit
• Adult B is defined as the other carer within the alternative family unit
Depending on the situation, Adult B might be left blank.
The additional family
The additional family is defined as the ‘family or other carer by whom the student is regularly or occasionally cared for’. Some examples include, but are not limited to, grandparents, a case worker, a family friend, or other relative.
• Adult A is defined as the primary carer within that additional family unit
• Adult B is defined as the other carer within that additional family unit
Depending on the situation, Adult B might be left blank.
You will have an opportunity to complete these details over the next few pages.
