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 Baw Baw (S), accounting for 85.3% (5,466 families). This share was lower than Regional Vic. (87.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in intact families, which increased by 864 families, while its share fell by 1.8 percentage points.
Section overview
Family blending
Baw Baw (S) - Total couples with children (Enumerated)
This table summarises family blending for Baw Baw (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.
Family blending snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Baw Baw (S), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..
Intact Family
2021 count
5,466
% of total
85.3%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
5,466
85.3%
-1.8pp
Step family
2021 count
552
% of total
8.6%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
552
8.6%
+1.2pp
Blended family
2021 count
352
% of total
5.5%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
352
5.5%
+0.6pp
Other couple family
2021 count
39
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
39
0.6%
0.0pp
Chart view
Family blending change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Intact Family
+864
-1.8pp
Step family
+161
+1.2pp
Blended family
+92
+0.6pp
Other couple family
+5
0.0pp
Data table
Family blending for Baw Baw (S). 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 | 5,466 | 85.3% | 87.1% | 4,602 | 87.1% | 87.7% | +864 | -1.8pp |
| Step family | 552 | 8.6% | 7.9% | 391 | 7.4% | 7.1% | +161 | +1.2pp |
| Blended family | 352 | 5.5% | 4.4% | 260 | 4.9% | 4.5% | +92 | +0.6pp |
| Other couple family | 39 | 0.6% | 0.6% | 34 | 0.6% | 0.6% | +5 | 0.0pp |
| Total couples with children | 6,408 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 5,285 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,123 | 0.0pp |