It is important to distinguish between day-time only contact and overnight stays because the latter provides greater opportunities for family activities to occur, which encourages emotional bonds to develop between children and their non-resident parents. According to the Family Characteristics Survey (ABS 2012-13):
- 51% of children did not spend a single night at their non-resident parent
- 16% of children spent 1-35 nights with their non-resident parent
- 11% of children spent at least 110 nights with their non-resident parent.
