This variable is used for national reporting purposes.
This variable shows whether a person has attained ‘Year 12 or equivalent or Certificate III or higher’. It is used for national reporting to assess Closing the Gap Target 5 – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students reach their full potential through further education pathways. It is also included in the Report on Government Services (RoGS) indicator Part B.
Scope
All persons aged 15 years and over
Categories
Code
Category
1
Attained Year 12 or equivalent or Certificate III or higher
2
Has not attained Year 12 or equivalent or Certificate III or higher
@
Not applicable – Exclude from table
V
Overseas visitor – Exclude from table
Number of categories: 4
Not applicable (@) comprises:
persons without 'Year 12 or equivalent' 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 II or higher
persons who had did not state their highest year of school completed and whose non-school qualification level of education was not stated or inadequately described
What is the highest year of primary or secondary school the person has completed?
Image
Description
This image shows a question from the 2026 Census online form. This question asks: What is the highest year of primary or secondary school Person 1 has completed?
Underneath the question text, the instructional text states: For people currently at school, select the highest year of schooling they have completed, not the year they are currently undertaking.
Underneath the instructional text, is a clickable More Information header. Once clicked, the More Information is shown, and states: 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).
The response options are: 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.
Has the person completed any educational qualification?
Image
Description
This image shows a question from the 2026 Census online form. This question asks: Has Person 1 completed any educational qualification?
Underneath the instructional text, is a clickable More Information header. Once clicked, the More Information is shown, and states: 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.
The response options are: No; No, still studying for first qualification; Yes, trade certificate/apprenticeship; Yes, other qualification (certificate, diploma or degree).
What is the level of the highest qualification the person has completed?
Image
Description
This image shows a question from the 2026 Census online form. This question asks: What is the level of the highest qualification Person 1 has completed?
Underneath the text, the instructional text states: For example: Trade Certificate, Bachelor Degree, Associate Diploma, Certificate II, Advanced Diploma.
Underneath the instructional text, is a clickable More Information header. Once clicked, the More Information is shown, and states: 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.
The response option is: Level of qualification, followed by a free text field.
