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 Hay (A), accounting for 75.9% (189 families). This share was lower than Regional NSW (83.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in intact families, which decreased by 50 families and 11.6 percentage points.

Section overview

Family blending

Hay (A) - Total couples with children (Enumerated)

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

Family blending snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Hay (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.

Hay (A)
Regional NSW

Intact Family

2021 count

189

% of total

75.9%

Change from 2016

-11.6pp

Step family

2021 count

39

% of total

15.7%

Change from 2016

+9.5pp

Blended family

2021 count

18

% of total

7.2%

Change from 2016

+4.6pp

Other couple family

2021 count

7

% of total

2.8%

Change from 2016

-0.5pp

Data table

Family blending for Hay (A). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.

Family blending for Hay (A). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
Family blending for Hay (A). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional NSW%Count%Regional NSW%Countpp
Intact Family18975.9%83.2%23987.5%86.8%-50-11.6pp
Step family3915.7%11.1%176.2%7.4%+22+9.5pp
Blended family187.2%4.8%72.6%4.9%+11+4.6pp
Other couple family72.8%0.9%93.3%0.9%-2-0.5pp
Total couples with children249100.0%100.0%273100.0%100.0%-240.0pp