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 Mount Barker (DC), accounting for 88.1% (4,327 families). This share was lower than Greater Adelaide (89.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in intact families, which increased by 632 families and 0.6 percentage points.

Section overview

Family blending

Mount Barker (DC) - Total couples with children (Enumerated)

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

Family blending snapshot

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

Mount Barker (DC)
Greater Adelaide

Intact Family

2021 count

4,327

% of total

88.1%

Change from 2016

+0.6pp

Step family

2021 count

353

% of total

7.2%

Change from 2016

-0.6pp

Blended family

2021 count

217

% of total

4.4%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Other couple family

2021 count

18

% of total

0.4%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Data table

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

Family blending for Mount Barker (DC). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Adelaide.
Family blending for Mount Barker (DC). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Adelaide.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Adelaide%Count%Greater Adelaide%Countpp
Intact Family4,32788.1%89.1%3,69587.5%88.8%+632+0.6pp
Step family3537.2%7.0%3307.8%7.2%+23-0.6pp
Blended family2174.4%3.6%1894.5%3.6%+28-0.1pp
Other couple family180.4%0.4%160.4%0.4%+20.0pp
Total couples with children4,912100.0%100.0%4,224100.0%100.0%+6880.0pp