Count of dependent students (15-24 years) in family temporarily absent (CDSAF)

This variable counts the number of dependent students aged 15-24 years that were reported as temporarily absent in a family. It includes up to three dependent students who were temporarily absent from the dwelling on Census Night.

Families which include dependent students aged 15-24 years

This variable is derived from responses to the persons temporarily absent (PTA) questions on the Census form. Dependent students (15-24 years) are classified if they are 15-24 years of age and a full-time student.

This variable was first introduced in 1996. Prior to 2016, information on dependent children was available in the Dependent offspring present (CDPF) variable. This was a single count of dependent children temporarily absent.

No changes have been made for 2021.

Usual residents may not be included in the household’s Census form because they were away from the dwelling on Census Night. In this case they should be included in the persons temporarily absent section of the form. This can occur in both family and group households. Due to form limitations, a maximum of three people can be reported and coded as temporarily absent from the dwelling. If more than three people are absent from the household, the additional people are unable to be included on the form.

Care should be taken when comparing this variable to other family data from within the ABS or external organisations or agencies. The definition of a family can differ between different statistical collections and may not match Census definitions.

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. 

• Count of dependent students (15 – 24 years) in family (CDSF)
• Child
• Temporarily absent

• People
• Household and families: Census
• Persons temporarily absent