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 Smithfield Plains, accounting for 80.6% (224 families). This share was lower than Playford (C) (83%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in intact families, which increased by 33 families, while its share fell by 1.4 percentage points.
Section overview
Family blending
Smithfield Plains - Total couples with children (Enumerated)
This table summarises family blending for Smithfield Plains in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Playford (C) and change since 2016.
Family blending snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Smithfield Plains, with comparison markers for Playford (C).
Intact Family
2021 count
224
% of total
80.6%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
224
80.6%
-1.4pp
Step family
2021 count
34
% of total
12.2%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
34
12.2%
+2.3pp
Blended family
2021 count
23
% of total
8.3%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
23
8.3%
-0.3pp
Other couple family
2021 count
3
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
3
1.1%
-1.9pp
Chart view
Family blending change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Intact Family
+33
-1.4pp
Step family
+11
+2.3pp
Blended family
+3
-0.3pp
Other couple family
-4
-1.9pp
Data table
Family blending for Smithfield Plains. Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Playford (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Playford (C)% | Count | % | Playford (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Intact Family | 224 | 80.6% | 83.0% | 191 | 82.0% | 82.0% | +33 | -1.4pp |
| Step family | 34 | 12.2% | 9.4% | 23 | 9.9% | 9.8% | +11 | +2.3pp |
| Blended family | 23 | 8.3% | 6.7% | 20 | 8.6% | 7.2% | +3 | -0.3pp |
| Other couple family | 3 | 1.1% | 0.9% | 7 | 3.0% | 0.8% | -4 | -1.9pp |
| Total couples with children | 278 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 233 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +45 | 0.0pp |