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 Murray (S), accounting for 70.2% (1,305 families). This share was lower than Regional WA (78.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in step families, which increased by 235 families and 12.1 percentage points.
Section overview
Family blending
Murray (S) - Total couples with children (Enumerated)
This table summarises family blending for Murray (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Chart view
Family blending snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Murray (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
Intact Family
2021 count
1,305
% of total
70.2%
Change from 2016
-14.4pp
1,305
70.2%
-14.4pp
Step family
2021 count
394
% of total
21.2%
Change from 2016
+12.1pp
394
21.2%
+12.1pp
Blended family
2021 count
123
% of total
6.6%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
123
6.6%
+1.7pp
Other couple family
2021 count
44
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
44
2.4%
+0.9pp
Family blending change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Intact Family
-169
-14.4pp
Step family
+235
+12.1pp
Blended family
+37
+1.7pp
Other couple family
+18
+0.9pp
Data table
Family blending for Murray (S). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | pp | |
| Intact Family | 1,305 | 70.2% | 78.5% | 1,474 | 84.6% | 86.5% | -169 | -14.4pp |
| Step family | 394 | 21.2% | 15.4% | 159 | 9.1% | 7.1% | +235 | +12.1pp |
| Blended family | 123 | 6.6% | 5.0% | 86 | 4.9% | 5.3% | +37 | +1.7pp |
| Other couple family | 44 | 2.4% | 1.0% | 26 | 1.5% | 1.1% | +18 | +0.9pp |
| Total couples with children | 1,860 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,743 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +117 | 0.0pp |