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 Waroona (S), accounting for 74.2% (322 families). This share was lower than Regional WA (78.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in step families, which increased by 47 families and 10.9 percentage points.

Section overview

Family blending

Waroona (S) - Total couples with children (Enumerated)

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

Family blending snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Waroona (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.

Waroona (S)
Regional WA

Intact Family

2021 count

322

% of total

74.2%

Change from 2016

-9.9pp

Step family

2021 count

84

% of total

19.4%

Change from 2016

+10.9pp

Blended family

2021 count

20

% of total

4.6%

Change from 2016

-1.2pp

Other couple family

2021 count

7

% of total

1.6%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

Data table

Family blending for Waroona (S). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.

Family blending for Waroona (S). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
Family blending for Waroona (S). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional WA%Count%Regional WA%Countpp
Intact Family32274.2%78.5%36484.1%86.5%-42-9.9pp
Step family8419.4%15.4%378.5%7.1%+47+10.9pp
Blended family204.6%5.0%255.8%5.3%-5-1.2pp
Other couple family71.6%1.0%51.2%1.1%+2+0.4pp
Total couples with children434100.0%100.0%433100.0%100.0%+10.0pp