Count of dependent full-time students 15-24 years in family temporarily absent (CDSAF)

Latest release
Census of Population and Housing: Census dictionary
Reference period
2026

Definition

This variable counts the total number of dependent full-time students aged 15 to 24 years in a family who were temporarily absent from the family household on Census night. 

Scope

Families with dependent students aged 15 to 24 years

Categories

Code Category 
0 No dependent full-time students (15-24 years) temporarily absent 
1 One dependent full-time student (15-24 years) temporarily absent 
2 Two dependent full-time students (15-24 years) temporarily absent 
3 Three dependent full-time students (15-24 years) temporarily absent 
4 Four or more dependent full-time students (15-24 years) temporarily absent 
@ Not applicable 

Number of categories: 6 

Not applicable (@) category comprises: 

  • couple families with no children 
  • couple families with no dependent students  
  • one parent families with no dependent students  
  • other families 
  • non-family households  
  • non-classifiable households 
  • unoccupied private dwellings 
  • non-private dwellings 
  • migratory, offshore and shipping SA1s 

See Understanding supplementary codes for more information.    

Question(s) from the Census form

For each person away, complete the following questions:

How this variable is created

This variable is derived from responses to the persons temporarily absent (PTA) questions on the Census form. Children aged 15 to 24 years are classified as dependent students if they are full-time students. 

History and changes

This variable was first introduced in 1996.  

Before 1996, information on dependent children was included in the dependent offspring present (CDPF) variable, which provided a single count of dependent children temporarily absent. 

In 2026, a new category for ‘Four or more dependent full-time students (15-24 years) temporarily absent’ was added, and labels were updated to be more descriptive. 

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