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 Port Hedland (T), accounting for 77.9% (1,361 families). This share was lower than Regional WA (78.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in step families, which increased by 139 families and 7.2 percentage points.

Section overview

Family blending

Port Hedland (T) - Total couples with children (Enumerated)

This table summarises family blending for Port Hedland (T) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.

Family blending snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Port Hedland (T), with comparison markers for Regional WA.

Port Hedland (T)
Regional WA

Intact Family

2021 count

1,361

% of total

77.9%

Change from 2016

-7.3pp

Step family

2021 count

254

% of total

14.5%

Change from 2016

+7.2pp

Blended family

2021 count

122

% of total

7.0%

Change from 2016

+0.7pp

Other couple family

2021 count

10

% of total

0.6%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

Data table

Family blending for Port Hedland (T). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.

Family blending for Port Hedland (T). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
Family blending for Port Hedland (T). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional WA%Count%Regional WA%Countpp
Intact Family1,36177.9%78.5%1,33585.2%86.5%+26-7.3pp
Step family25414.5%15.4%1157.3%7.1%+139+7.2pp
Blended family1227.0%5.0%996.3%5.3%+23+0.7pp
Other couple family100.6%1.0%161.0%1.1%-6-0.4pp
Total couples with children1,747100.0%100.0%1,566100.0%100.0%+1810.0pp