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 Alice Springs (T), accounting for 80.7% (2,164 families). This share was lower than Regional NT (82%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in step families, which increased by 168 families and 5.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Family blending
Alice Springs (T) - Total couples with children (Enumerated)
This table summarises family blending for Alice Springs (T) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NT and change since 2016.
Family blending snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Alice Springs (T), with comparison markers for Regional NT.
Intact Family
2021 count
2,164
% of total
80.7%
Change from 2016
-5.9pp
2,164
80.7%
-5.9pp
Step family
2021 count
348
% of total
13.0%
Change from 2016
+5.9pp
348
13.0%
+5.9pp
Blended family
2021 count
132
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
132
4.9%
-0.1pp
Other couple family
2021 count
35
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
35
1.3%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Family blending change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Intact Family
-28
-5.9pp
Step family
+168
+5.9pp
Blended family
+5
-0.1pp
Other couple family
+4
+0.1pp
Data table
Family blending for Alice Springs (T). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NT.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NT% | Count | % | Regional NT% | Count | pp | |
| Intact Family | 2,164 | 80.7% | 82.0% | 2,192 | 86.6% | 85.9% | -28 | -5.9pp |
| Step family | 348 | 13.0% | 10.3% | 180 | 7.1% | 6.9% | +168 | +5.9pp |
| Blended family | 132 | 4.9% | 5.3% | 127 | 5.0% | 4.3% | +5 | -0.1pp |
| Other couple family | 35 | 1.3% | 2.4% | 31 | 1.2% | 3.0% | +4 | +0.1pp |
| Total couples with children | 2,681 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,530 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +151 | 0.0pp |