at least one child who is the natural or adopted child of both partners
no step children
no other children (e.g. foster children, otherwise related or unrelated children, or grandchildren aged under 15 years)
2. Step family with no other children present
A couple family with:
one or more children, including at least one step child
no children who are the natural or adopted children of both partners
no other children (e.g. foster children, otherwise related or unrelated children, or grandchildren aged under 15 years)
3. Blended family with no other children present
A couple family with:
two or more children
at least one child who is the natural or adopted child of both partners
at least one step child of either partner
no other children (e.g. foster children, otherwise related or unrelated children, or grandchildren aged under 15 years)
4. Intact family with other children present
A couple family with:
two or more children
at least one child who is the natural or adopted child of both partners
no step children
at least one other child (e.g. foster child, otherwise related or unrelated child, or a grandchild aged under 15 years)
5. Step family with other children present
A couple family with:
two or more children
at least one step child of one partner
no children who are the natural or adopted children of both partners
at least one other child (e.g. foster child, otherwise related or unrelated child, or a grandchild aged under 15 years)
6. Blended family with other children present
A couple family with:
three or more children
at least one child who is the natural or adopted child of both partners
at least one step child of either partner
at least one other child (e.g. foster child, otherwise related or unrelated child, or a grandchild aged under 15 years)
7. Other couple family with other children only
A couple family with:
one or more other children (e.g. foster child, otherwise related or unrelated child, or a grandchild aged under 15 years)
none of whom are natural, adopted, or step children of either partner.
Question(s) from the Census form
What is the person’s date of birth and age?
Image
Description
This image shows a question from the 2026 Census online form. This question asks: What is Person 1’s date of birth?
Underneath the question text, the instructional text states: If date of birth is not known, please select 'Don't know date of birth' and provide Person 1’s age.
Underneath the instructional text, is a clickable More Information header. Once clicked, the More Information text is split into sections. The first section states: 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 11 August 2026. The next section states: If the person is less than one year old and their date of birth is not known, enter '0' in the age box.
There are two response options. The first option is: Day, followed by a numeric free text field; Month, followed by dropdown options; Year, followed by a numeric free text field. The second option is a checkbox with the text: Don’t know date of birth. Checking this box will allow for Age to be entered into a numeric free text field.
What is the person’s relationship to person 1/person 2?
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Description
This image shows a question from the 2026 Census online form. This question asks: What is Person 2's relationship to Person 1?
Underneath the question text, the instructional text states: Examples of other relationships: Son-in-law, Grandchild, Aunt, Boarder.
Underneath the instructional text, is a clickable More Information header. Once clicked, the More Information is shown, and states: If more than one response applies, select only the option that shows the relationship that most closely applies.
The response options are: Husband or wife or spouse of Person 1; De facto partner of Person 1; Child of Person 1; Stepchild of Person 1; Parent of Person 1; Brother or sister or sibling of Person 1; Unrelated flatmate or co-tenant of Person 1; Other relationship to Person 1(specify), followed by a free text field.
For each person away, complete the following questions:
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Description
This image shows a question from the 2026 Census online form. This question asks: List the people who will be away on the night of Tuesday 11 August 2026 but usually live in this dwelling.
Underneath the question text, the instructional text states: Remember that people listed here will need to complete a Census form for where they will be in Australia on Census night.
There is a heading titled People away with an option to List Person Away 1 with text next to it that any person who usually lives in this dwelling but will be away.
There is a button underneath to add another person away.
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Description
This image shows a question from the 2026 Census online form. This question asks: What is Person Away A’s date of birth?
Underneath the question text, the instructional text states: If date of birth is not known, please select 'Don't know date of birth' and provide Person 1’s age.
Underneath the instructional text, is a clickable More Information header. Once clicked, the More Information text is split into sections. The first section states: 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 11 August 2026. The next section states: If the person is less than one year old and their date of birth is not known, enter '0' in the age box.
There are two response options. The first option is: Day, followed by a numeric free text field; Month, followed by dropdown options; Year, followed by a numeric free text field. The second option is a checkbox with the text: Don’t know date of birth. Checking this box will allow for Age to be entered into a numeric free text field.
Image
Description
This image shows a question from the 2026 Census online form. This question asks: What is Person Away A's relationship to Person 1/Person 2?
Underneath the question text, the instructional text states: Examples of other relationships: Son-in-law, Grandchild, Aunt, Boarder.
Underneath the instructional text, is a clickable More Information header. Once clicked, the More Information is shown, and states: If more than one response applies, select only the option that shows the relationship that most closely applies.
The response options are: Husband or wife or spouse of Person 1; De facto partner of Person 1; Child of Person 1 and Person 2; Child of Person 1 only; Child of Person 2 only; Brother or sister or sibling of Person 1; Unrelated flatmate or co-tenant of Person 1; Other relationship to Person 1(specify), followed by a free text field.
How this variable is created
This variable is derived from responses to the relationship in household question and the persons temporarily absent (PTA) questions on the Census form. Temporarily absent children are included when determining family composition. Families are created only for occupied private dwellings where relationships within the household allow a family to be identified.
