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 Georges River (A), accounting for 92.3% (18,391 families). This share was higher than Greater Sydney (90.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in step families, which increased by 334 families and 1.6 percentage points.

Section overview

Family blending

Georges River (A) - Total couples with children (Enumerated)

This table summarises family blending for Georges River (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.

Family blending snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Georges River (A), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.

Georges River (A)
Greater Sydney

Intact Family

2021 count

18,391

% of total

92.3%

Change from 2016

-1.4pp

Step family

2021 count

1,144

% of total

5.7%

Change from 2016

+1.6pp

Blended family

2021 count

342

% of total

1.7%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

Other couple family

2021 count

40

% of total

0.2%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Data table

Family blending for Georges River (A). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.

Family blending for Georges River (A). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
Family blending for Georges River (A). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Sydney%Count%Greater Sydney%Countpp
Intact Family18,39192.3%90.5%18,34893.7%92.0%+43-1.4pp
Step family1,1445.7%6.7%8104.1%5.0%+334+1.6pp
Blended family3421.7%2.5%3821.9%2.7%-40-0.2pp
Other couple family400.2%0.3%520.3%0.3%-12-0.1pp
Total couples with children19,917100.0%100.0%19,592100.0%100.0%+3250.0pp