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 West Arnhem (R), accounting for 85.5% (594 families). This share was higher than Regional NT (82%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in intact families, which increased by 23 families, while its share fell by 1.3 percentage points.

Section overview

Family blending

West Arnhem (R) - Total couples with children (Enumerated)

This table summarises family blending for West Arnhem (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NT and change since 2016.

Family blending snapshot

2021 distribution by category for West Arnhem (R), with comparison markers for Regional NT.

West Arnhem (R)
Regional NT

Intact Family

2021 count

594

% of total

85.5%

Change from 2016

-1.3pp

Step family

2021 count

40

% of total

5.8%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

Blended family

2021 count

42

% of total

6.0%

Change from 2016

+2.5pp

Other couple family

2021 count

22

% of total

3.2%

Change from 2016

-0.6pp

Data table

Family blending for West Arnhem (R). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NT.

Family blending for West Arnhem (R). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NT.
Family blending for West Arnhem (R). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NT.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional NT%Count%Regional NT%Countpp
Intact Family59485.5%82.0%57186.8%85.9%+23-1.3pp
Step family405.8%10.3%375.6%6.9%+3+0.2pp
Blended family426.0%5.3%233.5%4.3%+19+2.5pp
Other couple family223.2%2.4%253.8%3.0%-3-0.6pp
Total couples with children695100.0%100.0%658100.0%100.0%+370.0pp