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 East Pilbara (S), accounting for 76.7% (493 families). This share was lower than Regional WA (78.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in intact families, which decreased by 98 families and 10 percentage points.
Section overview
Family blending
East Pilbara (S) - Total couples with children (Enumerated)
This table summarises family blending for East Pilbara (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Family blending snapshot
2021 distribution by category for East Pilbara (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
Intact Family
2021 count
493
% of total
76.7%
Change from 2016
-10.0pp
493
76.7%
-10.0pp
Step family
2021 count
91
% of total
14.2%
Change from 2016
+7.5pp
91
14.2%
+7.5pp
Blended family
2021 count
47
% of total
7.3%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
47
7.3%
+2.3pp
Other couple family
2021 count
13
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
13
2.0%
+0.4pp
Chart view
Family blending change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Intact Family
-98
-10.0pp
Step family
+45
+7.5pp
Blended family
+13
+2.3pp
Other couple family
+2
+0.4pp
Data table
Family blending for East Pilbara (S). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | pp | |
| Intact Family | 493 | 76.7% | 78.5% | 591 | 86.7% | 86.5% | -98 | -10.0pp |
| Step family | 91 | 14.2% | 15.4% | 46 | 6.7% | 7.1% | +45 | +7.5pp |
| Blended family | 47 | 7.3% | 5.0% | 34 | 5.0% | 5.3% | +13 | +2.3pp |
| Other couple family | 13 | 2.0% | 1.0% | 11 | 1.6% | 1.1% | +2 | +0.4pp |
| Total couples with children | 643 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 682 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -39 | 0.0pp |