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 Dubbo Regional, accounting for 80.9% (4,469 families). This share was lower than Regional NSW (83.2%).

Section overview

Family blending

Dubbo Regional - Total couples with children (Enumerated)

This table summarises family blending for Dubbo Regional in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.

Family blending snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Dubbo Regional, with comparison markers for Regional NSW.

Dubbo Regional
Regional NSW

Intact Family

2021 count

4,469

% of total

80.9%

Change from 2016

-

Step family

2021 count

702

% of total

12.7%

Change from 2016

-

Blended family

2021 count

291

% of total

5.3%

Change from 2016

-

Other couple family

2021 count

57

% of total

1.0%

Change from 2016

-

Data table

Family blending for Dubbo Regional. Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.

Family blending for Dubbo Regional. Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
Family blending for Dubbo Regional. Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional NSW%Count%Regional NSW%Countpp
Intact Family4,46980.9%83.2%--86.8%--
Step family70212.7%11.1%--7.4%--
Blended family2915.3%4.8%--4.9%--
Other couple family571.0%0.9%--0.9%--
Total couples with children5,527100.0%100.0%--100.0%--