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 Lightning Ridge, accounting for 70.6% (72 families). This share was lower than Walgett (A) (80%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in intact families, which decreased by 30 families and 16.6 percentage points.
Section overview
Family blending
Lightning Ridge - Total couples with children (Enumerated)
This table summarises family blending for Lightning Ridge in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Walgett (A) and change since 2016.
Family blending snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Lightning Ridge, with comparison markers for Walgett (A).
Intact Family
2021 count
72
% of total
70.6%
Change from 2016
-16.6pp
72
70.6%
-16.6pp
Step family
2021 count
21
% of total
20.6%
Change from 2016
+13.8pp
21
20.6%
+13.8pp
Blended family
2021 count
6
% of total
5.9%
Change from 2016
+3.3pp
6
5.9%
+3.3pp
Other couple family
2021 count
4
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
4
3.9%
+0.5pp
Chart view
Family blending change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Intact Family
-30
-16.6pp
Step family
+13
+13.8pp
Blended family
+3
+3.3pp
Other couple family
0
+0.5pp
Data table
Family blending for Lightning Ridge. Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Walgett (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Walgett (A)% | Count | % | Walgett (A)% | Count | pp | |
| Intact Family | 72 | 70.6% | 80.0% | 102 | 87.2% | 86.4% | -30 | -16.6pp |
| Step family | 21 | 20.6% | 13.1% | 8 | 6.8% | 7.4% | +13 | +13.8pp |
| Blended family | 6 | 5.9% | 5.2% | 3 | 2.6% | 2.6% | +3 | +3.3pp |
| Other couple family | 4 | 3.9% | 1.3% | 4 | 3.4% | 4.0% | 0 | +0.5pp |
| Total couples with children | 102 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 117 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -15 | 0.0pp |