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 Wickham (WA), accounting for 83.8% (217 families). This share was higher than Karratha (C) (81.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in intact families, which increased by 205 families and 13.2 percentage points.

Section overview

Family blending

Wickham (WA) - Total couples with children (Enumerated)

This table summarises family blending for Wickham (WA) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Karratha (C) and change since 2016.

Family blending snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Wickham (WA), with comparison markers for Karratha (C).

Wickham (WA)
Karratha (C)

Intact Family

2021 count

217

% of total

83.8%

Change from 2016

+13.2pp

Step family

2021 count

26

% of total

10.0%

Change from 2016

-25.3pp

Blended family

2021 count

16

% of total

6.2%

Change from 2016

+6.2pp

Other couple family

2021 count

6

% of total

2.3%

Change from 2016

+2.3pp

Data table

Family blending for Wickham (WA). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Karratha (C).

Family blending for Wickham (WA). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Karratha (C).
Family blending for Wickham (WA). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Karratha (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Karratha (C)%Count%Karratha (C)%Countpp
Intact Family21783.8%81.9%1270.6%87.8%+205+13.2pp
Step family2610.0%12.6%635.3%6.6%+20-25.3pp
Blended family166.2%5.0%00.0%4.5%+16+6.2pp
Other couple family62.3%0.7%00.0%0.8%+6+2.3pp
Total couples with children259100.0%100.0%17100.0%100.0%+2420.0pp