Child type (including grandchildren) (CTGP)

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

Definition

This variable records the different child types within a family, including grandchildren. It recognises a grandchild regardless of the age of the grandchild. This variable is different to the standard Child type (CTPP) variable which does not capture grandchildren. 

This variable can only be used with other related grandparent/grandchild variables. These variables are:

  • Grandparent families (FMGF)
  • Relationship in household (including grandchildren) (RLGP)

It cannot be used with standard family variables.

Scope

All children

Categories

CodeCategory
1Natural, or adopted child of both parents or lone parent
2Step child of male parent
3Step child of female parent
4Foster child, so stated
5Grandchild
6Otherwise related child (under 15)
7Unrelated child (under 15)
@Not applicable
VOverseas visitor

Number of categories: 9

Not applicable (@) category comprises:

  • Husband, wife, partners, lone parents, other related individuals, non-family members, or visitors (from within Australia) in family households
  • Persons in non-family/non-classifiable households
  • Persons in non-private dwellings
  • Persons in migratory, off-shore and shipping SA1s

See Understanding supplementary codes for more information.

Question(s) from the Census form

What is the person’s relationship to Person 1/Person 2?

What is the person’s relationship to Person 1/Person 2?
What is Person 2's relationship to Person 1? Examples of other relationships: Son-in-law, Grand-daughter, Uncle, Boarder. More information Husband or wife of Person 1 De facto partner of Person 1 Child of Person 1 Stepchild of Person 1 Brother or sister of Person 1 Unrelated flatmate or co-tenant of Person 1 Other relationship to Person 1 (please specify)

More information

Additional information relating to the question on: What is the person’s relationship to Person1/Person 2?
What is Person 2's relationship to Person 1? Examples of other relationships: Son-in-law, Grand-daughter, Uncle, Boarder. More information If more than one response applies, select only the option that shows the relationship that most closely applies.

What is the person's date of birth and age?

What is the person's date of birth and age?
What is Person 1's date of birth? If date of birth is not known, please select 'Don't know date of birth' and provide Person 1's age. More information Day Month Year OR Don't know date of birth Age

More information

Additional information relating to the question on: What is the person's date of birth and age?
What is Person 1's date of birth? If date of birth is not known, please select 'Don't know date of birth' and provide Person 1's age. More information It is important to note: •Date of birth is the date that the person was born. •Age is required only if the person's date of birth is not known. Please report age at Census night – Tuesday 10 August 2021. If the person is less than one year old and their date of birth is not known, enter '0' in the age box.

Is the person attending a school or other education institution?

Is the person attending a school or other education institution?
Is Person 1 attending a school or any other education institution? Include tertiary education and vocational education and training providers (e.g. TAFE and private training providers). Include external, online or correspondence study. More information Person's school attendance No Yes, full-time student Yes, part-time student

More information

More information relating to the question: Is the person attending a school or other education institution?
Is Person 1 attending a school or any other education institution? Include tertiary education and vocational education and training providers (e.g. TAFE and private training providers). Include external, online or correspondence study. More information Select full-time student or part-time student based on whether the institution considers the person to be a full-time or part-time student. For a person who attends only hobby or recreational courses, select 'No'. If the person is currently studying at home because of lockdowns or other COVID-related reasons, but usually attends a school or other education institution, select one of the 'Yes' options.

For each person away, complete the following questions:

List the people who were away on the night of Tuesday 10 August 2021 but usually live in this dwelling.
List the people who were away on the night of Tuesday 10 August 2021 but usually live in this dwelling. Remember that people listed here will need to complete a Census form for where they were in Australia on Census night. People away List Person Away 1 - Any person who usually lives in this dwelling, but was away. Add another person away

Example

Example response to the question: List the people who were away on the night of Tuesday 10 August 2021 but usually live in this dwelling. Person 4 added as person temporarily absent on Census night.
List the people who were away on the night of Tuesday 10 August 2021 but usually live in this dwelling. Remember that people listed here will need to complete a Census form for where they were in Australia on Census night. People away Person 4 Surname - Any person who usually lives in this dwelling, but was away. Add another person away
What is Person 4's date of birth?
What is Person 4's date of birth? If date of birth is not known, please give age. More information Date of birth Day Month Year OR Age

More information

Additional information relating to the question on: What is Person 4's date of birth?
What is Person 4's date of birth? If date of birth is not known, please give age. More information It is important to note: • Date of birth is the date that the person was born. • Age is required only if the person's date of birth is not known. Please report age at Census night – Tuesday 10 August 2021. If the person is less than one year old and their date of birth is not known, enter '0' in the age box.
Is Person 4 a full-time student?
Is Person 4 a full-time student? More information No Yes

More information

Additional information relating to the question on: Is Person 4 a full-time student?
Is Person 4 a full-time student? More information Select 'Yes' if the institution considers the person to be a full-time student. Select 'No' if the institution considers the person to be a part-time student. For a person who attends only hobby or recreational courses, select 'No'. For a child who attends a preschool or preschool program (including early childhood education and centre based day care providers): • Select 'Yes' if they attend at least 15 hours a week on average. • Select 'No' if they attend less than 15 hours a week on average.
What is Person 4's relationship to Person 1/Person 2?
What is Person 4's relationship to Person 1/Person 2? Examples of other relationships: Son-in-law, Grand-daughter, Uncle, Boarder. More information Husband or wife of Person 1 De facto partner of Person 1 Child of both Person 1 and Person 2 Child of Person 1 only Child of Person 2 only Unrelated flatmate or co-tenant of Person 1 Other relationship to Person 1 (please specify)

More information

Additional information relating to the question: What is Person 4's relationship to Person 1/Person 2?
What is Person 4's relationship to Person 1/Person 2? Examples of other relationships: Son-in-law, Grand-daughter, Uncle, Boarder. More information If more than one response applies, select the option that shows the relationship that most closely applies.

How this variable is created

This variable is created using responses to the relationship in household, age, attendance at an educational institution and persons temporarily absent (PTA) questions on the Census form. It is derived from the Relationship in household (including grandparents) (RLGP) variable.

This variable classifies a person as a grandchild, regardless of age, if their Relationship in household (including grandchildren) (RLGP) to the family reference person is either a:

  • 34 Grandchild under 15
  • 44 Dependent student grandchild
  • 54 Non dependent grandchild

Child type (including grandchildren) (CTGP) is different to the standard family variable Child type (CTPP). The table below outlines these differences and how each variable classifies the child.

ScenarioHow it would be coded in CTGPHow it would be coded in CTPP
Person aged 15 years or more and has relationship of grandchild to Person 1/Person 25 Grandchild@ Not applicable
Person aged under 15 and has relationship of grandchild to Person 1/Person 25 Grandchild35 Otherwise related child under 15

History and changes

This variable was created in 2011.

No changes have been made for 2021.

Data use considerations

Users should note that grandparent-grandchild relationships are constructed for the purposes of family coding in order to create a statistical family. It may not be representative of who provides care.

For example, a scenario could be that a 20 year old grandchild lives with her grandmother. She is a full-time student and is dependent on her grandmother. Alternatively, she may have moved in with her grandmother specifically to take care of her. It is important that users do not make assumptions about grandparent families.

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.

Related variables and glossary terms

  • Grandparent families (FMGF)
  • Relationship in household (including grandchildren) (RLGP)
  • Child

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