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 Heidelberg West, accounting for 87.4% (397 families). This share was lower than Banyule (C) (93.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in intact families, which increased by 382 families, while its share fell by 6.4 percentage points.

Section overview

Family blending

Heidelberg West - Total couples with children (Enumerated)

This table summarises family blending for Heidelberg West in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Banyule (C) and change since 2016.

Family blending snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Heidelberg West, with comparison markers for Banyule (C).

Heidelberg West
Banyule (C)

Intact Family

2021 count

397

% of total

87.4%

Change from 2016

-6.4pp

Step family

2021 count

35

% of total

7.7%

Change from 2016

+7.7pp

Blended family

2021 count

13

% of total

2.9%

Change from 2016

+2.9pp

Other couple family

2021 count

0

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Data table

Family blending for Heidelberg West. Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Banyule (C).

Family blending for Heidelberg West. Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Banyule (C).
Family blending for Heidelberg West. Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Banyule (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Banyule (C)%Count%Banyule (C)%Countpp
Intact Family39787.4%93.6%1593.8%93.2%+382-6.4pp
Step family357.7%4.5%00.0%4.6%+35+7.7pp
Blended family132.9%1.7%00.0%2.0%+13+2.9pp
Other couple family00.0%0.1%00.0%0.2%00.0pp
Total couples with children454100.0%100.0%16100.0%100.0%+4380.0pp