Location of spouse (SPLF)

This variable records whether the usually resident husband/wife/partner or de facto partner is present or temporarily absent from a couple family on Census Night.

Couple families in family households

This variable is derived from the Persons temporarily absent question on the Census form.

This variable was first introduced in 1986.

No changes have been made for 2021.

Usual residents may not be included in the household’s Census form because they were away from the dwelling on Census Night. In this case they should be included in the persons temporarily absent section of the form. This can occur in both family and group households.

Due to form limitations a maximum of three people can be reported and coded as temporarily absent from the dwelling. If more than three people are absent from the household the additional people are unable to be included on the form.

Care should be taken when comparing this variable to other family data from within the ABS or external organisations or agencies. The definition of a family can differ between statistical collections and may not match Census definitions.

This variable does not have a non-response rate as it is created during Census processing by using responses from more than one question on the Census form. 

• Count of persons temporarily absent from household (CPAD)
• Count of persons temporarily absent from family (CPAF)
• Relationship in household (RLHP)
• Family
• Temporarily absent

• People
• Household and families: Census
• Persons temporarily absent