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 Charles Sturt (C), accounting for 90.8% (12,279 families). This share was higher than Greater Adelaide (89.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in intact families, which increased by 1,096 families and 0.3 percentage points.

Section overview

Family blending

Charles Sturt (C) - Total couples with children (Enumerated)

This table summarises family blending for Charles Sturt (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Adelaide and change since 2016.

Family blending snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Charles Sturt (C), with comparison markers for Greater Adelaide.

Charles Sturt (C)
Greater Adelaide

Intact Family

2021 count

12,279

% of total

90.8%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

Step family

2021 count

837

% of total

6.2%

Change from 2016

-0.5pp

Blended family

2021 count

358

% of total

2.6%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Other couple family

2021 count

42

% of total

0.3%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Data table

Family blending for Charles Sturt (C). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Adelaide.

Family blending for Charles Sturt (C). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Adelaide.
Family blending for Charles Sturt (C). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Adelaide.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Adelaide%Count%Greater Adelaide%Countpp
Intact Family12,27990.8%89.1%11,18390.5%88.8%+1,096+0.3pp
Step family8376.2%7.0%8256.7%7.2%+12-0.5pp
Blended family3582.6%3.6%3162.6%3.6%+420.0pp
Other couple family420.3%0.4%400.3%0.4%+20.0pp
Total couples with children13,525100.0%100.0%12,359100.0%100.0%+1,1660.0pp