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 Echunga, accounting for 92.5% (148 families). This share was higher than Mount Barker (DC) (88.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in intact families, which increased by 8 families and 1 percentage point.

Section overview

Family blending

Echunga - Total couples with children (Enumerated)

This table summarises family blending for Echunga in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mount Barker (DC) and change since 2016.

Family blending snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Echunga, with comparison markers for Mount Barker (DC).

Echunga
Mount Barker (DC)

Intact Family

2021 count

148

% of total

92.5%

Change from 2016

+1.0pp

Step family

2021 count

12

% of total

7.5%

Change from 2016

+2.9pp

Blended family

2021 count

5

% of total

3.1%

Change from 2016

+1.1pp

Other couple family

2021 count

0

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Data table

Family blending for Echunga. Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mount Barker (DC).

Family blending for Echunga. Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mount Barker (DC).
Family blending for Echunga. Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mount Barker (DC).
Category20212016Change
Count%Mount Barker (DC)%Count%Mount Barker (DC)%Countpp
Intact Family14892.5%88.1%14091.5%87.5%+8+1.0pp
Step family127.5%7.2%74.6%7.8%+5+2.9pp
Blended family53.1%4.4%32.0%4.5%+2+1.1pp
Other couple family00.0%0.4%00.0%0.4%00.0pp
Total couples with children160100.0%100.0%153100.0%100.0%+70.0pp