Usual address indicator Census night (UAICP)

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

Definition

This variable indicates whether a person was at home or elsewhere on Census Night. It contains the answer to the Census question about usual residence, which asks if the person usually lived:

  • at the address on the front of the Census form (where they were on Census Night)
  • elsewhere in Australia
  • overseas.

In cases where a person did not state where they usually live, Usual address indicator Census night (UAICP) and Place of usual residence (PURP) are imputed. See Imputation flag for place of usual residence (IFPURP).

Scope

All persons

Categories

CodeCategory
1At home
2Elsewhere in Australia
VOverseas visitor 2021

Number of categories: 3

See Understanding supplementary codes for more information.

Question(s) from the Census form

What is the address of this dwelling?

What is the address of this dwelling?
What is the address of this dwelling? More information Apartment/Flat/Unit number (if any) Street number Street name (examples: Graham Avenue, George Street) Suburb/Locality State/Territory Postcode Property/Building name (if any)

More information

Additional information relating to the question on: How did the person get to work on Tuesday 10 August 2021?
What is the address of this dwelling? More information For Norfolk Island and other external territories, such as Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Jervis Bay, please select 'Other external territory' in the State/Territory box.

Where does the person usually live?

Where does the person usually live?
Where does Person 1 usually live? For people who usually live in another country and who are visiting Australia for less than one year, select 'Other country'. For other people, 'usually live' means the address at which the person has lived, or intends to live, for a total of six months or more in 2021. For people who have no fixed or return address (for example, due to family conflict or eviction), select 'Elsewhere in Australia' and write 'None' in the 'Suburb/Locality' box. For boarders at boarding school, provide the address of the boarding school or college. More information 1 Smith Street Belconnen ACT 2617 Elsewhere in Australia (please specify address) Other country

More information

Additional information relating to the question on: Where does the person usually live?
Where does Person 1 usually live? For people who usually live in another country and who are visiting Australia for less than one year, select 'Other country'. For other people, 'usually live' means the address at which the person has lived, or intends to live, for a total of six months or more in 2021. For people who have no fixed or return address (for example, due to family conflict or eviction), select 'Elsewhere in Australia' and write 'None' in the 'Suburb/Locality' box. For boarders at boarding school, provide the address of the boarding school or college. More information If the person is providing an address for 'Elsewhere in Australia' and they usually live in Norfolk Island or other external territories, such as Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Jervis Bay, please select 'Other external territory' in the State/Territory box.

How this variable is created

The data is largely captured from mark-box responses on the form, so the risk of processing error is low. Where the indicator mark boxes have been left blank by a respondent, but they have reported a usual address, UAICP is derived based on the address reported. Data may also be derived based on the relationship information reported on the form indicating that they are a visitor.

Usual residence data is a key demographic variable. If a person does not state where they usually live, UAICP and PURP are imputed. For more information about imputation, see imputation in the Census Glossary.

History and changes

A question relating to usual residence was first asked in the 1971 Census and has been asked at every Census since.

The question was updated in 2021, instructional text was added to help people answer the question on usual address. Examples including ‘due to family conflict’ or ‘eviction’ were added to assist people who have no fixed or return usual address answer the question.

Data use considerations

This variable, when used with the following data shows migration patterns:

  • Usual address one year ago indicator (UAI1P)
  • Usual address five years ago indicator (UAI5P)
  • Place of usual residence (PURP)

Usual address indicator Census night (UAICP) is derived from Imputation flag for place of usual residence (IFPURP). Using the Imputation flag for place of usual residence (IFPURP), the non-response rate for Usual address indicator Census night (UAICP) was 4.3% in 2021. This is a decrease from 5.4% in 2016. For more information on imputation, see Census Methodology.

Related variables and glossary terms

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