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 Coolgardie (S), accounting for 79% (226 families). This share was higher than Regional WA (78.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in intact families, which decreased by 95 families and 5.7 percentage points.

Section overview

Family blending

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

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

Family blending snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Coolgardie (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.

Coolgardie (S)
Regional WA

Intact Family

2021 count

226

% of total

79.0%

Change from 2016

-5.7pp

Step family

2021 count

40

% of total

14.0%

Change from 2016

+7.9pp

Blended family

2021 count

13

% of total

4.5%

Change from 2016

-3.7pp

Other couple family

2021 count

6

% of total

2.1%

Change from 2016

+1.3pp

Data table

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

Family blending for Coolgardie (S). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
Family blending for Coolgardie (S). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional WA%Count%Regional WA%Countpp
Intact Family22679.0%78.5%32184.7%86.5%-95-5.7pp
Step family4014.0%15.4%236.1%7.1%+17+7.9pp
Blended family134.5%5.0%318.2%5.3%-18-3.7pp
Other couple family62.1%1.0%30.8%1.1%+3+1.3pp
Total couples with children286100.0%100.0%379100.0%100.0%-930.0pp