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 Cook (S), accounting for 80.7% (268 families). This share was lower than Regional Qld (82.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in step families, which increased by 24 families and 6.6 percentage points.

Section overview

Family blending

Cook (S) - Total couples with children (Enumerated)

This table summarises family blending for Cook (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.

Family blending snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Cook (S), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.

Cook (S)
Regional Qld

Intact Family

2021 count

268

% of total

80.7%

Change from 2016

-2.4pp

Step family

2021 count

39

% of total

11.7%

Change from 2016

+6.6pp

Blended family

2021 count

14

% of total

4.2%

Change from 2016

-3.9pp

Other couple family

2021 count

10

% of total

3.0%

Change from 2016

-1.1pp

Data table

Family blending for Cook (S). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.

Family blending for Cook (S). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
Family blending for Cook (S). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional Qld%Count%Regional Qld%Countpp
Intact Family26880.7%82.6%24583.1%86.3%+23-2.4pp
Step family3911.7%11.8%155.1%8.0%+24+6.6pp
Blended family144.2%4.9%248.1%5.1%-10-3.9pp
Other couple family103.0%0.7%124.1%0.6%-2-1.1pp
Total couples with children332100.0%100.0%295100.0%100.0%+370.0pp