4727.0.55.002 - Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey: Users' Guide, 2012-13

ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 27/11/2013 First Issue

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Contents >> Population Characteristics >> Education

EDUCATION

Definition

This topic refers to the highest level of school completed, current study, and the completion of non-school qualifications.

Current study refers to the respondent being enrolled and has commenced study at a school or other educational institution.

Non-school qualifications are awarded for education attainments other than those of pre-primary, primary or secondary education. Non-school qualifications may be attained concurrently with school qualifications.

Population

Information was collected for all persons aged 15 years and over in the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (NATSIHS) and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (NATSINPAS).

Methodology

Level and main field of highest/current non-school qualification were classified to the Australian Standard Classification of Education (ASCED) 2001 (cat no. 1272.0).

Highest year of school completed

For years up to and including Year 11, the term 'completed' means to attend for the full school year such that progression to the following year of school is enabled. For Year 12, 'completed' requires only attendance for the full year. Further details of the definitions used are available on request.

Information is collected from all persons aged 15 years and over. Output categories are:

year 12
year 11
year 10
year 9
year 8
year 7
year 6 or below
never attended school.

Highest non-school qualification

Respondents aged 15 years and over were asked if they had completed a non-school qualification such as a trade certificate, diploma, degree or any other educational qualification. Those who had were asked to provide details of that qualification, including level and main field of study.

Output categories for level of highest non-school qualification are:

postgraduate degree
graduate diploma/graduate certificate
bachelor degree
advanced diploma/diploma
certificate IV
certificate III
certificate II
certificate I
certificate not further defined
no non-school qualification
level not determined.

Output categories for main field of highest non-school qualification are:

natural and physical sciences
information technology
engineering and related technologies
architecture and building
agriculture, environmental and related studies
health
education
management and commerce
society and culture
creative arts
food, hospitality and personal services
mixed field programmes
inadequately described.

A more detailed classification is also available for main field of highest non-school qualification.

Current study

Respondents were asked whether they were currently studying for an educational qualification.

Current study excludes respondents who:

have enrolled but not yet commenced study
are undertaking adult education courses, hobby courses, recreational TAFE courses and other similar courses.

Respondents aged 15 years and over who were currently studying were also asked at what type of institution they were currently enrolled at:

secondary school
university/other higher education institute
TAFE/technical college
business college
industry skills centre
other.

Respondents who identified that they were studying at secondary school at this stage were asked what year/course they were currently enrolled in:

year 9 or below
year 10
year 11
year 12
vocational education and training (VET) course
other.

Respondents aged 15 years and over who reported studying at an institution other than secondary school years 9-12 were asked about the level, field, and full-time/part-time status of their current study. This information was also collected for those respondents that selected 'other' for the institution/course of their study. Apprentices who attend one day per week or on block release were classified as in part-time study.

Output categories for current non-school qualification and fields of study are the same as those listed above for highest level of non-school qualification, other than the addition of a category for those students who are secondary school students only.

Data items

Data items and related output categories for this topic will be available in Excel spreadsheet format from the Downloads page of this product.

Interpretation

Points to be considered in interpreting this topic include the following.

Persons aged 15-19 years who identified they were not studying for a qualification but were reported as attending secondary school full-time on the household form, were still asked education questions. If a 15-19 year old was identified as undertaking both full-time secondary school studies as well as some other qualification, the other qualification took precedence over the responses, including cases where the qualification study was part-time.
Respondents reporting current study were required to be enrolled and currently participating in the course.

Comparability with 2004-05 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (NATSIHS)

Education is considered to be directly comparable between the 2004-05 and the 2012-13 surveys, except for the 15-19 year old population. In 2004-05, 15-19 year old respondents who identified that they were currently studying on the household form were not asked education questions, however they were asked in subsequent surveys including the 2012-13 NATSIHS.

Level and main field of current study were not included in the 2004-05 NATSIHS.

Comparability with 2008 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey (NATSISS)

Education is considered to be directly comparable between the 2008 NATSISS and the 2012-13 NATSIHS.

Level and main field of current study were not included in the 2008 NATSISS.

Comparability with 2011-12 Australian Health Survey (AHS)

Education is considered to be directly comparable between the 2011-12 AHS and the 2012-13 AATSIHS.