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 Boroondara (C), accounting for 94.9% (20,948 families). This share was higher than Greater Melbourne (92%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in step families, which decreased by 34 families and 0.1 percentage points.

Section overview

Family blending

Boroondara (C) - Total couples with children (Enumerated)

This table summarises family blending for Boroondara (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.

Family blending snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Boroondara (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.

Boroondara (C)
Greater Melbourne

Intact Family

2021 count

20,948

% of total

94.9%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

Step family

2021 count

832

% of total

3.8%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Blended family

2021 count

276

% of total

1.3%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Other couple family

2021 count

29

% of total

0.1%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Data table

Family blending for Boroondara (C). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.

Family blending for Boroondara (C). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
Family blending for Boroondara (C). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Melbourne%Count%Greater Melbourne%Countpp
Intact Family20,94894.9%92.0%20,92094.6%91.8%+28+0.3pp
Step family8323.8%5.3%8663.9%5.3%-34-0.1pp
Blended family2761.3%2.4%3091.4%2.7%-33-0.1pp
Other couple family290.1%0.2%170.1%0.3%+120.0pp
Total couples with children22,080100.0%100.0%22,119100.0%100.0%-390.0pp