This variable identifies dwellings that contain multigenerational households and those that do not. It distinguishes between one family and two or more family households.
A multigenerational household has three or more generations from the same family line who are usually resident in the same household. These generations must be in a vertical line and include the reference person. The reference person is used to identify the relationships between usual residents of a household. A vertical line refers to relationships between children, parents, grandparents and great grandparents.
Multigenerational households that skip a generation are included in this variable, as long as three generations are still present in the same vertical line. For example, a child, their grandparent, and great grandparent, who are usual residents in the same household with the absence of the parent generation in between would be included in this variable.
Households with fewer than three generations are not counted as multigenerational. For example, adult children living with their parents are not considered multigenerational, unless a third generation is also present.
Scope
Occupied private dwellings
Categories
Categories for multigenerational household composition (MHCD)
1
Multigenerational household
11
One family, multigenerational household
12
Two or more families, multigenerational household
2
Non-multigenerational household
21
One family, not multigenerational household
22
Two or more families, not multigenerational household
What is the person's relationship to person 1/person 2?
Image
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, please complete the following questions
Image
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.
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 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 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(specify), followed by a free text field.
How this variable is created
This variable is derived using the relationship in household (RLHP) and household composition (HHCD) variables. In multi-family households, processing identifies the relationship between families to establish if a vertical multigenerational line exists within the household.
A household with a single vertical family line, that includes three generations, may be classified as a one family multigenerational household, where all individuals attach to the same family unit.
Where separate family units exist within the same vertical line (for example, where an older generation forms its own couple family), the household is classified as a two or more-family multigenerational household. For more information on families, see family composition (FMCF).
