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 Hobsons Bay (C), accounting for 92.2% (10,720 families). This share was higher than Greater Melbourne (92%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in intact families, which increased by 288 families, while its share fell by 0.4 percentage points.
Section overview
Family blending
Hobsons Bay (C) - Total couples with children (Enumerated)
This table summarises family blending for Hobsons Bay (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.
Family blending snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Hobsons Bay (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
Intact Family
2021 count
10,720
% of total
92.2%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
10,720
92.2%
-0.4pp
Step family
2021 count
616
% of total
5.3%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
616
5.3%
+0.3pp
Blended family
2021 count
259
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
259
2.2%
-0.1pp
Other couple family
2021 count
26
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
26
0.2%
0.0pp
Chart view
Family blending change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Intact Family
+288
-0.4pp
Step family
+57
+0.3pp
Blended family
-5
-0.1pp
Other couple family
-2
0.0pp
Data table
Family blending for Hobsons Bay (C). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | pp | |
| Intact Family | 10,720 | 92.2% | 92.0% | 10,432 | 92.6% | 91.8% | +288 | -0.4pp |
| Step family | 616 | 5.3% | 5.3% | 559 | 5.0% | 5.3% | +57 | +0.3pp |
| Blended family | 259 | 2.2% | 2.4% | 264 | 2.3% | 2.7% | -5 | -0.1pp |
| Other couple family | 26 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 28 | 0.2% | 0.3% | -2 | 0.0pp |
| Total couples with children | 11,623 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 11,271 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +352 | 0.0pp |