Child type (CTPP)

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

Definition

This variable identifies different parent-child relationships within families.

Scope

All children

Categories

CodeCategory
1Natural, or adopted child of both parents or lone parent
2Step child of male parent
3Step child of female parent
4Foster child, so stated
5Otherwise related child (under 15)
6Unrelated child (under 15)
@Not applicable
VOverseas visitor

Number of categories: 8

Not applicable (@) category comprises:

  • Husband, wife, partners, lone parents, other related individuals, non-family members, or visitors (from within Australia) in family households
  • Persons in non-family/non-classifiable households
  • Persons in non-private dwellings
  • Persons in migratory, off-shore and shipping SA1s

See Understanding supplementary codes for more information.

Question(s) from the Census form

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

What is the person’s relationship to Person 1/Person 2?
What is Person 2's relationship to Person 1? Examples of other relationships: Son-in-law, Grand-daughter, Uncle, Boarder. More information Husband or wife of Person 1 De facto partner of Person 1 Child of Person 1 Stepchild of Person 1 Brother or sister of Person 1 Unrelated flatmate or co-tenant of Person 1 Other relationship to Person 1 (please specify)

More information

Additional information relating to the question on: What is Person 2's relationship to Person 1?
What is Person 2's relationship to Person 1? Examples of other relationships: Son-in-law, Grand-daughter, Uncle, Boarder. More information If more than one response applies, select only the option that shows the relationship that most closely applies.

For each person away, complete the following questions:

The Census asks a number of questions for usual residents who were temporarily absent on Census night, these are known as persons temporarily absent (PTA) questions. The PTA questions below are used to derive this variable.

List the people who were away on the night of Tuesday 10 August 2021 but usually live in this dwelling.
List the people who were away on the night of Tuesday 10 August 2021 but usually live in this dwelling. Remember that people listed here will need to complete a Census form for where they were in Australia on Census night. People away List Person Away 1 - Any person who usually lives in this dwelling, but was away. Add another person away

Example

Child type example - Person 4 Surname
List the people who were away on the night of Tuesday 10 August 2021 but usually live in this dwelling. Remember that people listed here will need to complete a Census form for where they were in Australia on Census night. People away Person 4 Surname - Any person who usually lives in this dwelling, but was away. Add another person away
What is Person 4's date of birth?
What is Person 4's date of birth? If date of birth is not known, please give age. More information Date of birth Day Month Year OR Age

More information

Additional information relating to the question on: What is Person 4's date of birth?
What is Person 4's date of birth? If date of birth is not known, please give age. More information 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 10 August 2021. If the person is less than one year old and their date of birth is not known, enter '0' in the age box.
What is Person 4's relationship to Person 1/Person 2?
What is Person 4's relationship to Person 1/Person 2? Examples of other relationships: Son-in-law, Grand-daughter, Uncle, Boarder. More information Husband or wife 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 (please specify)

More information

Additional information relating to the question on: What is Person 4's relationship to Person 1/Person 2?
What is Person 4's relationship to Person 1/Person 2? Examples of other relationships: Son-in-law, Grand-daughter, Uncle, Boarder. More information If more than one response applies, select the option that shows the relationship that most closely applies.

How this variable is created

This variable is derived from the Relationship in household question on the Census form.

Children are classified as:

  • A ‘child’ if the person is aged under 15 years of age
  • 'Otherwise related child' when they live with another adult relative (e.g. older sibling, aunt, uncle) and no natural, adoptive, step-, foster-, or grand- parent is identified
  • 'Unrelated child' when no relative is identified within the same dwelling.

Persons aged over 15 years and over are classified as:

  • ‘Children’ if they are living with a natural, adoptive, step, foster or grandparent
  • 'Not applicable’ if they are a boarder and/or lodger aged 15 years and over

In some cases, children are listed on the Census form as Person 2. In this case, if both parents are usual residents, the response 'Child of both Person 1 and Person 2' is not available in the relationship question for Person 2. Coders attempt to establish whether the child was a step child or child of both parents using other information such as surname.

History and changes

A question on the relationships between members of a household has been asked in all censuses since 1911. This variable has been output since 1991.

No changes have been made for 2021.

Data use considerations

This variable captures complex family structures such as blended families or multiple generations of families within a household. The quality of family data in the Census is partly dependent on people’s ability to describe these relationships within the constraints of the generalised questionnaire format required by a Census.

The categories 'step child' and 'foster child' are not necessarily pure counts as a parent may report such a child as being a child of Person 1 and Person 2. In this case the child would be classified as a 'natural child'.

Cross classification of Child type (CTPP) with Family composition (FMCF) allows analysis of different family types.

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

Useful links