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 Sunbury, accounting for 87.9% (4,543 families). This share was lower than Hume (C) (92.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in intact families, which increased by 4,531 families, while its share fell by 12.1 percentage points.
Section overview
Family blending
Sunbury - Total couples with children (Enumerated)
This table summarises family blending for Sunbury in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Hume (C) and change since 2016.
Family blending snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Sunbury, with comparison markers for Hume (C).
Intact Family
2021 count
4,543
% of total
87.9%
Change from 2016
-12.1pp
4,543
87.9%
-12.1pp
Step family
2021 count
390
% of total
7.5%
Change from 2016
+7.5pp
390
7.5%
+7.5pp
Blended family
2021 count
213
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
+4.1pp
213
4.1%
+4.1pp
Other couple family
2021 count
23
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
23
0.4%
+0.4pp
Chart view
Family blending change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Intact Family
+4,531
-12.1pp
Step family
+390
+7.5pp
Blended family
+213
+4.1pp
Other couple family
+23
+0.4pp
Data table
Family blending for Sunbury. Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Hume (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Hume (C)% | Count | % | Hume (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Intact Family | 4,543 | 87.9% | 92.8% | 12 | 100.0% | 92.1% | +4,531 | -12.1pp |
| Step family | 390 | 7.5% | 4.6% | 0 | 0.0% | 4.8% | +390 | +7.5pp |
| Blended family | 213 | 4.1% | 2.4% | 0 | 0.0% | 2.8% | +213 | +4.1pp |
| Other couple family | 23 | 0.4% | 0.2% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.3% | +23 | +0.4pp |
| Total couples with children | 5,171 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 12 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +5,159 | 0.0pp |