2900.0 - Census of Population and Housing: Understanding the Census and Census Data, Australia , 2016  
ARCHIVED ISSUEReleased at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 08/11/2017  First Issue
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How this variable is created

Level of Highest Educational Attainment is derived using a combination of two variables: Highest Year of School Completed and Non-School Qualification: Level of Education. These two variables are coded using theAustralian Standard Classification of Education (ASCED), 2001, Level of Education Classification. Images of the questions used to derive Level of Highest Educational Attainment are provided below.

The following decision table (Table 1) describes how Level of Highest Educational Attainment was derived for 2016.

Table 1: Derivation of Level of Highest Educational Attainment - Decision Table

Non-School Qualification: Level of Education (QALLP)









Variable history

While questions regarding educational qualifications in general have been asked for every census since 1911, Level of Highest Educational Attainment, which combines measures of school and non-school education, was first used in 2006. Changes have been made in 2016 which are explained below.

Non-response rate

Non-response rate only applies to data items that directly reflect responses to individual Census form questions. Level of Highest Educational Attainment does not have a non-response rate as it is a derived value created during Census processing for applicable persons. For more information, refer toUnderstanding Census data quality.

Data usage notes

Administrative data

Level of Highest Educational Attainment is derived from Highest Year of School Completed and Non-School Qualification: Level of Education. However, for people who were in prisons on Census night, Level of Highest Educational Attainment was sourced directly through administrative data. So the underlying data for Highest Year of School Completed and Non-School Qualification: Level of Education are 'not stated' for these records.

Inadequately described

Counts of people with a Level of Highest Educational Attainment category of 'Inadequately described' has increased to 2.7% 2016 (1.4% in 2011). This is because there has been a change in the way this variable is derived in 2016.

In 2011, people with Highest Year of School Completed of Year 8 or below to Year 12 and a Certificate not further defined were assigned a Level of Highest Educational Attainment the same as their highest year of school completed. However, in 2016, people with Highest Year of School Completed of Year 8 or below to Year 12 and a Certificate not further defined were assigned a Level of Highest Educational Attainment as 'Inadequately described'.

Further information

A definition of Level of Highest Educational Attainment is available in the2016 Census Dictionary.
For information related to Level of Highest Educational Attainment, see data quality statements forHighest Year of School Completed andNon-School Qualification: Level of Education.

Household form question image

Questions 27, 28, 29 and 30 as they appeared on the 2016 Census Household Paper Form:

Image: 2016 Household Paper Form - Question 27. What is the highest year of primary or secondary school the person has completed?
Image: 2016 Household Paper Form - Question 28. Has the person completed any educational qualifications (including a trade certificate)?
Image: 2016 Household Paper Form - Question 29. What is the level of the highest qualification the person has completed?
Image: 2016 Household Paper Form - Question 30. What is the main field of study for the person's highest qualification completed?
A text only version of the online Census Household form is available from the Downloads tab.


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