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 Bathurst Regional (A), accounting for 81.5% (3,632 families). This share was lower than Regional NSW (83.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in step families, which increased by 218 families and 4.6 percentage points.
Section overview
Family blending
Bathurst Regional (A) - Total couples with children (Enumerated)
This table summarises family blending for Bathurst Regional (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Family blending snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Bathurst Regional (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Intact Family
2021 count
3,632
% of total
81.5%
Change from 2016
-4.3pp
3,632
81.5%
-4.3pp
Step family
2021 count
545
% of total
12.2%
Change from 2016
+4.6pp
545
12.2%
+4.6pp
Blended family
2021 count
249
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
249
5.6%
-0.1pp
Other couple family
2021 count
39
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
39
0.9%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Family blending change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Intact Family
-66
-4.3pp
Step family
+218
+4.6pp
Blended family
+2
-0.1pp
Other couple family
+8
+0.2pp
Data table
Family blending for Bathurst Regional (A). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| Intact Family | 3,632 | 81.5% | 83.2% | 3,698 | 85.8% | 86.8% | -66 | -4.3pp |
| Step family | 545 | 12.2% | 11.1% | 327 | 7.6% | 7.4% | +218 | +4.6pp |
| Blended family | 249 | 5.6% | 4.8% | 247 | 5.7% | 4.9% | +2 | -0.1pp |
| Other couple family | 39 | 0.9% | 0.9% | 31 | 0.7% | 0.9% | +8 | +0.2pp |
| Total couples with children | 4,459 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 4,308 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +151 | 0.0pp |