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1. The standard variable 'Level of highest non-school qualification' identifies the highest qualification a person has attained in any area of study other than school study. For the purposes of this variable 'school study' means primary and secondary education, regardless of the location or institution where it is undertaken, and so 'non-school education' does not include secondary education undertaken for example as a mature-age student at a Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institution. Similarly, the variable includes non-school qualifications completed by school students, e.g. Certificate I, regardless of the location or institution at which the student is undertaking either the school or non-school study. The variable is used to determine the level of non-school educational qualifications of the Australian population and of specific groups in Australian society.

2. This standard variable should be used for all collections which intend to ascertain people's highest non-school educational qualification. Other related standard variables are the 'Level of highest educational attainment', 'Highest year of school completed', 'Main field of highest educational attainment', 'Main field of highest non-school qualification', and 'Year non-school qualification completed'.

3. Terminology used in this standard is explained in the Glossary section below.