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 Wetherill Park, accounting for 92.8% (838 families). This share was higher than Fairfield (C) (91.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in intact families, which decreased by 11 families and 1.1 percentage points.

Section overview

Family blending

Wetherill Park - Total couples with children (Enumerated)

This table summarises family blending for Wetherill Park in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Fairfield (C) and change since 2016.

Family blending snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Wetherill Park, with comparison markers for Fairfield (C).

Wetherill Park
Fairfield (C)

Intact Family

2021 count

838

% of total

92.8%

Change from 2016

-1.1pp

Step family

2021 count

43

% of total

4.8%

Change from 2016

+1.0pp

Blended family

2021 count

21

% of total

2.3%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

Other couple family

2021 count

3

% of total

0.3%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

Data table

Family blending for Wetherill Park. Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Fairfield (C).

Family blending for Wetherill Park. Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Fairfield (C).
Family blending for Wetherill Park. Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Fairfield (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Fairfield (C)%Count%Fairfield (C)%Countpp
Intact Family83892.8%91.5%84993.9%92.6%-11-1.1pp
Step family434.8%5.6%343.8%4.5%+9+1.0pp
Blended family212.3%2.4%232.5%2.6%-2-0.2pp
Other couple family30.3%0.5%00.0%0.4%+3+0.3pp
Total couples with children903100.0%100.0%904100.0%100.0%-10.0pp