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 Ararat (RC), accounting for 86% (861 families). This share was lower than Regional Vic. (87.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in intact families, which increased by 12 families and 0.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Family blending
Ararat (RC) - Total couples with children (Enumerated)
This table summarises family blending for Ararat (RC) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.
Family blending snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Ararat (RC), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..
Intact Family
2021 count
861
% of total
86.0%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
861
86.0%
+0.5pp
Step family
2021 count
79
% of total
7.9%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
79
7.9%
+0.3pp
Blended family
2021 count
46
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
46
4.6%
-0.9pp
Other couple family
2021 count
6
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
6
0.6%
-0.7pp
Chart view
Family blending change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Intact Family
+12
+0.5pp
Step family
+4
+0.3pp
Blended family
-9
-0.9pp
Other couple family
-7
-0.7pp
Data table
Family blending for Ararat (RC). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | pp | |
| Intact Family | 861 | 86.0% | 87.1% | 849 | 85.5% | 87.7% | +12 | +0.5pp |
| Step family | 79 | 7.9% | 7.9% | 75 | 7.6% | 7.1% | +4 | +0.3pp |
| Blended family | 46 | 4.6% | 4.4% | 55 | 5.5% | 4.5% | -9 | -0.9pp |
| Other couple family | 6 | 0.6% | 0.6% | 13 | 1.3% | 0.6% | -7 | -0.7pp |
| Total couples with children | 1,001 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 993 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +8 | 0.0pp |