Households

Family blending

About this topic

Family blending classifies couple families with children according to whether the children are shared by both partners, from a previous relationship, or a mix of both. It applies only to couple families with children, not to all family types or all households.

This topic can help show patterns of repartnering and family complexity within an area. It should be interpreted with household type and households with children, because it is a specialised family-structure measure rather than a summary of all families.

Interpretation notes

  • This derived family view applies only to couple families with children, not all families or all households.
  • It classifies whether children are shared, step, or blended within the couple family, so it should not be compared directly with headline household totals.

Key insight

In 2021, intact families was the most common family type among couple families with children in Spencer Park, accounting for 76.5% (192 families). This share was lower than Albany (C) (79.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in intact families, which decreased by 94 families and 8.9 percentage points.

Section overview

Family blending

Spencer Park - Total couples with children (Enumerated)

This table summarises family blending for Spencer Park in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Albany (C) and change since 2016.

Family blending snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Spencer Park, with comparison markers for Albany (C).

Spencer Park
Albany (C)

Intact Family

2021 count

192

% of total

76.5%

Change from 2016

-8.9pp

Step family

2021 count

35

% of total

13.9%

Change from 2016

+4.9pp

Blended family

2021 count

16

% of total

6.4%

Change from 2016

+3.7pp

Other couple family

2021 count

0

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

-1.2pp

Data table

Family blending for Spencer Park. Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Albany (C).

Family blending for Spencer Park. Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Albany (C).
Family blending for Spencer Park. Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Albany (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Albany (C)%Count%Albany (C)%Countpp
Intact Family19276.5%79.4%28685.4%86.3%-94-8.9pp
Step family3513.9%15.0%309.0%7.7%+5+4.9pp
Blended family166.4%4.6%92.7%5.3%+7+3.7pp
Other couple family00.0%0.9%41.2%0.7%-4-1.2pp
Total couples with children251100.0%100.0%335100.0%100.0%-840.0pp