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 Secret Harbour, accounting for 74% (1,457 families). This share was higher than Rockingham (C) (73.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in intact families, which increased by 1,135 families, while its share fell by 13 percentage points.

Section overview

Family blending

Secret Harbour - Total couples with children (Enumerated)

This table summarises family blending for Secret Harbour in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Rockingham (C) and change since 2016.

Family blending snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Secret Harbour, with comparison markers for Rockingham (C).

Secret Harbour
Rockingham (C)

Intact Family

2021 count

1,457

% of total

74.0%

Change from 2016

-13.0pp

Step family

2021 count

386

% of total

19.6%

Change from 2016

+10.1pp

Blended family

2021 count

116

% of total

5.9%

Change from 2016

+2.4pp

Other couple family

2021 count

12

% of total

0.6%

Change from 2016

-0.8pp

Data table

Family blending for Secret Harbour. Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Rockingham (C).

Family blending for Secret Harbour. Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Rockingham (C).
Family blending for Secret Harbour. Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Rockingham (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Rockingham (C)%Count%Rockingham (C)%Countpp
Intact Family1,45774.0%73.4%32287.0%84.4%+1,135-13.0pp
Step family38619.6%19.6%359.5%8.7%+351+10.1pp
Blended family1165.9%6.2%133.5%6.1%+103+2.4pp
Other couple family120.6%0.7%51.4%0.7%+7-0.8pp
Total couples with children1,968100.0%100.0%370100.0%100.0%+1,5980.0pp