Indigenous household indicator (INGDWTD)

Latest release
Census of Population and Housing: Census dictionary
Reference period
2021

Definition

This variable indicates households which have at least one person who identified as being Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. On Census Night the person needs to have been present and a usual resident at the dwelling.

Scope

Occupied private dwellings

Categories

CodeCategory
1Household with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person(s)
2Other households
@Not applicable

Number of categories: 3

Not applicable (@) category comprises:

  • Visitor only households
  • Other non-classifiable households
  • Unoccupied private dwellings
  • Non-private dwellings
  • Migratory, off-shore and shipping SA1s

Question(s) from the Census form

Is the person of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin?

Is the person of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin?
Is Person 2 of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin? For people of both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin, select both 'Yes' boxes. Person's Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin No Yes, Aboriginal Yes, Torres Strait Islander

Example

Example response to the question: Is the person of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin? Yes, Aboriginal origin option selected.

Example

Is Person 1 of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin? For people of both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin, select both 'Yes' boxes. Person's Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin No Yes, Aboriginal (selected response) Yes, Torres Strait Islander

Example

Example response to the question: Is the person of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin? Yes, Aboriginal and Yes, Torres Strait Islander option selected.

Example

Is Person 2 of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin? For people of both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin, select both 'Yes' boxes. Person's Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin No Yes, Aboriginal (selected response) Yes, Torres Strait Islander (selected response)

How this variable is created

This variable is created from the Usual address indicator (UAICP) variable, Indigenous status (INGP) variable and Household composition (HHCD) variable. It is created by identifying whether at least one person in an occupied private dwelling is:

  • Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
  • Counted at home on Census Night.

Persons temporarily absent are excluded from this variable.

History and changes

This variable was introduced in 2011. For previous censuses, information about households with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people was available on request. In 2016, there were some minor changes made to the wording of the output categories.

No changes have been made for 2021.

Data use considerations

Changes in Indigenous status between censuses can affect the interpretation of Census data for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It is important to remember that Indigenous status is collected through self-identification and any change in how a person chooses to identify will affect the count of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Census.

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

Related variables and glossary terms

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