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 Forster (NSW), accounting for 82.6% (814 families). This share was higher than Mid-Coast (A) (81%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in step families, which increased by 40 families and 3.8 percentage points.
Section overview
Family blending
Forster (NSW) - Total couples with children (Enumerated)
This table summarises family blending for Forster (NSW) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mid-Coast (A) and change since 2016.
Family blending snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Forster (NSW), with comparison markers for Mid-Coast (A).
Intact Family
2021 count
814
% of total
82.6%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
814
82.6%
-0.8pp
Step family
2021 count
132
% of total
13.4%
Change from 2016
+3.8pp
132
13.4%
+3.8pp
Blended family
2021 count
43
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
43
4.4%
-0.7pp
Other couple family
2021 count
3
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
3
0.3%
-1.3pp
Chart view
Family blending change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Intact Family
+13
-0.8pp
Step family
+40
+3.8pp
Blended family
-6
-0.7pp
Other couple family
-12
-1.3pp
Data table
Family blending for Forster (NSW). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mid-Coast (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Mid-Coast (A)% | Count | % | Mid-Coast (A)% | Count | pp | |
| Intact Family | 814 | 82.6% | 81.0% | 801 | 83.4% | 84.3% | +13 | -0.8pp |
| Step family | 132 | 13.4% | 12.0% | 92 | 9.6% | 8.5% | +40 | +3.8pp |
| Blended family | 43 | 4.4% | 5.6% | 49 | 5.1% | 5.5% | -6 | -0.7pp |
| Other couple family | 3 | 0.3% | 1.4% | 15 | 1.6% | 1.7% | -12 | -1.3pp |
| Total couples with children | 985 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 960 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +25 | 0.0pp |