Attainment of Year 12 or Certificate III or higher (YR12C3P)

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

Definition

This variable is used for national reporting purposes.

This variable indicates whether a person has attained Year 12 or equivalent or Certificate III or higher. This allows calculation of the proportion of the population that has attained the relevant qualifications, as used in the Report on Government Services (RoGS) Indicator BA. 12 – Proportion of 20-24 year olds who have completed Year 12 (or equivalent) or Certificate III level or higher.

Scope

All persons aged 15 years and over

Categories

CodeCategory
1Attained Year 12 or equivalent or Certificate III or higher
2Has not attained Year 12 or equivalent or Certificate III or higher
@Not applicable*
VOverseas visitor*

Number of categories: 4

Not applicable (@) comprises:

  • Persons without Year 12 attainment whose Non-school qualification: level of education was Not stated or inadequately described
  • Persons who did not state their Highest year of school completed and who had not completed a Non-school qualification: level of education at Certificate III or higher
  • Persons who did not state their Highest year of school completed and whose Non-school qualification: level of education was Not stated or inadequately described
  • Persons under 15 years of age

* Categories marked with an '*' are to be excluded from data extracted for national reporting purposes.

See Understanding supplementary codes for more information.

Question(s) from the Census form

What is the highest year of primary or secondary school the person has completed?

What is the highest year of primary or secondary school the person has completed?
What is the highest year of primary or secondary school Person 1 has completed? For people currently at school, select the highest year of schooling they have completed, not the year they are currently undertaking. More information Year 12 or equivalent Year 11 or equivalent Year 10 or equivalent Year 9 or equivalent Year 8 or below Did not go to school

More information

Additional information relating to the question on: What is the highest year of primary or secondary school the person has completed?
What is the highest year of primary or secondary school Person 1 has completed? For people currently at school, select the highest year of schooling they have completed, not the year they are currently undertaking. More information Select 'Year 12 or equivalent' if the person has completed: • Year 13 • 6th form • Matriculation • Highest year of school available. If the highest year of schooling the person has completed was in primary school, select 'Year 8 or below'. For persons who left school and then returned after a break, select the highest year of schooling they have completed irrespective of when it was completed. Include school level education undertaken at other institutions (e.g. at a TAFE).

Has the person completed any educational qualification?

Has the person completed any educational qualification?
Has Person 1 completed any educational qualification? More information No No, still studying for first qualification Yes, trade certificate/apprenticeship Yes, other qualification (certificate, diploma or degree)

More information

Additional information relating to the question on: Has the person completed any educational qualification?
Has Person 1 completed any educational qualification? More information If the person completed any vocational qualifications as part of their secondary schooling, select 'Yes, other qualification'. If the person has completed any other qualifications, select the appropriate 'Yes' response. Non-school or higher education qualifications include Certificates I-IV; Trade Certificates; Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas; Bachelor Degrees; Graduate Certificates and Graduate Diplomas; and higher degrees such as a Masters or Doctorate.

What is the level of the highest qualification the person has completed?

What is the level of the highest qualification the person has completed?
What is the level of the highest qualification Person 1 has completed? For example: Trade Certificate, Bachelor Degree, Associate Diploma, Certificate II, Advanced Diploma. More information Level of qualification

More information

Additional information relating to the question on: What is the level of the highest qualification the person has completed?
What is the level of the highest qualification Person 1 has completed? For example: Trade Certificate, Bachelor Degree, Associate Diploma, Certificate II, Advanced Diploma. More information If the person has two or more qualifications, only state the highest qualification obtained. For example, if the person has a Graduate Diploma of Education and a Bachelor Degree in Economics, the Graduate Diploma should be reported as the higher qualification. Qualification levels listed from highest to lowest: • Doctorate • Master Degree • Graduate Diploma • Graduate Certificate • Bachelor Degree with Honours • Bachelor Degree • Associate Degree • Advanced Diploma • Diploma • Associate Diploma • Advanced Certificate • Certificate IV (or Post-trade) • Certificate III (or Trade) • Certificate II • Certificate I

How this variable is created

This variable is created by combining information from:

  • Highest year of school completed (HSCP)
  • Non-school qualifications: level of education (QALLP)

A matrix is included in the downloads to show how the variable is created.

History and changes

This variable was first created in 2016. For 2021, 'Overseas visitors' have been separated out from the 'Not applicable' category into a separate category.

Data use considerations

This variable was created for National reporting purposes. Any analyses using this variable that are for other purposes should be done with caution and with reference to the relevant inclusions and exclusions described above.

Categories marked with an '*' are to be excluded from data extracted for national reporting purposes. 

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. 

Closing the Gap and Other National Government Reporting

This variable can be used to provide data on Target 5 for the National Agreement for Closing the Gap:

  • By 2031, increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (age 20-24) attaining year 12 or equivalent qualification to 96 per cent

Indigenous status (INGP) and Age (AGEP) will also have to be used to report on this measure. ‘Not applicable’ and ‘Overseas visitors’ categories should not be used for this measure.

For more information about ABS collections used in Closing the Gap and other National Government Reporting, see Closing the Gap and Other National Government Reporting.

Report on Government Services (RoGS)

This variable can be used to provide data for indicators in the Report on Government Services:

  • BA.12 Proportion of 20-24 year olds who have completed year 12 (or equivalent) or Certificate III level or above
  • BA.14 Proportion of 20-64 year olds with qualifications at Certificate III level or above, by age group
  • BA.15 Proportion of 20-64 year olds with qualifications at Certificate III level or above, by Indigenous status

Indigenous status (INGP) and Age (AGEP) will also have to be used to report on these measures. 'Not applicable’ and ‘Overseas visitors’ categories should not be used when reporting on these measures.

Related variables and glossary terms

  • Highest year of school completed (HSCP)
  • Non-school qualifications: level of education (QALLP)
  • Attainment of Year 12 of Certificate II or higher (YR12C2P)

Useful links

Downloads

National reporting indicators 2021

Data files
Download xlsx [337.6 KB]