Australia's Birth Rate Hits Record Low Amid Cost-of-Living Crisis, Yet Some Families Choose Larger Households

Australia's national birth rate is projected to reach a record low of 1.42 this year, indicating a trend where Australians are increasingly choosing to have fewer children or none at all. Common factors influencing these decisions include the cost-of-living crisis, rental and housing shortages, and global conditions.

Families Choosing Larger Households

Despite the overarching trend and associated pressures, some families are opting to have three, four, or more children.

Rosina Gordon

A 53-year-old mother of six, Rosina Gordon and her husband raised their children in regional NSW. Her decision was influenced by the community spirit she experienced growing up in a large family and her Catholic faith.

Gordon noted that in contemporary society, individual goals and consumerism are often prioritized over motherhood.

Raising a large family on a single income necessitated careful financial management, utilizing hand-me-down clothes, thrifted furniture, and budget-conscious family outings. She emphasizes the vital role of a supportive community of mothers for emotional and mental well-being.

Jangelah Frew

Currently pregnant with her fifth child, 33-year-old Jangelah Frew found purpose and fulfillment in raising a large family. She and her partner have managed financial challenges, including periods of juggling multiple minimum-wage jobs. They have made sacrifices such as forgoing annual holidays and eating out.

Frew home-schools her children in their Victoria rental and adheres to a grocery budget of approximately $300 per week.

Jangelah Frew asserted that support for large families is accessible, including government assistance, and challenged common assumptions about the financial and social status of large families.

Context and Advocacy

Census data from 2021 showed that 19.6% of couple families and 15.3% of one-parent families had three or more children, a decrease from 21.6% and 15.6% respectively in 2015. The estimated cost of raising a single child in Australia ranges from $164,000 to $370,000.

Both Gordon and Frew stated that having large families is achievable despite economic difficulties. They advocate for increased support for Australians who desire larger families, proposing measures such as additional childcare funding and tax deductions.