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 Copper Coast (DC), accounting for 84.7% (955 families). This share was lower than Regional SA (85.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in intact families, which decreased by 24 families, while its share rose by 1 percentage point.

Section overview

Family blending

Copper Coast (DC) - Total couples with children (Enumerated)

This table summarises family blending for Copper Coast (DC) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional SA and change since 2016.

Family blending snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Copper Coast (DC), with comparison markers for Regional SA.

Copper Coast (DC)
Regional SA

Intact Family

2021 count

955

% of total

84.7%

Change from 2016

+1.0pp

Step family

2021 count

88

% of total

7.8%

Change from 2016

-1.5pp

Blended family

2021 count

73

% of total

6.5%

Change from 2016

+0.9pp

Other couple family

2021 count

13

% of total

1.2%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

Data table

Family blending for Copper Coast (DC). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional SA.

Family blending for Copper Coast (DC). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional SA.
Family blending for Copper Coast (DC). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional SA.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional SA%Count%Regional SA%Countpp
Intact Family95584.7%85.5%97983.7%85.9%-24+1.0pp
Step family887.8%7.9%1099.3%7.7%-21-1.5pp
Blended family736.5%5.5%665.6%5.4%+7+0.9pp
Other couple family131.2%1.1%100.9%0.9%+3+0.3pp
Total couples with children1,128100.0%100.0%1,169100.0%100.0%-410.0pp