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 North Sydney (A), accounting for 90.4% (5,507 families). This share was similar to Greater Sydney (90.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in step families, which increased by 141 families and 2.1 percentage points.
Section overview
Family blending
North Sydney (A) - Total couples with children (Enumerated)
This table summarises family blending for North Sydney (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Family blending snapshot
2021 distribution by category for North Sydney (A), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
Intact Family
2021 count
5,507
% of total
90.4%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
5,507
90.4%
-2.0pp
Step family
2021 count
484
% of total
7.9%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
484
7.9%
+2.1pp
Blended family
2021 count
85
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
85
1.4%
-0.3pp
Other couple family
2021 count
12
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
12
0.2%
0.0pp
Chart view
Family blending change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Intact Family
+29
-2.0pp
Step family
+141
+2.1pp
Blended family
-15
-0.3pp
Other couple family
+3
0.0pp
Data table
Family blending for North Sydney (A). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | pp | |
| Intact Family | 5,507 | 90.4% | 90.5% | 5,478 | 92.4% | 92.0% | +29 | -2.0pp |
| Step family | 484 | 7.9% | 6.7% | 343 | 5.8% | 5.0% | +141 | +2.1pp |
| Blended family | 85 | 1.4% | 2.5% | 100 | 1.7% | 2.7% | -15 | -0.3pp |
| Other couple family | 12 | 0.2% | 0.3% | 9 | 0.2% | 0.3% | +3 | 0.0pp |
| Total couples with children | 6,094 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 5,927 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +167 | 0.0pp |