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 Wagga Wagga (C), accounting for 84.2% (6,182 families). This share was higher than Regional NSW (83.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in intact families, which increased by 333 families, while its share fell by 3.8 percentage points.

Section overview

Family blending

Wagga Wagga (C) - Total couples with children (Enumerated)

This table summarises family blending for Wagga Wagga (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.

Family blending snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Wagga Wagga (C), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.

Wagga Wagga (C)
Regional NSW

Intact Family

2021 count

6,182

% of total

84.2%

Change from 2016

-3.8pp

Step family

2021 count

752

% of total

10.2%

Change from 2016

+3.9pp

Blended family

2021 count

356

% of total

4.8%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

Other couple family

2021 count

54

% of total

0.7%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Data table

Family blending for Wagga Wagga (C). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.

Family blending for Wagga Wagga (C). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
Family blending for Wagga Wagga (C). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional NSW%Count%Regional NSW%Countpp
Intact Family6,18284.2%83.2%5,84988.0%86.8%+333-3.8pp
Step family75210.2%11.1%4216.3%7.4%+331+3.9pp
Blended family3564.8%4.8%3375.1%4.9%+19-0.3pp
Other couple family540.7%0.9%370.6%0.9%+17+0.1pp
Total couples with children7,342100.0%100.0%6,648100.0%100.0%+6940.0pp