Parent indicator (FPIP)

Latest release
Census of Population and Housing: Census dictionary
Reference period
2021

Definition

This variable records the usually resident parent in a family household. It identifies parents of children in family households, provided the parent and child were counted in the same family, or were reported as temporarily absent on Census Night.

Scope

Parents present in the household on Census Night

Categories

CodeCategory
1Male parent
2Female parent
@Not applicable
VOverseas visitor

Number of categories: 4

Not applicable (@) category comprises:

  • Other families
  • Non-family/non-classifiable households
  • Group household member
  • Lone person
  • Other non-classifiable relationship
  • Unoccupied private dwellings
  • Non-private dwellings
  • Migratory, off-shore and shipping SA1s
  • Visitor (from within Australia)
  • Overseas visitor

See Understanding supplementary codes for more information.

Question(s) from the Census form

Is the person: Male, Female, Non-binary sex

What is the person’s relationship to Person 1/Person 2?

How this variable is created

This variable is derived from the sex and relationship in household questions on the Census form.

This variable identifies parents of children in family households, provided the parent and child were counted in the same family on Census Night, or reported as 'Person temporarily absent' (PTA) on Census Night.

Parents are counted if there are:

  • dependent children aged under 15 years
  • dependent students aged 15–24 years
  • non-dependent children present in the family.

Children under 15 years of age are allocated a 'nominal parent' if their parent/s are not present in the household on Census Night, or if the parent/s were not reported as temporarily absent. 'Nominal parents' can be the child's sibling, grandparent, aunt/uncle or other related individuals. Only dependent grandchildren-grandparent relationships are counted. Non-dependent grandchildren are excluded.

History and changes

This variable is new for 2021.

Data use considerations

Parents of children or students reported in Census data releases will include same-sex parents and opposite sex parents.

This variable does not have a non-response rate as it is created during Census processing by using responses from more than one question on the Census form.

Related variables and glossary terms

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