Australian Bureau of Statistics
Celebrating the International Year of Statistics 2013

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EDUCATION

Children aged 6-14 years were assumed to be attending school. For persons aged 15 years and over, information was obtained about study at school or another educational institution and the highest non-school educational qualification they had obtained.

Current study

Obtained for persons aged 15-19 years not currently attending school, and for persons aged 20 years and over.

Information is collected about the type of educational institution at which currently enrolled (secondary school, university/other higher education, TAFE/technical college, business college, industry skills centre, other) and whether the current study was full-time or part-time. The status of these items is determined by the way the respondent's enrolment is classified by the educational institution they are attending; if uncertain, the respondent's reported status was recorded. Apprentices who attend one day per week or on block release were classified as in part-time study.

Enrolment in adult education courses, hobby and recreation courses was excluded.

Highest year of school completed

Obtained for persons aged 15 to 19 years not attending school, and for persons 20 years and over. For years up to and including Year 11, the term 'completed' means to attend for the full school year such that progression to the following year of school is enabled. For Year 12, 'completed' requires only attendance for the full year. Further details of the definitions used are available on request.

Output categories are:

• Year 12;
• Year 11;
• Year 10;
• Year 9;
• Year 8 or below;
• Never attended school;
• Not stated; and
• Not asked (still at school).

• Level of highest non-school qualification. This item refers to the qualification level classified to the level of education component of the Australian Standard Classification of Education (ASCED) 2001 (cat no. 1272.0). Highest level of post-school educational attainment. This item refers to the level of the highest post-school qualification reported, classified to the ABS Classification of Qualifications (ABSCQ), 1993 (cat no. 1262.0). Output categories are generally classified as follows:
  • postgraduate degree;
  • graduate diploma/Graduate certificate;
  • bachelor degree;
  • advanced diploma/Diploma;
  • certificate III/IV;
  • certificate I/II;
  • certificate not further defined;
  • no non-school qualification; and
  • level not determined.
• Main field of highest non-school qualification. This item refers to the field of study of the highest non-school qualification reported, as classified to the field component of the ASCED. For standard survey output, detailed categories are commonly grouped as follows:
  • natural and physical sciences;
  • information technology;
  • engineering and related technologies;
  • architecture and building;
  • agriculture, environmental and related studies;
  • health;
  • education;
  • management and commerce;
  • society and culture;
  • creative arts;
  • food, hospitality and personal services;
  • mixed field programmes; and
  • inadequately described.