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 Sunset, accounting for 77.8% (196 families). This share was lower than Mount Isa (C) (80.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in step families, which increased by 15 families and 5.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Family blending
Sunset - Total couples with children (Enumerated)
This table summarises family blending for Sunset in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mount Isa (C) and change since 2016.
Family blending snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Sunset, with comparison markers for Mount Isa (C).
Intact Family
2021 count
196
% of total
77.8%
Change from 2016
-3.1pp
196
77.8%
-3.1pp
Step family
2021 count
34
% of total
13.5%
Change from 2016
+5.9pp
34
13.5%
+5.9pp
Blended family
2021 count
17
% of total
6.7%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
17
6.7%
-1.7pp
Other couple family
2021 count
0
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
0
0.0%
-1.2pp
Chart view
Family blending change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Intact Family
-7
-3.1pp
Step family
+15
+5.9pp
Blended family
-4
-1.7pp
Other couple family
-3
-1.2pp
Data table
Family blending for Sunset. Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mount Isa (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Mount Isa (C)% | Count | % | Mount Isa (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Intact Family | 196 | 77.8% | 80.4% | 203 | 80.9% | 85.7% | -7 | -3.1pp |
| Step family | 34 | 13.5% | 12.3% | 19 | 7.6% | 7.1% | +15 | +5.9pp |
| Blended family | 17 | 6.7% | 6.4% | 21 | 8.4% | 5.9% | -4 | -1.7pp |
| Other couple family | 0 | 0.0% | 1.1% | 3 | 1.2% | 1.3% | -3 | -1.2pp |
| Total couples with children | 252 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 251 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1 | 0.0pp |