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 Strathfield (A), accounting for 93.4% (5,165 families). This share was higher than Greater Sydney (90.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in intact families, which increased by 265 families, while its share fell by 1.5 percentage points.

Section overview

Family blending

Strathfield (A) - Total couples with children (Enumerated)

This table summarises family blending for Strathfield (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.

Family blending snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Strathfield (A), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.

Strathfield (A)
Greater Sydney

Intact Family

2021 count

5,165

% of total

93.4%

Change from 2016

-1.5pp

Step family

2021 count

282

% of total

5.1%

Change from 2016

+1.5pp

Blended family

2021 count

69

% of total

1.2%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Other couple family

2021 count

16

% of total

0.3%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Data table

Family blending for Strathfield (A). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.

Family blending for Strathfield (A). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
Family blending for Strathfield (A). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Sydney%Count%Greater Sydney%Countpp
Intact Family5,16593.4%90.5%4,90094.9%92.0%+265-1.5pp
Step family2825.1%6.7%1863.6%5.0%+96+1.5pp
Blended family691.2%2.5%651.3%2.7%+4-0.1pp
Other couple family160.3%0.3%120.2%0.3%+4+0.1pp
Total couples with children5,528100.0%100.0%5,162100.0%100.0%+3660.0pp