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 Erskine Park, accounting for 86.4% (851 families). This share was higher than Penrith (C) (85.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in intact families, which decreased by 108 families and 3.3 percentage points.

Section overview

Family blending

Erskine Park - Total couples with children (Enumerated)

This table summarises family blending for Erskine Park in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Penrith (C) and change since 2016.

Family blending snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Erskine Park, with comparison markers for Penrith (C).

Erskine Park
Penrith (C)

Intact Family

2021 count

851

% of total

86.4%

Change from 2016

-3.3pp

Step family

2021 count

76

% of total

7.7%

Change from 2016

+1.6pp

Blended family

2021 count

43

% of total

4.4%

Change from 2016

+0.8pp

Other couple family

2021 count

8

% of total

0.8%

Change from 2016

+0.5pp

Data table

Family blending for Erskine Park. Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Penrith (C).

Family blending for Erskine Park. Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Penrith (C).
Family blending for Erskine Park. Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Penrith (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Penrith (C)%Count%Penrith (C)%Countpp
Intact Family85186.4%85.3%95989.7%87.2%-108-3.3pp
Step family767.7%9.3%656.1%7.2%+11+1.6pp
Blended family434.4%4.8%393.6%4.9%+4+0.8pp
Other couple family80.8%0.5%30.3%0.6%+5+0.5pp
Total couples with children985100.0%100.0%1,069100.0%100.0%-840.0pp