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 Barkly (R), accounting for 79.5% (461 families). This share was lower than Regional NT (82%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in intact families, which decreased by 55 families and 4.7 percentage points.

Section overview

Family blending

Barkly (R) - Total couples with children (Enumerated)

This table summarises family blending for Barkly (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NT and change since 2016.

Family blending snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Barkly (R), with comparison markers for Regional NT.

Barkly (R)
Regional NT

Intact Family

2021 count

461

% of total

79.5%

Change from 2016

-4.7pp

Step family

2021 count

50

% of total

8.6%

Change from 2016

+2.2pp

Blended family

2021 count

36

% of total

6.2%

Change from 2016

+2.8pp

Other couple family

2021 count

30

% of total

5.2%

Change from 2016

+1.4pp

Data table

Family blending for Barkly (R). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NT.

Family blending for Barkly (R). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NT.
Family blending for Barkly (R). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NT.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional NT%Count%Regional NT%Countpp
Intact Family46179.5%82.0%51684.2%85.9%-55-4.7pp
Step family508.6%10.3%396.4%6.9%+11+2.2pp
Blended family366.2%5.3%213.4%4.3%+15+2.8pp
Other couple family305.2%2.4%233.8%3.0%+7+1.4pp
Total couples with children580100.0%100.0%613100.0%100.0%-330.0pp