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 change

Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.

2016
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.

Family blending for Hobsons Bay (C). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
Family blending for Hobsons Bay (C). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Melbourne%Count%Greater Melbourne%Countpp
Intact Family10,72092.2%92.0%10,43292.6%91.8%+288-0.4pp
Step family6165.3%5.3%5595.0%5.3%+57+0.3pp
Blended family2592.2%2.4%2642.3%2.7%-5-0.1pp
Other couple family260.2%0.2%280.2%0.3%-20.0pp
Total couples with children11,623100.0%100.0%11,271100.0%100.0%+3520.0pp