This variable classifies grandparent families into different family types depending on their family composition. A family is counted as a grandparent family when there is a grandparent and grandchild relationship present, and the grandchild has no parent relationship present in the family.
It also uses information about family members who were temporarily absent from the household on Census night.
Family types are identified by checking, in order, whether there are couple relationships, parent-child relationships, child dependency relationships, or other family relationships.
This variable can be used on its own, or with the related grandparent-grandchild variables:
Couple family with grandchildren under 15 years (with or without other children)
12
Couple family with no grandchildren under 15 years and with dependent full-time student grandchildren (15-24 years) (with or without other children)
13
Couple family with no grandchildren under 15 years, no dependent full-time student grandchildren (15-24 years) and with non-dependent grandchildren 15 years and over (with or without other children)
2
Lone grandparent family
21
Lone grandparent family with grandchildren under 15 years (with or without other children)
22
Lone grandparent family with no grandchildren under 15 years and with dependent full-time student grandchildren (15-24 years) (with or without other children)
23
Lone grandparent family with no grandchildren under 15 years, no dependent full-time student grandchildren (15-24 years) and with non-dependent grandchildren 15 years and over (with or without other children)
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.
The response options are: Male; Female; Another term.
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.
Is the person attending a school or any other education institution?
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Description
This image shows a question from the 2026 Census online form. This question asks: Is Person 1 attending a school or any other education institution?
Underneath the question text, the instructional text states: Include tertiary education and vocational education and training providers (e.g. TAFE and private training providers). Include external, online, or correspondence study.
Underneath the instructional text, is a clickable More Information header. Once clicked, the More Information is shown, and states: Select full-time student or part-time student based on whether the institution considers the person to be a full-time or part-time student. For a person who attends only hobby or recreational courses, select ‘No’.
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.
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Description
This image shows a question from the 2026 Census online form. This question asks: Is Person Away A a full-time student?
Underneath the instructional text, is a clickable More Information header. Once clicked, the More Information is shown, and states: Select ‘Yes’ if the institution considers the person to be a full-time student. Select ‘No’ if the institution considers the person to be a part-time student. For a person who attends only hobby or recreational courses select ‘No’. For a child who attends a preschool or preschool program (including early childhood education and centre based day care providers): Select ‘Yes’ if they attend at least 15 hours a week on average. Select ‘No’ if they attend less than 15 hours a week on average.
The response options are: No; Yes.
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 from responses to the relationship in household, date of birth, attendance at an education institution and persons temporarily absent (PTA) questions on the Census form. It only counts families where a grandparent and grandchild relationship is present and no parent and child relationship is present. All other families are coded as not applicable.
The variable distinguishes family types by checking, in order, the presence or absence of couple relationships, parent-child relationships, child dependency relationships or other family relationships. Each family is classified based on the relationships between the family reference person and every other member.
Reporting relationships only in relation to Person 1 can make it difficult to identify all household relationships or determine whether more than one family lives in a dwelling. In some cases, extra information such as surname, place of usual residence and marital status is used during processing to help determine these relationships.
The table below shows how grandparent and grandchild relationships are coded differently in the grandparent family composition (FMGF) variable compared with the standard family composition (FMCF) variable.
Scenario
How it would be coded in FMGF
How it would be coded in FMCF
Grandparents who are a couple with a grandchild aged under 15 years old (whose parent is not present in the household)
11 Couple family with grandchildren under 15 years (with or without other children)
2 Couple family with children
Grandparents who are a couple with a grandchild who is a dependent full-time student (aged 15-24 years)
12 Couple family with no grandchildren under 15 years and with dependent full-time student grandchildren (15-24 years) (with or without other children)
1 Couple family with no children
Grandparents who are a couple with a non-dependent grandchild aged 15 years and over
13 Couple family with no grandchildren under 15 years, no dependent full-time student grandchildren (15-24 years) and with non-dependent grandchildren 15 years and over (with or without other children)
2 Couple family with no children
Lone grandparent with a grandchild aged under 15 years old (whose parent is not present in the household)
21 Lone grandparent family with grandchildren under 15 years (with or without other children)
3 One parent family
Lone grandparent with a grandchild who is a full-time dependent student (aged 15-24 years) (whose parent is not present in the household)
22 Lone grandparent family with no grandchildren under 15 years and with dependent full-time student grandchildren (15-24 years) (with or without other children)
9 Other family
Lone grandparents with a non-dependent grandchild 15 years and over
23 Lone grandparent family with no grandchildren under 15 years, no dependent full-time student grandchildren(15-24 years) and with non-dependent grandchildren 15 years and over (with or without other children)
History and changes
This variable was first introduced in 2011 to enable grandparent families to be identified more easily within the data.
In 2026, category labels were updated to be more descriptive.
