This variable shows the type of educational institution a person attends, ranging from preschool to tertiary education. Information about attendance helps with education and labour‑market planning. It is also used to identify dependent children for family coding.
Scope
Persons attending an education institution
Categories
Code
Category
10
Preschool
21
Primary – Government
22
Primary – Catholic
23
Primary – other non-Government
29
Primary – not further defined
31
Secondary – Government
32
Secondary – Catholic
33
Secondary – other non-Government
39
Secondary – not further defined
41
Tertiary – Vocational education (including TAFE and private training providers)
On the online form the type of education institution attending question is split into two parts. When a respondent selects either 'Primary', 'Secondary' or 'Tertiary institution' they are presented with a second question to describe the education institution in more detail.
What type of education institution is the person attending?
Image
Description
This image shows a question from the 2026 Census online form. This question asks: What type of education institution is Person 1 attending?
Underneath the question text, the instructional text states: Include secondary colleges and senior high schools under the ‘Secondary school’ category. For external, online or correspondence students, mark the type of institution in which they are enrolled.
Underneath the instructional text, is a clickable More Information header. Once clicked, the More Information is shown, and states: Select ‘Preschool’ for a child who attends an early childhood education program. This may be conducted in conjunction with a centre-based day care provider. Preschool is a structured, play based learning program, primarily aimed at children in the year or two before they commence full-time schooling. For students attending a combined primary and secondary school (e.g. K-12 school), report the level of schooling based on the year level they are currently attending.
The response options are: Preschool; Primary school; Secondary school; Tertiary institution (e.g. University and vocational education and training, including TAFE and private training providers); Other education institution.
What type of primary school is the person attending?
Image
Description
This image shows a question from the 2026 Census online form. This question asks: What type of primary school is Person 1 attending?
Underneath the instructional text, is a clickable More Information header. Once clicked, the More Information is shown, and states: ‘Other non-government' are independent educational institutions, including Anglican schools and other schools which have associations with religious or secular bodies, or are entirely independent.
The response options are: Government; Catholic; Other non-government.
What type of secondary school is the person attending?
Image
Description
This image shows a question from the 2026 Census online form. This question asks: What type of secondary school is Person 1 attending?
Underneath the instructional text, is a clickable More Information header. Once clicked, the More Information is shown, and states: ‘Other non-government' are independent education institutions, including Anglican schools and other schools which have associations with religious or secular bodies, or are entirely independent.
The response options are: Government; Catholic; Other non-government.
What type of tertiary education institution is the person attending?
Image
Description
This image shows a question from the 2026 Census online form. This question asks: What type of tertiary education institution is Person 1 attending?
The response options are: Vocational education and training (including TAFE and private training providers); University or other higher education.
How this variable is created
This variable is based on responses to the Census questions on the type of educational institution attended. Respondents are instructed to select only one option; if multiple responses are selected, the most senior type of education attending (bottom to top) marked option is accepted and additional responses are disregarded.
History and changes
Questions about education institution attendance were first asked in the 1911 Census and have been included in most Censuses, though the level of detail has changed over time.
In 2026, the derivation method changed so that when multiple responses are selected, the final marked option is used instead of the first.
