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 Smithfield (Qld), accounting for 80.3% (614 families). This share was lower than Cairns (R) (82.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in step families, which increased by 77 families and 9.4 percentage points.
Section overview
Family blending
Smithfield (Qld) - Total couples with children (Enumerated)
This table summarises family blending for Smithfield (Qld) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cairns (R) and change since 2016.
Family blending snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Smithfield (Qld), with comparison markers for Cairns (R).
Intact Family
2021 count
614
% of total
80.3%
Change from 2016
-11.9pp
614
80.3%
-11.9pp
Step family
2021 count
110
% of total
14.4%
Change from 2016
+9.4pp
110
14.4%
+9.4pp
Blended family
2021 count
33
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
33
4.3%
+2.3pp
Other couple family
2021 count
7
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
7
0.9%
+0.4pp
Chart view
Family blending change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Intact Family
+2
-11.9pp
Step family
+77
+9.4pp
Blended family
+20
+2.3pp
Other couple family
+4
+0.4pp
Data table
Family blending for Smithfield (Qld). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cairns (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | pp | |
| Intact Family | 614 | 80.3% | 82.4% | 612 | 92.2% | 86.7% | +2 | -11.9pp |
| Step family | 110 | 14.4% | 12.5% | 33 | 5.0% | 8.1% | +77 | +9.4pp |
| Blended family | 33 | 4.3% | 4.4% | 13 | 2.0% | 4.5% | +20 | +2.3pp |
| Other couple family | 7 | 0.9% | 0.6% | 3 | 0.5% | 0.7% | +4 | +0.4pp |
| Total couples with children | 765 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 664 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +101 | 0.0pp |