Level of Highest Educational Attainment (HEAP)
Level of highest educational attainment (HEAP) is a new variable for the 2006 Census. It records the highest educational achievement a person has attained. It lists qualifications and other educational attainments regardless of the particular field of study or the type of institution in which the study was undertaken.
It may be used to determine the general level of educational achievement of the Australian population and of specific groups in Australian society; to investigate the relationship between levels of education and employment outcomes, income and other socioeconomic variables; and as a proxy measure of socioeconomic status.
Field of Study for HEAP can be derived using QALFP. Note that school study should be coded to 120101 General Primary and Secondary Education Programmes.
More detailed information about this variable is available in the Census fact sheet 'Level of highest educational attainment', due to be released in 2007.
See also Highest Year of School Completed (HSCP), Non-School Qualification: Field of Study (QALFP), Non-School Qualification: Level of Education (QALLP).
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